Exosome (Face)
What Is It?
What we call exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted by cells and enclosed in a membrane. Inside them are molecules such as proteins, lipids and RNA. We used to think of them as garbage trucks hauling the waste that builds up inside the cell out of it. It turns out that isn’t so. The body is a miser; it does nothing for nothing. The job of these vesicles is to carry information between cells. The stem cell puts its message into an envelope, as it were, and writes the address on top. What is written inside decides the effect the letter will have. The proteins on the envelope show which cell the letter is going to. In the skin, one of the most important recipients for us is the fibroblast, the cell that repairs the skin.
With exosomes there are two questions that shouldn’t be mixed up. The first is which area is treated: face, scalp or neck. The second is which raw material the product is made from. Plant-sourced and animal-sourced products are separate families, and this distinction has nothing to do with the area treated. Then there is the dose. The amount used varies markedly by product and by person; there is no fixed figure.
How Is It Done?
Is the problem tissue quality, volume loss or pigmentation? I look at your skin and sort this out before treatment, because of these three, exosomes address only tissue quality. Then we make two decisions: source and dose. We set both according to the condition of your skin, your expectations and any treatments you have had before.
We apply numbing cream beforehand. We deliver the product into the superficial layer of the skin with very fine needles, through evenly spaced points. In some protocols we combine it with microneedling. A session takes about 30 minutes on average. The number of sessions and the interval depend on the product chosen; we usually plan 1-3 sessions.
Who Is It For?
We consider it for patients who describe dullness, tiredness, fine surface lines or a general loss of vitality in their skin. It often comes up when the skin looks faded after heavy sun exposure, smoking or a draining period.
Marked volume loss, deep lines and advanced sagging are separate matters; there, exosomes alone won’t meet the expectation. Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an inflamed skin lesion in the treatment area, a bleeding disorder, uncontrolled autoimmune disease and a known allergy to the contents of the chosen product change the plan. When choosing the source, I ask about your allergy history separately.
Process & Recovery
Assessment and two decisions
We identify the source of the skin problem, then decide on the product source (plant or animal) and the dose. We ask about your allergy history together with the source decision. We take photographs.
Session day
After numbing cream, we deliver the product into the superficial layer through evenly spaced points with fine needles. Some protocols add microneedling. The session takes about 30 minutes on average.
First 24 hours
The skin turns red and small raised bumps appear at the injection points; these usually settle within a few hours. We don’t recommend make-up, pools, sauna or strenuous exercise on the same day.
Between sessions
The interval depends on the product chosen. You usually feel the first difference in hydration and radiance during this period; we don’t expect change in the tissue yet.
End of series
When the planned sessions are finished, we assess the result by comparing photographs. Maintenance is needed for the effect to continue.
Results & Duration
The effect appears gradually over the series. The first difference is usually in hydration and radiance. A change in tissue quality needs the series to be completed and then a few more weeks.
The response varies markedly with the product chosen, the size of the dose and the starting condition of the skin. So comparing yourself with someone else’s result is misleading. Two treatments called by the same name can be completely different things if their source and dose differ. How long the effect lasts depends a great deal on how you live. A lot of sugar, alcohol, smoking and irregular sleep wear down the repaired tissue again. Maintenance is also needed for the effect to continue.
What Is Not Promised
Exosomes don’t work like a filler. They don’t add volume, don’t fill deep lines and don’t change the shape of areas such as the cheekbones or chin. They don’t gather sagging skin or replace a face lift. They don’t lighten pigmentation on their own, and they are no substitute for sun protection.
I can’t promise a particular skin appearance, number of sessions or duration. Since dose and source vary from person to person, I can’t promise a fixed protocol either. If your expectation doesn’t match your skin’s real problem, we talk about it openly at examination.
Key Benefits
- Skin renewal support
- Tone and vitality
- Skin quality
“There are lots of exosome products on the market. From which source, to which area, how much: until these are clear, two treatments with the same name are not the same thing. You need to know what you are having injected.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is exosome treatment a filler?
No. It doesn’t add volume or fill lines. It is a treatment intended to work at the level of signals in the tissue.
What is the difference between plant and animal sourced exosomes?
The difference lies in the raw material the product is made from. Plant-sourced products come from plants, animal-sourced ones from animal tissue. This has nothing to do with the area treated; we decide at examination which one suits you.
How much is used?
Dose is a big variable and differs markedly by product and by person. That is why we don’t quote a fixed amount; we set it at examination.
How many sessions are needed?
We usually plan 1-3 sessions. The number and interval depend on the product chosen.
Is it painful?
It hardly counts as painful. We apply numbing cream first, and because we use very fine needles, most of my patients describe a brief prickling.
When will I see the result?
The first difference is in hydration and radiance. For a change in tissue quality, the series has to be finished and then a few weeks allowed.
How does it differ from mesotherapy?
They work differently. In mesotherapy we nourish the skin with a mix of vitamins and minerals. Exosomes work through vesicles that carry signals to the cell. In patients where we find it suitable, we can combine the two in one protocol.
Which situations need separate assessment?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding, active infection or an inflamed lesion in the area, a bleeding disorder, uncontrolled autoimmune disease and allergy to the product’s contents change the plan. We discuss these together with the choice of source.