Mesotherapy

Basics

Mesotherapy, also known as intradermotherapy, is really a term that describes a way to deliver medicines. Medicines and/or other substances are injected into the connective tissue that is just under the skin (the mesoderm). It is used in the treatment of several different diseases and conditions. What is generally thought of when hearing this term is the injection of medicines under the skin to dissolve fat and cellulite. Its use in body shaping has been employed in Europe and South America for several years. It is beginning to show up in "wellness centers" and "medical spas" in the US.

Mesotherapy has also gone be the names lipodissolve, lipotherapy, lipolyse, thinjection, phospholipon, and lipolight.

Generally, a numbing cream is applied to the skin over the area to be treated. Then, multiple injections with small needles (either by syringes or a special gun) are made a various skin levels. There can be up to several hundred injections.

Diet, exercise, and nutritional supplements are often used in addition.

There are several different medicines and substances that have been used in the injections. They vary depending on the intended treatment and the person performing the therapy. Two of the most popular substances are discussed below. Click on each one for more information.

Other Comments

Mesotherapy not a conventional technique taught in US medical schools. It is mainly used in Europe for the treatment of pain. Make sure you have fully discussed this with your doctor, and make sure the doctor performing it has a good understanding of how it should be given. Also, some unlicensed practitioners have used this technique. The bottom line is to only go to someone who knows what he/she is doing.

The main effect of dissolving fat occurs on the fat stored inside the fat cells. The cells themselves are generally still there. They just have less fat in them after the injections. Since they did not go away, they can fill up with and store fat again later.

There is no FDA approved drug to be used in mesotherapy for body shaping. The compounds are either being used "off-label" or have no FDA approved indication at all. Most of the components of the injections are based more off personal experience than scientific data.

It has not been studied as much as other weight loss therapies. The long term safety and efficacy have not been established. More studies need to be performed to better understand the full effects.

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