What Is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a procedure that involves injecting vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and botanical extracts to revive and firm the skin, as well as to reduce localized fat deposits.

Developed in 1952 by French physician Michel Pistor, the method was first used to ease pain. Over time, it has spread in popularity across the United States and other countries.

Nowadays, mesotherapy is applied to:

• eliminate fat from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, legs, arms, and face
• lessen the appearance of cellulite
• soften wrinkles and fine lines
• firm lax skin
• reshape body contours
• lighten hyperpigmented skin
• address alopecia, a condition that causes hair thinning or loss

The method employs very fine needles to administer multiple injections into the skin’s middle layer (mesoderm). The premise of mesotherapy is that it targets underlying causes such as poor circulation and inflammation that contribute to skin damage.

There is no single standardized mixture used in mesotherapy. Practitioners employ a variety of solutions, for example:

• prescription drugs such as vasodilators and antibiotics
• hormones like calcitonin and thyroxine
• enzymes including collagenase and hyaluronidase
• herbal preparations
• vitamins and trace minerals

How much does it cost?

Mesotherapy pricing varies depending on the specific treatment and the number of sessions required. Typically, a single session runs between $250 and $600. Because it is cosmetic rather than medically necessary, health insurers generally do not cover mesotherapy.

How do you prepare?

You’ll consult with the physician beforehand to learn what to expect. You may be advised to avoid aspirin (Bufferin) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for about a week prior to the procedure, since these medications can raise the risk of bleeding and bruising during treatment.

What happens during your appointment?

At each session, topical anesthesia may or may not be applied. A series of injections are given using a specialized short needle, which is sometimes mounted on a mechanical device to deliver multiple injections quickly.

Injections can be administered at varying depths—typically from 1 to 4 millimeters into the skin—depending on the condition being treated. The clinician might insert the needle at an angle or use a rapid flicking motion. Each injection usually deposits a very small droplet of the solution into the skin.

Multiple mesotherapy sessions are usually necessary to achieve the intended outcomes. Expect to visit the clinic between 3 and 15 times. Initially, treatments are often scheduled every 7 to 10 days. As improvement occurs, sessions may be spaced to every two weeks or monthly.

How effective is the procedure?

Determining mesotherapy’s effectiveness is difficult because a wide range of ingredients and techniques are used. Only a limited number of studies have evaluated the method, and many of those studies are small.

The available research has not shown strong support for skin rejuvenation with mesotherapy. A 2012 study of six participants treated for six months did not demonstrate meaningful wrinkle improvement. Similarly, a 2008 study involving 20 women undergoing mesotherapy for body contouring found no decrease in thigh circumference.

How does it compare to liposuction?

Mesotherapy is often promoted as a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction for reducing unwanted fat.

Liposuction removes fat permanently from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, and back. Surgeons perform the procedure by inserting a thin plastic cannula through small skin incisions and suctioning fat out with a surgical vacuum under anesthesia. Although liposuction is generally effective at permanently eliminating fat, recovery can take up to six weeks. Risks include nerve and blood vessel injury, uneven skin contours, burns, and infection. The procedure is also costly: in 2016 the average price was $3,200.

Mesotherapy is less invasive than liposuction—there are no surgical incisions. At $250 to $600 per session, the expense per appointment is substantially lower than liposuction, but multiple sessions (sometimes ten or more) may be needed to achieve results.

There is limited evidence on how effective mesotherapy is for fat reduction; research is insufficient and techniques vary by provider.

Injection lipolysis is another noninvasive option that is related to mesotherapy. The terms “mesotherapy” and “injection lipolysis” are often used interchangeably, though they differ slightly.

In injection lipolysis, practitioners inject compounds like phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate into the fat layer beneath the skin to dissolve fat. As with mesotherapy, there is very limited evidence supporting its effectiveness.

The American Society for Plastic Surgeons does not endorse injection lipolysis or mesotherapy for fat removal, citing a lack of sufficient research to validate these approaches.

What are the side effects and risks?

Practitioners of mesotherapy assert that risks are small when the procedure is done by trained clinicians.

Reported side effects include:

• nausea
• pain
• tenderness
• swelling
• itching
• redness
• bruising
• nodules at injection sites
• hyperpigmented patches
• rashes
• infection
• scarring

What is the recovery like?

Because mesotherapy is minimally invasive, there is usually little to no downtime. Many patients resume normal activities right away, though some may need a day off because of swelling and discomfort at the injection sites.

The bottom line

Mesotherapy is a potential option for reducing unwanted fat and shaping the body, but its safety and effectiveness remain unconfirmed. Much of the research to date has focused on mesotherapy for pain relief rather than cosmetic outcomes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved mesotherapy as a specific procedure, although many individual ingredients used in treatments are FDA-approved for other indications. When these approved agents are used in mesotherapy, that is considered off-label use.

Because there are no standardized formulas for mesotherapy, the exact treatment can vary widely between providers. If you decide to pursue mesotherapy, choose a licensed physician with substantial experience to reduce the likelihood of complications.

Can mesotherapy be used for hair loss?

Beyond wrinkle treatment and fat reduction, mesotherapy is sometimes used for hair loss from alopecia. The approach involves injecting plant extracts, vitamins, or medications such as finasteride and minoxidil into the scalp.

Providers who offer mesotherapy for hair loss claim it:

• balances hormones around the hair follicle
• supplies nutrients to the hair
• enhances scalp blood flow

However, as with other mesotherapy uses, evidence that it effectively treats hair loss is sparse. Most injected substances have not been proven to stimulate hair regrowth. Only finasteride and minoxidil have data supporting their efficacy for hair loss.