How a £450 salmon sperm injection, a beauty ingredient used by Jennifer Aniston, got rid of my bags

When I answered the FaceTime call, I saw myself on the screen and gasped. I forgot to put concealer under my eyes, and without it I look like I’ve been up all night, at worst in a boxing match.

Think purple-gray dark circles giving way to hollowness with a hint of saggy, crepey skin and more than my share of fine lines and wrinkles over my 43 years.

I can’t even blame my two kids because these days, aged six and nine, they both sleep through the night. In reality, I was putting my baggage down to the fact that I never fully recovered from the sleep deprivation I suffered when they were babies.

As a beauty editor, I’ve tried everything in an attempt to turn back the clock, from eye creams with retinol and caffeine to facials with micro-needlings and moisturizers made from snail mucus.

But even I shuddered at the latest new “miracle” ingredient that would banish under-eye fatigue: salmon sperm.

As unlikely as it sounds, a revolutionary new injectable treatment, which does indeed contain a salmon sperm derivative, promises to banish dark circles, plump fine lines and rejuvenate the under-eye area. Ameela is a light water-based gel and the treatment costs £450 per session. With results said to last up to a year, it is being touted as a game-changer for those reluctant to go under the knife.

I’m not entirely sold on the idea, but ageless beauty Jennifer Aniston admits she’s tried a salmon sperm facial. And if it’s good enough for Jen, it’s good enough for me.

So how does it work? “Salmon sperm contains a very pure and lightweight polynucleotide, a substance that encourages the body to regenerate itself,” explains aesthetic doctor and general practitioner Dr. Ahmed El Muntasar, who offers the treatment in his clinics.

‘When Ameela is injected into the under-eye area, it stimulates cells called fibroblasts to naturally increase the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

‘So it not only helps to fill hollow areas under the eyes, the way tear fillers work. Instead, it works to improve skin tone, plump and brighten it, and increase blood flow – all of which helps to reduce bags and fine lines under the eyes.”

But why salmon sperm specifically, and how do they extract it, I ask? He explains that the semen is a byproduct of the food industry, obtained from farmed salmon. After the salmon’s reproductive organs are removed, the sperm is extracted, then processed and filtered to extract the DNA.

‘The DNA of salmon sperm is very similar to ours,’ says Dr El Muntasar. ‘It has a higher and purer concentration of rejuvenating polynucleotides than other fish. So while there are other fish sperm treatments available, you may need five sessions with something like cod sperm derivatives, while with salmon you can see significant improvement in the under eye area after just two or three sessions.”

Until recently, tear fillers, which cost between £300 and £500 per treatment, were largely the only non-surgical option for under-eye rejuvenation, but I’ve always shied away from them.

I know it can be risky; If not performed by an experienced doctor, it can cause bumps under the eyes, scarring and, if accidentally injected into an artery or blood vessel, even cause blindness.

It can also look unnatural. If the filler migrates from the targeted area, it can give a swollen appearance. So Ameela turned to it because the treatment not only fills in hollow areas under the eyes, but tackles purple discoloration and fine lines by encouraging the growth of new skin cells to combat the problem. And I was promised that it is also much safer as a procedure. Side effects may occur, such as swelling, pain and bruising, but these are expected to disappear after a few days.

‘Tear trough filler, which is also what I work with, only addresses cavities – so if that’s your only problem, this may be the best option,’ explains Dr El Muntasar. “But if you have a combination of a little hollowness, dark circles, and thin, crepey skin under your eyes, Ameela is the better option.” But when I mentioned that I was considering the treatment to my husband, he looked shocked.

‘Salmon sperm? How on earth can injecting that into your face be a good idea?’ he exclaimed. When I explained how it all works – and how the sperm is extracted – his face was a picture.

Squeamishness aside, I loved the idea that I could potentially wake up clear-eyed and refreshed within two or three sessions. So I booked a consultation with Dr. El Muntasar at his Mayfair clinic. After examining my bags under a bright light, he delivers his verdict: ‘The skin under your eyes shows normal signs of aging for someone in their early 40s – there is some thinning of the skin in that area, fine lines under the eyes , some skin irritation. hollow that gives a slightly sunken appearance under the eyes and the beginnings of crow’s feet.’

Most people need two to three treatments to get the best results. He suggests I need two, two weeks apart, which will cost £900 in total.

I had my first treatment in February. And yes, my first question to Dr. El Muntasar was, “Will it hurt?” He explained that instead of using a needle to inject the Ameela gel around the eyes, he uses a fine cannula inserted just once into the fleshy skin of the upper cheek to deliver the gel to the under-eye area to bring.

So I would have two injection sites, one in each cheek. He says: ‘If Ameela is dotted around the eyes with a needle, she may bruise significantly, but with the cannula injection technique this is less likely.’

Dr. El Muntasar told me to expect mild discomfort when the cannula was inserted and the gel injected – as well as mild swelling under my eyes and tenderness for a few days afterwards.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. But I barely felt the cannula being inserted. When the Ameela gel was injected through the cannula, it stung. But to be honest, I’ve had eyebrow treatments that felt more painful. It was also quick, about five minutes per eye.

My under eye area looked swollen afterwards, but there was only a small pinprick on each cheek where the cannula had been.

Over the next few days, the skin under my eyes looked a little puffy. But within a week it was back to normal.

Two weeks later, when it was time for my second treatment, I already noticed that the purplish tint I always had under my eyes had faded slightly.

My eyes still looked swollen after the second treatment and it took a week for them to settle down. But after four weeks I am very happy.

For the first time since I was 20, I look well rested. The dark purple circles have almost disappeared. The skin under my eyes is now the same color as the rest of my face. I still have some fine lines, but the area looks much fuller. My husband said he was surprised the results looked so good. I consider that a victory.

I’ve also had a few compliments from friends saying my skin looks great. I love that it’s hard to pinpoint what I’ve done. But if anyone asks, I’ll happily spill the beans. If I come this time next year, I will definitely sign myself up for more salmon sperm. If you would like to catch up in the meantime, feel free to FaceTime me.