What is MESOTHERAPY?

Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive anti-aging procedure widely used in Europe that targets individual skin concerns with potent microinjections of medicines, vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids.

Mesotherapy originated in France being developed by a Dr. M Pistor in the early 1950's for treatment of diseases by microinjections. The word "Mesotherapy" is derived from the Greek word 'meso' meaning 'middle'. The actual treatment is applied into the mesodermal tissue, i.e. the middle layer of skin. Unlike oral medication, it is, therefore, possible to treat the problem area directly. It is generally used to treat localised excess fat reduction and for skin and facial rejuvenation.

The actual treatment is a series of tiny injections of a cocktail of vitamins, amino acids, anti-inflammatories and homeopathic medicines. The combination depends on the problem being treated. These are fed into the skin with the use of a small needle about 4-6mm long. This medication stimulates the middle layer of skin improving microcirculation and drainage of toxins in the area treated. Mesotherapy uses different injection techniques according to the patient's concerns, delivering the ingredients to different depths, though as already indicated, typically quite shallow. Many of these are not even felt as the skin is pinched prior to and during the injections. Since the injections are very superficial, they disperse very slowly and travel down to deeper tissues.
Treatments are usually a course of about ten for fat and cellulite reduction and six for skin rejuvenation, given once a week. The patient is then assessed to determine an on-going programme of maintenance. In some cases, a further full course of treatment may be recommended.

Cellulite Reduction - Cellulite is caused by poor circulation, fat build up, a weakening of connective tissues, lymphatic congestion and hormonal imbalances. Cellulite is classified into four stages, based upon its appearance while standing, laying, and pinching the skin. Mesotherapy treatment is targeted to correct these problems by improving circulation, strengthening connective tissues, and dissolving excess fat.

Weight Loss - For weight loss, mesotherapy works to modify the biology of fat cells. It does so supposedly by blocking the signals of fat accumulation and simultaneously triggering the release of stored fat. The desired area of treatment can be specific, targeting the most problematic areas. Additionally, a complete dietary and nutrient evaluation is needed to help maintain weight loss goals.

Hair Regrowth - Alopecia, the loss of hair, affects both men and women. Alopecia results from poor circulation, nutritional imbalances and the excess of a hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Mesotherapy can correct these problems, stimulating the body to naturally grow lost hair.

Face and Neck Rejuvenation - Ageing, sagging and wrinkling of the skin occurs from accumulation of fat, loss of skin elasticity and excessive free radical damage. Using antioxidants and amino acids, mesotherapy aims to remove fat from under the neck, remove free radical damage, and tighten loose skin. The effects are said to rejuvenate the face, eyelids, and neck without the unnatural appearance and painful recovery of surgical face lifting.

Body Sculpting - Contouring of the abdomen, arms, back, legs and hands can be obtained with mesotherapy. Vitamins and amino acids are used to tighten sagging skin while other agents are used to remove areas of fat, restoring a more youthful and athletic appearance to the body's contours.

Medical Uses

Mesotherapy is said to have a variety of medicinal uses. Treatments can benefit those patients suffering from muscle spasms, stress, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, infections, RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), and osteoarthritis, among other conditions. Such a wide variety of conditions can be treated with this technique as each treatment is formulated to meet each patient's unique problem.

Mesotherapy is administered only into the problematic area, avoiding the side-effects of taking oral medications. That said, there is, at present, little published evidence of the effectiveness of mesotherapy either way. Indeed, some medical agencies claim that liposuction is the only way to get rid of excess fat, for example. Again, there have been some substantial results suggested for mesotherapy - my own view is that the jury is still out. For those of you that do not feel that they would enjoy liposuction procedures, which are substantially invasive, then mesotherapy, under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, could well be the answer. As I say, with any procedure which is non-topical, speak to your GP. Mesotherapy is outside the bounds of a beautician and is firmly seated in medical aesthetics.

Many practitioners use Phosphatidylcholine which is a glycerophospholipid that is involved in the metabolism of several lipid compounds. When medical researchers use the term “lecithin,” they are referring to a purified substance called phosphatidyl choline. Phosphatidylcholine is an excellent fat burner. Phosphatidylcholine's role in the maintenance of cell-membrane integrity is vital to all of the basic biological processes. These are: information flow that occurs within cells from DNA to RNA to proteins; the formation of cellular energy and intracellular communication or signal transduction.

Practitioners may also use phosphatidylcholine by itself for weight loss. Similar products on the market include Lipostabil and Essentiale. You must be fully aware of what any mesotherapy solution contains including the amino acids and vitamins. For example, one product, Cellulyse is a medicinal product and is not licensed in the UK for any purposes and that includes cosmetic use.

The following abstract is relevant:

“Mesotherapy involves a series of injections containing many different ingredients, including vasodilators, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, enzymes, and hormones. A common chemical used is lecithin (phosphatidylcholine isoproterenol), a lipolytic agent. However, a recent study has shown that when lecithin solubilized with deoxycholate was used to treat subcutaneous lipomas, the active ingredient was actually the deoxycholate rather than the phosphatidalcholine. This study suggested that low-concentration deoxycholate may be a safe and effective treatment for small collections of fat. While more study is needed, mesotherapy may one day be the treatment of choice for certain lipomas."

(Reference: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic242.htm#section~treatment)

(lipomas, in simple terms, are fatty lumps that are not "dangerous" in the sense of being, say, cancerous)

Risks include allergic reactions to the injected mixture and/or any local anaesthetic. Bruising may also occur. There is also debate about the effectiveness and safety of some of the substances used in mesotherapy (which is why you must be aware of what is being used). General restrictions vary with conditions treated and must be discussed before treatments are administered. You can not wear makeup for four hours after Mesotherapy. You can not vigorously exercise for 48 hours. No hot showers are allowed for 6 to 8 hours after treatments. It is also recommended to eat a meal high in protein prior to treatment. Not to be undertaken if pregnant or taking warafin.

Note: The above is not given as a medical opinion and must not be considered as such.