Expertly Written By
Dr. Rocco Piazza, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon practicing in Austin, Texas. Our practice stocks one of the three serums on this page and chose not to stock the other two. This page explains why.
The Comparison at a Glance
Patient: Anyone choosing between the premium regenerative serums sold in medical practices
Desired Goal: Pick the right serum for your skin, without the marketing
Product: INVO Rejuvenating Complex, Young Goose Vampire Exosomes, SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
Size: All three are about 30 mL, at $285 to $295
Technique: Multi-source exosomes vs single-source platelet exosomes vs growth factors
Timeline: Any of them needs six to eight weeks of consistent use before you judge it
Why This Matters: These three cost almost the same and come in almost the same bottle, so price tells you nothing. What separates them is what is inside: three exosome sources, one exosome source, or no exosomes at all. That is the choice you are actually making. Individual results vary.
Search for an exosome serum and Google tends to put three names side by side: INVO Rejuvenating Complex, Young Goose Vampire Exosomes and SkinMedica TNS Advanced+. They sit in the same price band, they are sold through the same kinds of practices, and they are usually presented as though they do the same job.
They don't. One is a multi-source exosome serum, one is a single-source platelet exosome serum, and one is a growth factor serum with no exosomes in it at all. This page lays out what each one actually is, using the manufacturers' own published figures, and where each comes out ahead — including where the serum we stock does not.
Where we stand, because you should know it before you read a comparison from a practice: we carry INVO. We retired SkinMedica TNS from our shelf because we felt its formula had not kept pace with newer options. We chose not to stock Young Goose because it is a single-source platelet serum, and we wanted mesenchymal sources. Weigh what follows accordingly.
The Short Answer
INVO Rejuvenating Complex is the one to choose if you want exosomes from more than one source. It is the only serum here drawing on three — fibroblast, umbilical cord and bone marrow — with vitamin C and peptides in the same bottle.
Young Goose Vampire Exosomes is the one to choose if exosome count matters most to you. At roughly 3 trillion in 30 mL, it lists the most exosomes of the three, all from a single platelet source.
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ is the one to choose if you want the longest track record. It is a growth factor serum, not an exosome serum, built on the human fibroblast conditioned media that started topical growth factor skincare.
The Three at a Glance
Exosomes per 30 mL bottle
Manufacturer-stated counts.
Exosome sources
INVO vs Young Goose vs SkinMedica TNS: Side by Side
| INVO Rejuvenating Complex | Young Goose Vampire Exosomes | SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Exosome serum | Exosome serum | Growth factor serum |
| Source | 3 — fibroblast, umbilical cord, bone marrow | 1 — human platelet | Human fibroblast conditioned media |
| Bottle size | 30 mL | 30 mL | 1 fl oz (~30 mL) |
| Exosomes per bottle | 1.2+ trillion | ~3 trillion — the most of the three | Not an exosome product; no count published |
| Other key ingredients | Vitamin C, 1,200+ growth factors and peptides | Hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan, panthenol; NAD⁺ support | Peptides and botanicals in a two-chamber pump |
| Directions | Twice daily | 1–2 pumps, morning or evening | Twice daily |
| Typical price | $285 | $285 | $295 |
| Cost per mL | ~$9.50 | ~$9.50 | ~$10 |
| At The Piazza Center | In stock | Not stocked — we chose mesenchymal sources | Retired — formula fell behind newer options |
Figures are from manufacturer and authorized-retailer product listings as of October 2026. Prices are typical list prices and vary by seller. Exosome counts are as stated by each manufacturer and have not been independently verified by us. Individual results vary.
Exosomes vs Growth Factors: Why TNS Is a Different Category
SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ shows up in nearly every exosome comparison, but it is not an exosome serum, and it doesn't claim to be. Its key ingredient is human fibroblast conditioned media: the growth factors, cytokines and proteins that cultured skin cells release into the liquid around them. TNS was one of the first topical growth factor products, and for many patients it defined the category.
Exosomes are something more specific. They are tiny vesicles that cells release, each carrying a packaged cargo of proteins and genetic signalling material from the cell that made it. A growth factor serum delivers loose signalling proteins; an exosome serum delivers them packaged.
Neither is automatically better. Growth factor serums have the longer history in cosmetic use; exosome serums are the newer approach, with promising but still early published evidence. If you have used TNS happily for years, nothing on this page says you must change. If you want to try exosomes, though, TNS isn't the way to do it. We used to carry TNS and retired it because, in our view, the formula had not been meaningfully updated while newer approaches moved on.
