Mesotherapy is technically any form of treatment administered by injection. There are innumerable things treated by this form of therapy. The most successful is using a detergent, phosphatidylcholine, to dissolve areas of localized fat or cellulite. This treatment is not geared toward removing generalized fat the way liposuction would do. In fact, the result of treating generalized fat with mesotherapy could leave behind the stretched skin that would otherwise be removed during liposuction procedures. It is also a more gradual treatment, requiring for most areas of the body multiple treatments.

In the USA we tend to use higher doses of active ingredients and leave out much of the holistic additives the Europeans use. When treating love handles or belly fat or even large areas of cellulite on the buttocks or thighs, it could require 6 to 10 weekly treatments. In Europe people think nothing of stretching this out to 20 treatments or more. Other areas that can typically be treated include the fat deposits under the eyes, the neck, under the arms and calves.

Side effects of mesotherapy are mild and include soreness, itching, bruising, bleeding that all resolve much as they would normally when caused by other treatments. It is a good idea not to take anything that thins the blood for 3 days prior to treatment. Afterwards it feels as if the area was exercised vigorously and has that usual soreness for 1 to 2 days afterward. The ideal candidate is someone who has already lost weight and wants to lose fat in certain areas that weight loss did not occur.

There are many opinions of what to include in the syringe. The most reliable results are believed to be from the phosphatidylcholine or its preservative. Other ingredients commonly used include aminophylline, isoproterenol, L-Carnitine, Yohimbine, caffeine, artichoke extract, organic silicium, arnica Montana, co-enzyme Q 10, Pentoxifylline, hyaluronic acid, tretinoin, glycolic acid, vitamins and minerals and the list goes on. We are getting very good results with phosphatidylcholine with lidocaine and saline dilution alone.

As an allergist trained to decipher allergic and toxic reactions to all sorts of medications, additive, aeroallergens and contact allergies, I prefer to use the most simple, effective and proven regimens. One principle in cosmetic medicine is that the more ingredients you add to a product, the less is the concentration of active ingredients. The advantage of simplicity of ingredients to an allergist is the ease of identifying what is responsible for allergic and adverse reactions when they occur.

There are a few contraindications to this form of mesotherapy including liver cirrhosis, lupus, renal insufficiency, pregnancy, anticoagulation of the blood (aspirin, Plavix, coumadin) and cancer.

When used for fat and cellulite it is always a good idea to provide advice on weight management by diet. This will produce the best outcome and patient satisfaction.

Other forms of mesotherapy in the USA include a treatment to make the skin glow, injections to aid hair growth, acne injections, healing of plantar warts, sweating control, and reversing fine lines and wrinkles. There are many other applications internationally.