R ecently, interest in mesotherapy has dramatically increased as a multitude of practitioners have begun to perform this procedure with a multitude of formulations and a multitude of results. Mesotherapy, touted as a non-surgical, permanent method for fat removal, is being embraced by some physicians and questioned for its legitimacy by others. However, the explosion in popularity has happened, although mesotherapy has not yet appeared on Oprah (if it does, there will be a flood of patients and physicians requesting information). So, as popularity continues to grow, it’s important to understand how the therapy works and what side effects may result.

Simply put, mesotherapy involves injecting various types of medications and plant extracts into layers of fat and connective tissue under the skin with the object of dissolving fat. The liquids are introduced into the subcutaneous space using infiltration cannulas or needles. Typically, the materials are manually injected using a syringe. There are no standardized protocols for this procedure, no standard equipment used and, unlike tumescent liposuction, there is a dearth of information regarding what methodology is the best for the treatment.

Who Can Perform Mesotherapy?
This depends on state and local regulations. As with any cosmetic procedures, there are no regulations on who can perform this treatment. So, as with other cosmetic procedures, physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are doing mesotherapy. Some of these people are trained with weekend courses that are being promoted much the same way that the fake botulinum toxin was promoted (we receive blast faxes from companies offering huge profits with virtually no training). As a result of this lack of regulation, there is a swarm of practitioners who are suddenly mesotherapy “experts.” I know of a pathologist who is doing mesotherapy, although he never treated a live patient until he retired to Florida.

What is Being Used for Mesotherapy?
So far, no drug is FDA-approved for use in mesotherapy. Again, since there is no regulation, anything can be used. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, injected ingredients may include agents that are used to open blood vessels, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, enzymes, nutrients, antibiotics and hormones.

In the best-case scenario, materials such as phosphatidylcholine, caffeine, collagenase and other materials are used in amounts that are safe and won’t hurt patients. I can imagine that somewhere in Los Angeles, there are patients and providers who are ordering their mesotherapy ingredients with an extra shot of espresso from their favorite coffee shop. I wonder if you can get that in a fat-free formulation?

In the worst-case scenario, materials that were not designed or prepared in pharmaceutical production facilities are being introduced into the body with a variety of results. The product that has received the most attention is Lipostabil, a phosphatidylcholine, which was used in Brazil for mesotherapy, and was banned by the Brazilian government in 2003 for lack of efficacy. Recent studies suggest that it may not be the phosphatidylcholine that is effective in this formulation but rather the deoxycholate that is a detergent added to increase solubility.1

Some of the ingredients used may cause anaphylactic reactions, so it is only a matter of time before the literature reports complications due to mesotherapy. In addition, since formulation is totally unregulated, I’m sure we’ll hear of complications from a variety of infections and that some of these may be fatal. That may result in some regulatory interest much the same way that regulators were interested in the botulinum toxin that was marketed after people were hurt by it.

Complications Seen from Mesotherapy
There are both known and potential complications from mesotherapy. Known complications from mesotherapy stem from reactions to ingredients, infections and reactions to instrumentation. Reactions to ingredients may be anaphylactic (resulting in death if the office is not prepared for this reaction), allergic or foreign body/inflammatory among others. Infections resulting from mesotherapy may result from contaminated ingredients or improperly sterilized instruments. Bacterial, fungal and atypical mycobacterial infections have or will result from this form of treatment. Foreign body reactions may be predicted to occur as practitioners push the envelope of home formulation (again, think about the problems that have been seen as a result of injecting reconstituted botulinum toxin formula for a preview) and one can imagine the reactions to talc, starch, etc.

Complications resulting from technique or instrumentation may also result in problems for patients. Since there are no standard instruments or techniques, the procedure is dependent on the skill and experience of the person performing it. Most likely, if this individual has knowledge of liposuction and dermatologic/plastic surgery, he or she will understand the layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. If not, all bets are off. Potential future complications we may see include embolism (both air and fat) since it is most likely inevitable that someone will interact with a medium-sized vessel in an adverse manner.

I have seen a few complications from mesotherapy, most of which are minor and include some scarring and hyperpigmentation. To date, the most interesting complication I have seen is one that I have nicknamed “Bar Code Butt.” This complication was recently seen in a woman in her twenties who had undergone mesotherapy with a practitioner who had no experience in dermatologic or plastic surgery, but decided to get into the cosmetic game. Apparently, he used a warming fluid or device that burned the skin of her buttocks in stripes (the operative note is illegible and brief so it is not possible to sort this out). Since she has Fitzpatrick Skin Type IV, this resulted in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring.

Waiting for Clinical Proof
Despite the controversy and questions about it, mesotherapy is here for the time being. If it is proven safe and effective, it will be here to stay and will be a welcome part of the dermatologic surgery repertoire. I am waiting to participate in clinical trials sponsored by reputable companies with IRB approval and to hear what the leaders in the dermatologic surgery community say about their experiences before I jump on the bandwagon.