Mesotherapy

The art of reducing fat through small injections

Mesotherapy has long been an art in Europe and South America, where it has helped women achieve a reduction in cellulite and localized fat without surgery. Mesotherapy has recently been brought to the United States and is now being used here by many experienced plastic surgeons. Unlike liposuction, which involves the removal of unwanted fat cells, mesotherapy involves small injections which result in breakdown of fat cells. These injections include natural-occurring substances, such as phosphatidylcholine, which is present in all living tissues. When injected in fat and cellulite, however, the fat cells become inflamed and disrupted, and their contents (fat) gets carried away.

Mesotherapy can be applied for two main purposes…

Mesotherapy can be used to treat cellulite, which is where the greatest benefits are being achieved. Cellulite is due to superficial fat and causes puckering and dimpling of skin. Most women with cellulite can see visible improvement, and some see resolution of their cellulite, depending on the severity and extent of cellulite.

Mesotherapy can also be used to treat localized fat…which is the term plastic surgeons use to describe bulges….areas that go out instead of in. Liposuction can also be used to treat localized fat (see below).

So, mesotherapy can be used to treat cellulite, which results in smoother appearing skin, but no reduction in volume, or it can be used to treat localized fat, which results in a reduction of volume of fat, but no change in skin surface. It is also possible to treat both of these problems in the same body area (such as outer thighs), but it is recommended to address them at different treatment sessions to avoid over-treatment in any given area