Mesotherapy Side Effects

Mesotherapy is a medical procedure similar to liposuction, which promises reduction of excess fat from the body. While liposuction is a surgical procedure done by giving anesthesia to the person, mesotherapy is a simple and almost painless non-surgical cosmetic treatment method. This is also one of the reasons for the popularity of the latter surpassing the former. Though mesotherapy is used on patients suffering from certain diseases, injuries, etc., it is also said to be an effective way of treating acne, cellulite, and scars. In mesotherapy, a mixture of substances, including vitamins, pharmaceutical drugs, herbs, minerals, homeopathic agents, etc., are injected directly into the problem area. However, like all cosmetic procedures, even mesotherapy has certain side effects. Nevertheless, before going into the mesotherapy side effects, let us try to get to know more about mesotherapy.

What is Mesotherapy?

The field of mesotherapy was introduced in 1952 by Dr. Michel Pistor, a French physician. However, it was only in the year 1958 that this field was given the name mesotherapy by the French press. From the time of its inception, mesotherapy has come a long way, rising in popularity so much so that people prefer it more than other cosmetic surgeries like liposuction.

Benefits of Mesotherapy

• Mesotherapy, a widely used cosmetic procedure, targets fat loss and weight loss. Apart from this, it effectively removes skin problems like stretch marks, acne, wrinkles, etc. It also helps in enhancing hair growth in people.
• The main reason for people preferring mesotherapy to liposuction is because it is a good way of treating cellulite. On the other hand, liposuction does not treat cellulite, rather cases have been reported where cellulite problems actually increased after liposuction surgery. With the help of mesotherapy one can get rid of lumpy depostis of body fat in the areas like the stomach, thighs, hips, buttocks, etc. very easily.
• The results of mesotherapy are very quick, with many people experiencing major changes in their body in just 2-3 sessions, and at times, in even one session itself. As a person opting for mesotherapy is not usually given anesthesia, there are are very less chances of complications arising due to its administration. Moreover, one does not need to stay at the hospital after this treatment procedure, which is mandatory in liposuction surgery.

Side Effects of Mesotherapy

Though the risks involved in mesotherapy are less as compared to other cosmetic procedures, there are also has a few mild side effects associated with mesotherapy. Usually, these side effects are not very serious and do not stay for a prolonged period of time. Mesotherapy side effects that can be experienced by a person after undergoing the treatment include:

• It is been observed that swelling is one of the most common side effects experienced by people after mesotherapy. Small lumps are known to appear on the area of the skin where the solution is injected. This is caused due to the presence of the compound 'lecithin' in the injected solution. However, this is not a permanent problem and usually the swelling disappears in 2-3 days. One should avoid wearing tight fitting clothes or indulge in any kind of exercise or workout for a few days after the treatment.
• Bruising or scarring around the area treated is another side effect of mesotherapy experienced by many people. This can also be accompanied by an itching sensation around the treated area. Application of topical cream or arnica montana, an herbal supplement is recommened to alleviate such problems. People are also recommended to avoid the consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or any anti-inflammatory drugs till the bruising is completely healed.
• Pain and a burning sensation near the area injected is one of the more severe mesotherapy side effects that patients can suffer from. The intensity of the pain is usually different for different people. Some people only feel a slight pricking sensation, while others feel a lot of pain. Nevertheless, like the other side effects, this pain will go away in a few days.
• In some cases, patients are given topical anesthesia before beginning mesotherapy. After the effect of the anesthesia wears off, individuals have reported to have experienced numbness around the treated area. But this is not a very serious condition as it does not stay for a long time. However, if numbness is experienced for more than a week or so, it is better to consult the doctor, who can suggest effective remedies.
• There have also been cases where people have experienced some kind of allergy after undergoing mesotherapy. Some people may be allergic to certain compounds mixed in the solution injected into the body. To avoid this, every person should go through an allergy test to determine whether they are allergic to any of them, so that an alternative can be found by the physician.
• The chances of having a dangerous side effect increases when mesotherapy is done in unsanitary conditions or by inexperienced people. So, mesotherapy should be done only by a specialist who is authorized to conduct this treatment procedure.

I am sure that this article must have given you adequate information on mesotherapy side effects. While mesotherapy is a comparatively safer cosmetic procedure, being aware of its few side effects will help in taking the necessary precautions to reduce or perhaps even avoid them.