Coming from TNS? What we stock instead
Pavise Bioadaptive Stress Repair (BSR)
When we retired TNS, this is the night serum we now point TNS users to. It isn't a growth factor serum and doesn't contain exosomes; it is a topical biostimulator that Pavise formulates to support the look of firmer skin, smoother expression lines and more even tone. It is a topical, not a substitute for an injectable like Sculptra. Because it's a night serum, it can sit alongside an exosome serum such as INVO in the same routine.
$228 / 30 mL night serum
Shop Pavise BSRYoung Goose Vampire Exosomes: The Platelet Option
The "vampire" in the name is a nod to the vampire facial, the in-office treatment that uses a patient's own platelet-rich plasma. Young Goose doesn't use your blood; its label lists human platelet extract, so its exosomes come from donated human platelets, a single source.
Its headline number is count. Young Goose lists about 3 trillion platelet-derived exosomes in a 30 mL bottle — around 100 billion per millilitre, the highest of the three serums here. It also leans into NAD⁺ support and a hydrating base of hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan and panthenol.
That single platelet source is why we passed on it. When we chose our exosome serum, we wanted mesenchymal sources, not more of the platelet approach we had already moved away from.
INVO: Three Sources Instead of One
INVO takes the opposite route. Rather than a deeper pour from one source, it draws from three: fibroblast, umbilical cord and bone marrow. Two of those, umbilical cord and bone marrow, are mesenchymal sources, among the most widely researched in exosome science. Exosomes carry the cargo of the cell that released them, so different sources mean different payloads, not simply more of the same one.
It also carries vitamin C and peptides in the same bottle, so it does a little more of a routine's work in one step.
Platelet vs Mesenchymal Exosomes: What Each Source Carries
This is the real difference between Young Goose and INVO, so it deserves a careful explanation — including the part that doesn't favour the serum we stock.
Platelet-derived exosomes
Young Goose (and Plated)
What they carry
Mainly the growth factors platelets release at an injury: PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF and bFGF. A 2014 lab study found these more concentrated in platelet exosomes than in the platelet lysate they came from.
What the research has looked at
Signalling that tells skin fibroblasts to multiply and lay down new collagen — essentially the body's wound-repair signal.
Human topical evidence
One published study: 56 people used a platelet exosome serum twice daily for 12 weeks, and skin biopsies showed thicker collagen fibres. It had no control group, but it is direct human data.
Mesenchymal exosomes
INVO (umbilical cord and bone marrow, plus fibroblast)
What they carry
Growth factors too, plus a broader mix of signalling material, including microRNAs. Researchers are interested in them as much for calming inflammation as for repair.
What the research has looked at
In lab and animal studies, mesenchymal stem cell exosomes have been linked to more collagen and elastin production and more active fibroblasts. They are among the most widely researched exosome sources.
Human topical evidence
Small human studies exist, mostly alongside microneedling and often using adipose-derived exosomes rather than INVO's exact sources. INVO has not published a clinical study of its own formula.
Our honest read
Platelet and mesenchymal exosomes are different, not proven better than one another. Platelet currently has the more direct human evidence for collagen. Mesenchymal has the broader body of lab research and a wider range of signals. We chose mesenchymal for that range; it's a judgement, and the science hasn't settled it. Reviews of the field agree that larger, controlled trials are still needed for every source.
INVO vs Young Goose: The Closest Matchup
These two are the most direct comparison on the page: same 30 mL bottle, same $285 price, same cost per millilitre. The difference comes down to one question.
Young Goose wins on count. About 3 trillion exosomes against INVO's 1.2 trillion or more, roughly two and a half times as many. If total exosome count is the number you shop by, Young Goose is the stronger buy, and we would rather tell you that than have you find it on your own.
INVO wins on range. Three sources instead of one, with vitamin C and peptides built into the formula. Platelet exosomes have the more direct human evidence so far; mesenchymal exosomes have the broader research base.
Our judgement, and the reason INVO is the one we stock, is that for a cosmetic serum used at home every day for two months, a broader mix of signals is worth more than a higher count from one source. A reasonable clinician could weigh it the other way. What we would push back on is the idea that a bigger exosome number settles it. Counts are self-reported, measured differently from brand to brand, and no published study has yet shown that a higher count on the label produces a visibly better result on the face.
Where Each One Fits
- You want exosomes from more than one source, with vitamin C and peptides in the same step: INVO Rejuvenating Complex.
- You want the highest exosome count at this price: Young Goose Vampire Exosomes.
- You want a growth factor serum with decades of use behind it: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+.
- You are coming off Plated: we cover that switch separately in our Plated INTENSE alternative guide.
- Your concern is laxity, volume loss or deep lines: none of the three. That is a consultation conversation, not a serum purchase.
After Microneedling or Laser
All three brands talk about post-procedure use, and this is where serums matter most to a practice like ours. In our clinic, an exosome booster is applied right after a treatment such as microneedling or laser, by the provider, while the skin is most receptive. At home, the serum continues once your provider has cleared you to resume your routine.
