Painful, yet effective, mesotherapy has become one of the most popular techniques used by Hollywood models and actresses to reduce cellulite.
However, at the time the “fame” of this technique grew, many spas began to offer this procedure without an adequate medical endorsement. Mesotherapy was discovered in the 50s by a French doctor and it consists in the application of microinjections containing medicines, minerals, amino acids, or vitamins. The name comes from “mesoderm,” which is the layer of the skin where the injections are introduced.
While this procedure is also used to treat various health problems, its use in aesthetics is more popular in recent times, as it is used to dissolve fat and reduce cellulite.
What Matters is the Inside One of the concepts that generates more confusion is that mesotherapy is the name of the procedure, beyond the medicine that is applied.
In the case of cellulite, a combination of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid (a compound that, among other functions, helps dissolve fat deposits) is used.Therefore, if you decide to take the treatment, it is very important to consult a certified and recommended doctor in order to guarantee the authenticity of the medications used.
It is also essential to check that the needles are disposable and that instruments are sterile. Another aspect that needs attention after the first application is allergic reactions. If any symptom appears, the treatment must be suspended and medical attention must be immediate.
What You Should Know Both phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid are approved by the FDA; but, the combination of these products isn’t.
However, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons considers it’s not the same to combine drugs than to use “off-label” products.
Moreover, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to demonstrate the benefits of mesotherapy for fat reduction. The few studies that have been performed have very low validation.
Similarly, there are still many unanswered questions, like: What happens to fat cells? How much fat can be removed? How does this affect the rest of the body?
There are many questions and, so far, few certainties about this treatment. Since health comes first, perhaps it’s more convenient to wait until more evidence is available. Meanwhile, a healthy diet and an exercise plan are the best options to look better.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons / www.lipotreatments.org
