Mesotherapy
Definition
Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive technique in which microinjections of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, plant extracts, and pharmaceutical agents are delivered into the mesoderm, the middle skin layer. Developed in France, it is used for skin rejuvenation, fat reduction, and hair loss.
Identities
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesotherapy
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1151825
- DBpedia: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Mesotherapy
Also Known As
Mesolift, mesoglow, lipodissolve (for fat), injection lipolysis, biorevitalization, “cocktail injections.”
Examples and Analogies
Mesotherapy is like fertilizing soil directly at the roots. Instead of applying serum on the surface where much is lost, a fine needle delivers active ingredients exactly where skin or fat cells can use them. For fat-dissolving mesotherapy, the solution works like a mild detergent breaking down a small grease pocket so the body clears it.
Usage Scenarios
- Facial biorevitalization for dull or aging skin.
- Reduction of small fat deposits like a double chin.
- Cellulite and localized adiposity.
- Hair restoration combined with peptides or PRP.
- Brightening of melasma and pigmentation.
Strategies
Sessions use fine needles or a mesotherapy gun to place tiny drops of a customized solution at 1-4 millimeter depths. A course of four to eight sessions one to two weeks apart is typical, with maintenance every few months. Formulations vary by goal: hyaluronic acid and peptides for glow, phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid for fat.
Security and Safety Measures
Mesotherapy is prescription-dependent and requires sterile technique by qualified physicians. Risks include bruising, swelling, infection, granulomas, skin necrosis, and allergic reaction. The variability of cocktail ingredients, some lacking regulatory approval, is a major concern; the Philippine FDA has cautioned against unregulated injectables in salons.
Historical Context
Mesotherapy was introduced by French physician Michel Pistor in 1952 and recognized by the French Academy of Medicine in 1987. Its aesthetic applications expanded internationally in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching Philippine aesthetic centers as demand for non-surgical rejuvenation grew.
Challenges and Controversies
The procedure is controversial because cocktail composition is poorly standardized, making comparative studies difficult. Several medical societies note thinner evidence than for alternatives such as cryolipolysis or PRP, and counterfeit substances and inconsistent training remain concerns.