Mesotherapy treatment is a non-surgical cosmetic solution that has been practiced in Europe for several decades. It is touted as less invasive that cosmetic surgery for treating cellulite, excess fat and facial rejuvenation.
Mesotherapy involves injecting minute amounts of plant extracts, vitamins and other ingredients into the mesoderm (subcutaneous fat and tissue) of the body. The injections are usually administered fortnightly, and can involve anywhere from three to 30 sessions.
It was first developed in France in 1952 to treat vascular and lymphatic disorders. However, it was discovered that depending on the different substances injected, mesotherapy might also be useful in treating chronic pain, hair loss (alopecia), bone and joint disorders and psoriasis.
Anecdotally, patients report successful outcomes, but the practice in unable to be regulated to date by the FDA, which makes some organisations nervous.
Robin Ashinoff, of the American Acedemy of Dermatology has been reported as saying, “A simple injection is giving people false hope. Everybody's looking for a quick fix. But there is no quick fix for fat or fat deposits or for cellulite.”
How does mesotherapy work?
The combination of substances injected depends on what the mesotherapist deems appropriate, but may contain minute quantities of plant extracts, vitamins, enzymes, nutrients, hormones and medications such as vasodilators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, beta-receptor agonists and antibiotics.
For the treatment of cellulite and body fat reduction, two of the more common substances used are lecithin and isoproterenol. Lecithin is a compound found in human bile and needed for the digestion of dietary fats, whilst isoproterenol is a lipolytic agent that sets off a chemical reaction in the body to breakdown fat cells.
Potential side effects
Because mesotherapy is administered directly to the desired area, it is believed that side effects are limited or reduced. Reported side effects of mesotherapy include:
- Immediate or delayed allergic reaction to the injected drugs/solutions
- Lecithin is known to cause inflammation and swelling
- Skin infections
- Pigmentation at the injection site
- Bruising at the injection site
- Ulceration and scarring at the injection site
- Panniculitis (inflammation of the fat under the skin)
Potential advantages
The purported advantages of mesotherapy are its non-surgical approach, minimal or no pain experienced, fewer complications and less downtime. In terms of cost, the total cost of several mesotherapy sessions is similar to a liposuction procedure.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, liposuction is the only method that has been proven to safely and effectively remove fat.