A few years ago, the conversation in medical aesthetics was largely about volume. Adding it, restoring it, projecting it. The markers of a treated face were often measurable in millilitres. Lips, cheeks, and jawlines were the defining features of the decade’s aesthetic.
That conversation has changed considerably. The dominant request in clinics across the UK in 2026 is not about adding volume. It is about improving the quality of skin itself: its texture, tone, hydration, and the way it reflects light. Patients want to look healthy, not altered.
This shift is something Dr Anita Dhunna has observed directly at her clinics in South Woodford, Bishop’s Stortford, Hatfield, and Hertfordshire. The patients attending now are better informed, more precise about what they want, and increasingly interested in treatments that support their skin’s own biology rather than changing its structure from the outside.
What Patients Are Asking For in 2026
The terms patients are using have changed. ‘Glowy skin’, ‘dewy’, ‘lit from within’, ‘glass skin’. These are not descriptions of surgical outcomes. They are descriptions of healthy, well-functioning skin that retains moisture, produces collagen efficiently, and sits smoothly on the face without heaviness.
This is driving demand for a category of treatments that were on the fringes of medical aesthetics only a few years ago and are now firmly at the centre of clinical practice. In 2024, UK demand for regenerative treatments rose by 25% (PolicyBee, 2026). Polynucleotides, Profhilo, and collagen stimulators such as Sculptra are central to that shift. The direction of travel is clear.
Polynucleotides: The Treatment Redefining Skin Quality
Polynucleotides (PDRN) are injectable biostimulators derived from highly purified DNA fractions. They work by stimulating fibroblast activity, the cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. The effect is cumulative and biological: the skin itself becomes more functional over a course of treatment.
Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, polynucleotides do not add volume. They improve the quality of existing tissue. For patients who feel their skin has become thinner, duller, or less resilient, or for those managing fine lines, crepiness, or uneven tone, the results can be striking.
Polynucleotides can be used across the face, under the eyes, along the neck, and on the décolleté. They are frequently combined with other treatments as part of a broader skin health programme. Dr Anita Dhunna assesses each patient individually to determine whether polynucleotides are appropriate and, if so, how they fit alongside other elements of the patient’s treatment plan.
Skin Boosters and Biostimulators: Understanding the Difference
Patients arriving at consultation frequently ask about the difference between skin boosters and biostimulators. It is a reasonable question because the terminology in the industry is not always consistent.
Skin boosters, such as Profhilo, are typically hyaluronic acid-based treatments injected into the skin to improve hydration and stimulate collagen. They soften fine lines and improve skin laxity. Biostimulators, including polynucleotides and treatments such as Sculptra, work differently: rather than delivering hydration directly, they trigger the skin’s own regenerative processes.
The distinction matters clinically. Choosing between them, or combining them, depends on the patient’s age, skin condition, specific concerns, and broader treatment history. It is not a decision that should be made by scrolling through social media. A proper consultation with a qualified medical practitioner is the starting point.
When Less Volume Is the Right Answer
For some patients attending Dr Anita Dhunna’s clinics, the most clinically appropriate step is not to add anything but to address volume that has been placed previously by other practitioners and has not aged well. Filler dissolution with hyaluronidase is a procedure that has become increasingly common, particularly as patients move away from the heavily structured look of previous years.
This is not a criticism of filler as a treatment. Dermal fillers remain one of the most effective and versatile tools in medical aesthetics when placed correctly and in appropriate volumes by a qualified practitioner. But the way they are being used is changing: smaller amounts, more precise placement, and a focus on facial balance rather than augmentation for its own sake.
The Role of a Medical Consultation
The shift towards skin quality treatments has made the quality of the clinical consultation more important, not less. Treatments like polynucleotides and combination skin health programmes require a thorough understanding of the patient’s skin, their medical history, and their realistic goals.
Dr Anita Dhunna approaches every consultation as a medical assessment. That means understanding what is driving a patient’s skin concerns, whether there are underlying factors to consider, and what combination of treatments will deliver the most meaningful improvement over time. A single treatment is rarely the complete answer. A well-constructed treatment plan, reviewed and adjusted over time, is.
If you would like to discuss your skin concerns and explore what treatments might be appropriate for you, the team at Dr Anita Dhunna’s clinics in South Woodford, Bishop’s Stortford, Hatfield, and Hertfordshire are available for consultations. Call 020 8099 9248 or visit dranitadhunna.com to book.
