People searching is Rejuran a filler are usually trying to work out whether it does the same job as the dermal fillers they have heard about. It is a reasonable question, because Rejuran is injected, it comes in a syringe, and it sits in the same broad regulatory category. What it is designed to do, however, is different.
This is general information only and does not replace a consultation. Injectable treatments are not appropriate for everyone and they carry real risks. A consultation is required before any treatment can be considered. This content is intended for adults aged 18 years and over.
The Short Answer
Answering the Question: Is Rejuran a Filler?
Not in the way most people mean when they use the word. A dermal filler, typically a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel, works largely by occupying space. It is placed to add volume, restore contour, or provide structural support, and the change is visible more or less straight away.
Rejuran is a polynucleotide injectable. It is not designed to create volume or reshape a feature. It is placed into the skin with the intention of acting on the skin itself, and any change develops gradually rather than immediately. So it is injected like a filler, and it is regulated alongside fillers, but it is not a volumising product and should not be chosen as a substitute for one.
Is Rejuran a Filler in the Regulatory Sense?
This is where the answer becomes more technical. In Australia, Rejuran is included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as a Class III medical device, described as a dermal tissue reconstructive material of animal origin. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are also regulated as medical devices. In that narrow regulatory sense, the two sit in the same family.
That shared classification is about how the product is regulated, not about what it does in the skin. It is also worth knowing that not every product in the range is registered for every indication, which limits what any clinic in Australia is permitted to claim about outcomes. Any practitioner discussing this treatment with you should stay within what the product is actually registered for.
The Ingredients
Understanding Polynucleotides vs. Hyaluronic Acid
The two are chemically unrelated, they behave differently once injected, and they are chosen for different reasons. Understanding that distinction is the clearest way to answer the question for yourself.
Polynucleotides
Chains of DNA fragments, in Rejuran’s case purified from salmon. They are not gels in the filler sense and carry very little capacity to hold shape or create lift.
Hyaluronic Acid
A sugar molecule found naturally in the body. When cross-linked into a gel it binds water and holds its shape, which is what allows a filler to provide volume and structure.
Reversibility Differs
Hyaluronic acid fillers can generally be dissolved with an enzyme if there is a problem. Polynucleotides have no equivalent reversal agent, which is a material difference worth understanding before you consent.
So Is Rejuran a Filler or a Skin Booster?
Of the two labels, skin booster is closer, though that term is informal rather than regulatory. The useful takeaway is that if your concern is loss of volume or a contour you want changed, a polynucleotide is unlikely to be the product that addresses it. If your concern relates to the quality of the skin itself, it may be one of several options a practitioner would discuss with you.
How It Works
The Function of Rejuran: Skin Healing and Collagen Stimulation
Polynucleotides are described as working with the skin’s own repair processes rather than adding material to sit within the tissue. The proposed mechanism involves supporting fibroblast activity, the cells associated with collagen production, along with effects on hydration within the skin.
It is important to be measured about this. The research on polynucleotide injectables is still developing, and the product is registered in Australia for particular purposes rather than as a general treatment for skin concerns. A practitioner should be able to tell you plainly what is established, what is proposed, and what remains uncertain.
Practically, this means change is gradual. Where an effect occurs, it typically develops over weeks to months rather than appearing at the appointment. A course of sessions spaced weeks apart is commonly discussed, with maintenance considered afterwards. Individual responses vary considerably, and some people notice little or no change.
A note on ageing. Changes in skin over time are a normal part of being human, not a defect requiring correction. Any decision about treatment is a personal one, and choosing to do nothing is a legitimate option that a good consultation will discuss alongside the others.
The Comparison
Comparing the Results of Rejuran and Dermal Fillers
Because the two products are chosen for different reasons, comparing them directly can be misleading. The differences below are general, and what is realistic for you can only be established at an individual assessment.
Timing: a dermal filler produces a change in volume that is visible almost immediately. Any change from a polynucleotide develops gradually over weeks to months, and a single session may produce no noticeable difference.
What each addresses: fillers are used where volume, contour, or structural support is the concern. Polynucleotides are directed at the condition of the skin. They are not interchangeable, and one is not an upgrade on the other.
Course and maintenance: polynucleotide treatment is generally discussed as a course of several sessions rather than a one-off, with maintenance afterwards. The total cost of a full course, not a single-session price, is what you should be quoted before deciding.
If something goes wrong: a hyaluronic acid filler can generally be dissolved. A polynucleotide cannot be reversed in the same way, so the decision to proceed carries a different weight.
Is Rejuran a Filler Substitute for Volume Loss?
No. If volume is the concern, a polynucleotide is unlikely to address it, and expecting it to will lead to disappointment. Anyone presenting it as a gentler alternative that achieves the same thing is misrepresenting the product. Outcomes experienced by one person do not necessarily reflect what another person will experience with either treatment.
Risks
Material Risks You Should Understand
All injectable cosmetic procedures carry risk, and this is classified as a higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedure. The list below is general and not exhaustive; the risks relevant to you depend on your circumstances and are discussed in full at consultation, before consent rather than after it.
Common and usually temporary. Pain and discomfort during injection, redness, swelling, tenderness, and bruising. Small raised bumps at the injection points are expected with this type of treatment and generally settle over a day or two, though they can persist longer in some people.
Less common but more significant. Infection, persistent nodules or lumps, prolonged swelling, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which can be more likely in deeper skin tones, and scarring. Any injectable procedure carries a rare but serious risk of injury to a blood vessel, which requires urgent attention.
Allergy and product origin. The polynucleotides in Rejuran are derived from salmon. Tell your practitioner if you have any fish or seafood allergy, as this is directly relevant to whether the treatment can be considered at all.
No reversal agent. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, there is no enzyme that dissolves a polynucleotide product once it has been placed. This should factor into your decision.
The possibility of no change. Some people complete a course and notice no meaningful difference. This is a genuine possible outcome and should be weighed against the cost and the commitment.
Who May Not Be Suitable
Injectable treatments of this kind are commonly not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people with a fish or seafood allergy, active infection or active skin inflammation in the treatment area, bleeding disorders, certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, a history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, or recent treatment in the same area.
Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications and some other medications can also affect suitability or timing. Bring a complete list of your medications and supplements to your consultation. Only a registered health practitioner who has assessed you individually can determine whether any treatment is appropriate for you.
The Consultation
What to Ask Before You Decide
No treatment should be recommended before a thorough assessment, and there is no obligation to proceed. There is no clinical reason to decide on the day.
Is this the right product for my concern, or would something else address it better, including doing nothing?
What are the risks for me specifically, given my medical history, allergies, and medications?
How many sessions, and what is the total cost of a full course rather than a single appointment?
What happens if I have a complication, who do I contact, and what is the process?
To read more about this treatment and how it is used, visit our Bio-Filler and Rejuran page, or our Bio-Stimulators and Bio-Remodelling page for related options.
Important Information
This content provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of therapeutic effect, and it does not replace a consultation. Individual assessment is required to determine suitability, risks, recovery, number of sessions, and costs. Injectable cosmetic procedures are higher risk non-surgical cosmetic procedures and all procedures carry risks. Outcomes vary between individuals and are not guaranteed, and any result experienced by one person does not necessarily reflect what others may experience. REJURAN is a registered trade name of a therapeutic good included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. This content is intended for adults aged 18 years and over.
Practitioner: Suzie Bannon, RN (NMW0000965450), Registered Nurse (Division 1), Midwife, and Cosmetic Nurse with over 30 years of experience. Aesthetic Nurse Suzie clinic, Adelaide SA.
