Mesotherapy
By Sarene Helps

 
 
The word Mesotherapy is derived from the Greek word mesos, "middle", and therapy from therapeia, "to treat medically". The treatment consists of multiple injections of pharmaceutical and homeopathic medications - plant extracts, vitamins, and other ingredients just under the epidermis or deeper into the dermis.

Mesotherapy originated in France, where Dr Michael Pistor developed it in 1952. Dr Pistor had the idea of injecting a little medication and only a few times, exactly at the right place.

 
Veterinarians had used it since 1923 and traces of texts have been found mentioning "multi puncture" in ancient China, India and Egypt dating from 3600 BC. It has been officially recognised by the French "Académie de Medecine" in 1987 and is listed as a medical treatment by the state-run health care system in France

The medical benefits include improved blood flow to the area, dissolving excess fat deposits, removing fibrotic, hardened connective tissue and improving lymphatic drainage. It is highly effective in treating arthritis, joint and liver disorders. By puncturing the skin and injecting a little medication right below the surface in the affected area, (the needles used are only between 0,16 and 0,51 inches long), the substance does not have to pass through the blood, the liver and the stomach, resulting in the desired effects being far more powerful and quickly obtained.

When taken orally, the liver and stomach will destroy part of the drugs and other parts will diffuse everywhere in the body, which can cause undesired side effects and only a small amount will arrive in the required area. Furthermore, the amount of medication, either conventional or homeopathic, to be used can be greatly reduced; the quantity injected can be as little as only 1% of the quantity used in normal treatments, which again reduces the side-effects and also avoids the body becoming resistant to certain drugs.

The combination of vitamins, herbal products and medication that is injected is tailored specifically for each patient to optimize results. Many factors are taken into consideration to determine the most effective combination including genetics, gender, liposuction, type of fat, age and medical history

Mesotherapy, when used for skin rejuvenation, infuses the dermis with potent vitamins and anti-oxidants to rejuvenate and revitalize the skin.

The results are skin that is firm, radiant, youthful and glowing. Initially a series of 2-4 treatments are performed a week apart. Results are maintained by twice a year touch-up sessions.

 
Dr Duncan Carmichael from The Cape Town Anti-Ageing Clinic has been using Mesotherapy for the past 18 months with excellent results. Dr Carmichael explains that when the correct cocktail is used and injected into the dermis it is an effective skin strengthener. The vitamins stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid stimulates new cell growth. Simply by puncturing the skins surface blood growth factors are released which stimulate new cell formation. For cellulite or weight reduction a “fat burning” formula is injected directly into the areas being treated e.g. “love handles”, “bra bulge”, “saddlebags” etc. The fat beneath the skin melts and shrinks the fat cells in the Scarpa's fascia layer. The fat dissolves and is excreted by the kidneys.

A series of treatments (5-15) is given, spaced one week apart. Results are considered permanent as long as the patient adheres to a proper nutrition and exercise regimen. Occasional touch-ups may be required.

Dr Rossouw from the Boland Laser and Health Clinic focuses on Mesotherapy for body sculpturing. He finds that if used on patients before liposuction many choose not to have the invasive surgery. Dr Rossouw combines Mesotherapy with Endermologie to maximise results.

Many patients who develop unevenness, divots, or lumps after undergoing liposuction find that these areas can be successfully treated with Mesotherapy. The scar tissue that forms under the skin after liposuction is directly targeted and dissolved.

Dr Riekie Smit, an anti-ageing specialist from Pretoria who uses Mesotherapy in her clinic, stresses that besides all the other uses it is important to mention that not all Mesotherapy cocktails will work for everybody. In Dr Smit’s opinion it is very important to do individualised treatments and adapt the products according to the patient's condition.

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Most of the conditions treated such as cellulite and wrinkles have multifactorial causes and due to this it is necessary to use multiple ingredients to treat the condition effectively.

With regards to legislation - Dr Smit advises that the minimum qualification necessary for injections is to be a registered nurse. Even then a registered nurse can only inject up to schedule 2 substances without medical supervision. After that the patient will need a prescription from a doctor for the product.

Nurses can administer homeopathic cocktails without the presence of a doctor and without a doctor seeing the patient.

Another way to incorporate mesotherapy into a spa or salon without a nurse or a doctor is by using the new no-needle mesotherapy devices.

The new Skin Injection Technique (SIT), a needle with a control plunger limits penetration of the skin to the depth of 2mm, is now available to qualified therapists, along with pre-mixed commercial cocktails of Mesotherapy.

Therapists must, however, ensure that the device has sufficient research behind it to prove its efficacy in delivering the drugs through the skins barrier.

If the device works only with iontophoresis it will not penetrate the skin sufficiently to achieve results equal to injections. Electroporation and aquaphoresis remains the technique most effective for this purpose.

Dr Bradley Wagemaker, Medical Director of Lamelle Research Laboratories comments that certain rolling devices - like Dermaroller and Roll-CIT, which create multiple micro-punctures into the Epidermis, can assist in the delivery of 200 - 300 times the amount of active ingredients into the dermis. Other mechanisms such as iontophoresis, sonophoresis and electrodermoporation can also increase the quantity of active ingredient into the epidermis and the dermis. Although this by definition is not true Mesotherapy (because of the lack of direct intradermal placement of ingredient) it can be safely performed in any situation - even in some cases by the client at home by using the Dermaroller C8 and still deliver strong dermal signalling if the active ingredients are correct.

Regarding the role of in the medi-spa environment, Dr Wagemaker states that provided the medi-spa has experienced and well trained staff, Mesotherapy for skin rejuvenation is a very effective and safe way of achieving excellent therapeutic results. The only caveat is that of suitable ingredients. Research done and a paper published last year showed that a multi-vitamin Mesotherapy cocktail alone provided no changes to the skin after a series of treatments, proving that just because it is called Mesotherapy does not necessarily mean that it works, the ingredients are vital for it to work!

Mesotherapy is gaining popularity in the Medi-spa environment due to the fact that micro-injections are relatively painless, healing is uncomplicated and quick, and no time off work is required.

The side effects and risks of mesotherapy are mild, especially compared to those of any surgery that involves general anaesthesia.

 

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