The 10 Exosome Questions Patients Ask Most, Answered
What are exosomes, what do they do for the skin, how do they differ from PRP, how many sessions? Dr. Sinan Akyürek answers the 10 most common.
Exosome is one of the topics I am asked about most, both in live streams and in my consultations. In 2026 the treatment became widespread, but the questions keep coming. I have collected the most frequent ones and answered them from my own experience and the current literature.
1. What exactly are exosomes?
They are tiny vesicles, 30–150 nanometres in size, that cells release to the outside. We used to think of them as garbage trucks. It turned out we were wrong. Inside them are growth factors, proteins and miRNA. The stem cell places its message in these vesicles and, like writing an address on an envelope, adds which cell it should go to. When the message reaches the fibroblast, it more or less tells it: “forget your bad habits, from now on work like this.” In this way we aim to support collagen and elastin production. Because it uses the body’s own language of communication, it does not behave like a foreign substance.
2. What do they do for the skin?
They support skin quality from within: the appearance of fine lines and pores, evenness of tone, glow. I get positive feedback in the under-eye area, in dull skin and in early ageing; the response varies from person to person. In my own experience I see the clearest difference in faces prone to redness, in rosacea and in dark spots, because exosomes have an anti-inflammatory effect. They can also help with acne scars. In the hair, they support the roots.
3. How are they different from PRP or stem cells?
PRP releases growth factors from platelets, and a stem cell treatment carries living cells. An exosome contains no cell at all, only the message. So it is more targeted, and the risk is lower too. Think of the cells that repair the skin as bricklayers. PRP is like telling them, “come on, lads, get to work.” Exosome is like teaching the bricklayer a new technique and handing him good-quality cement. When I use it together with PRP, the effect gets stronger. On its own it does the job as well.
4. How is the treatment done, does it hurt?
Mostly we apply it to the surface after microneedling or fractional laser, sometimes by injection. With numbing cream it is almost painless. The procedure takes 30–45 minutes on average.
5. How many sessions, and when do results show?
For most patients we plan 3–4 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart. One to two weeks after the first session, glow and hydration increase. The full effect appears in 2–3 months, because renewing collagen takes time. Results vary from person to person and are maintained with top-up sessions.
6. What are the side effects, is it safe?
It is minimally invasive and generally safe. The most common effects are mild redness, sensitivity or swelling, and they settle within 1–2 days. Under sterile conditions the risk of infection is low. We do not recommend it during pregnancy or breastfeeding. With a quality, purified, MSC-derived product the risk is kept to a minimum.
7. Who should not have it?
If there is an active infection, an uncontrolled autoimmune disease, a history of cancer or an overly sensitive immune system, we proceed with caution. In people on blood thinners the risk of bruising can increase. In young people I do not recommend it if there is no need. Not doing a procedure that is not needed is a principle of mine.
8. Where do exosomes come from, and how do you judge quality?
There are plant-derived, animal-derived and human-derived products. There is no clear scientific consensus yet on which one is better. Logically, I think human-derived exosomes, especially those from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), will be more compatible with our tissue. In the clinic I use certified, purity-tested products; if we are not sure what a product does, we do not use it. Ask about the source and the test reports yourself.
9. Are the results permanent, is maintenance needed?
They are not permanent. They are long-term, though, because the skin steps up its own production. How long they last depends largely on you. A lot of sugar, alcohol, smoking and irregular sleep age the repaired tissue all over again. And since ageing continues, I recommend 1–2 maintenance sessions a year. Protecting yourself from the sun makes the effect last longer.
10. Is it worth it?
Exosome does not add volume the way a one-off filler does. It aims to work on the quality of the skin. How the plan develops over the long term differs from person to person. Depending on the budget, you can start in combination with PRP or with fewer sessions. We settle the plan during the examination.