The timing is the part to get right, and it varies with the treatment and its intensity. Follow your own provider's aftercare instructions rather than a brand's general guidance — or any article's, including this one.
"Patients compare exosome serums by the biggest number on the box. I compare them by what's actually in the bottle and where it came from. That's why we chose three sources over one." — Dr. Rocco Piazza, MD, FACS
What None of Them Can Do
All three are cosmetics, not drugs. The FDA has not approved any exosome product for any medical use, and it has warned consumers about unapproved exosome treatments marketed with medical claims. A topical serum works on the look and feel of the skin surface — smoothness, tone, the appearance of fine lines. It does not reposition tissue, and a serum isn't a facelift.
Whichever you choose, the rule is the same: use it consistently, as directed, for six to eight weeks before you judge it. Most disappointment with a premium serum comes from stopping too soon. Individual results vary.
What We Stock
Patients of the practice can call the clinic for patient pricing on INVO.
INVO, Young Goose and TNS: Common Questions
Which has more exosomes, INVO or Young Goose?
Young Goose. Its listings state about 3 trillion platelet-derived exosomes in 30 mL, against INVO's 1.2 trillion or more in the same size bottle. INVO's difference is that its exosomes come from three sources (fibroblast, umbilical cord and bone marrow) rather than one, with vitamin C and peptides in the formula.
Are platelet or mesenchymal exosomes better for collagen?
Neither has been proven better. Platelet-derived exosomes have more direct human evidence: one 12-week study of 56 people found thicker collagen fibres on biopsy, though without a control group. Mesenchymal exosomes have a broader base of lab research linking them to collagen and elastin production. They are different approaches, and larger controlled trials are still needed for both.
Is SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ an exosome serum?
No. TNS Advanced+ is a growth factor serum built on human fibroblast conditioned media. It contains growth factors and peptides, but it isn't marketed as an exosome product and doesn't publish an exosome count.
Are Young Goose Vampire Exosomes made from my own blood?
No. The name references the vampire facial, which uses your own platelet-rich plasma, but the serum lists human platelet extract from donated platelets. It is a ready-made, single-source platelet exosome serum.
What is a good alternative to SkinMedica TNS?
It depends whether you want to stay with growth factors or try exosomes. If you want to try exosomes, INVO and Young Goose cost about the same per millilitre as TNS. INVO also includes growth factors and peptides alongside its exosomes, which makes it the gentler step across for a TNS user. If firmness was your main reason for using TNS, the night serum we now recommend in its place is Pavise Bioadaptive Stress Repair.
Are exosome serums FDA approved?
No. Topical exosome serums are sold as cosmetics, and the FDA has not approved any exosome product for any medical use. Be cautious of any exosome product marketed with claims to treat or cure a condition.
Why doesn't The Piazza Center carry Young Goose or SkinMedica?
We keep a deliberately short shelf and stock one serum per job. For exosomes, we chose INVO for its three-source formula. We retired SkinMedica TNS because we felt the formula had fallen behind newer options, and replaced it with Pavise Bioadaptive Stress Repair. We chose not to stock Young Goose because it is a single-source platelet serum, and we wanted mesenchymal sources. Both are well-made products; they just aren't what we chose.
Can I use an exosome serum after microneedling?
Exosome serums are commonly used after microneedling and laser treatments, but the timing depends on the procedure and your skin. Follow your own provider's aftercare instructions for when to apply it.
Research referenced
Torreggiani E, et al. Exosomes: novel effectors of human platelet lysate activity. European Cells & Materials, 2014;28.
Wyles SP, Proffer SL, et al. Effect of topical human platelet extract (HPE) on facial skin rejuvenation: a histological study of collagen and elastin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024;23(9).
Alzahrani, et al. Exosomes in skin rejuvenation: systematic review of anti-aging effects and clinical applications. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 2026;16(1).
Dhaliwal, et al. Microneedling with exosomes: a systematic review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer alert on regenerative medicine products, including exosomes.
Individual results vary. INVO Rejuvenating Complex, Young Goose Vampire Exosomes and SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum are cosmetic products and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All brand names are trademarks of their respective owners; The Piazza Center is not affiliated with Young Goose or SkinMedica and earns nothing from their sales. Product figures are drawn from manufacturer and retailer listings as of October 2026. This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice; speak with a qualified physician about what is appropriate for your skin.
Not Sure Which Serum Fits Your Skin?
Dr. Rocco Piazza and our Austin aesthetics team can tell you whether an exosome serum is the right next step — or whether something else would serve you better.
Dr. Rocco Piazza II
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Piazza is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Austin, TX. He specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery with a focus on natural results.
