Mesotherapy
Injectable youthfulness for the skin
Mesotherapy is a technique, which was originally developed in France in the 1950's.
The term, although often confused, in fact, simply means a technique of treatment which involves making multiple tiny injections into the skin in a pin-prick like manner with an extremely small needle.
Any substance or cocktail of substances can be injected with a mesotherapy technique; mesothrerapy refers only to the method of injection, not to the substance in the syringe.
Mesotherapy has been used for over 50 years in France as a treatment for many different unrelated conditions. For instance, it is used for the treatment of arthritis, sports injuries, muscular aches and pains, and more recently, cellulite.
Although it is very popular in France, there is not always good evidence that its effectiveness for the treatment of some of these conditions is due to anything other than an effect of the rapid needling itself, which may stimulate blood flow and have an acupuncture-like effect.
Many strange cocktails of substances have been used in France as 'treatments', but when analysed in a scientific way there is no good explanation for how some of them really could be effective.
There are two basic techniques of mesotherapy: the original French technique, termed ‘nappage’, in which the skin is very lightly needled in an extremely gentle and rapid manner. The other, more recent technique is termed ‘papule’ in which the skin is superficially injected at discrete points with the injection of a definite amount of substance into the skin at each separate point.
Although the above use of mesotherapy for some of the many conditions listed above maybe somewhat questionable, we can now use mesotherapy techniques very effectively for the purpose of skin rejuvenation.
This is because we can now manufacture pure and very concentrated solutions of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which is the skin's natural plumping, firming and moisturising molecule.
Young skin naturally produces large amounts of this substance; hence it is smooth, plump, firm, rubbery and well hydrated. However, as we age, natural production of HA within the skin dramatically diminishes and we progressively begin to see the telltale signs of skin aging.
Older skin is drier, thinner and weaker with lines and wrinkles forming and persisting due to loss of skin thickness, hydration, strength, elasticity and turgidity.
By injecting pure, concentrated HA, using effective mesotherapy techniques, we are able to treat whole areas of skin at a time and restore it to its former more youthful state.
The best, most effective and longest lasting products containing pure concentrated HA include Restylane Vital and Restylane Vital Lite which we use extensively in our clinics.
These are injected using the papule technique and for the best results, it is important that we inject sufficient quantity of HA into the skin at a depth were we know that it will be effective. This will involve the use of a topical anaesthetic prior to treatment, but, with this, the procedure is virtually painless.
With such highly effective techniques, whole areas of skin, rather than just specific lines and wrinkles can be rejuvenated and the skin will regain a plumper, firmer, smoother and more youthful appearance.
Cheek areas respond particularly well to this treatment, but any area of the face and even the entire face can be treated. We also frequently see excellent results when treating the neck, décollté, and backs of the hands.
The basic principle to bear in mind is that you must have sufficient quantity of HA injected per unit area to have an optimal effect. If it is spread out too thinly it will not be as effective.
Generally a 1ml treatment will adequately cover an area the size of the back of your hand (excluding fingers). We usually offer 2x1ml treatments per session and recommend between 2 and 4 sessions every four to eight weeks depending on the starting condition of your skin.
With these effective doses, you should then see dramatic results from your mesotherapy treatment and your skin should begin to appear many years younger.
The results will persist for many months until you eventually see the need for a single maintenance session, and these are usually recommended every 6 to 18 months depending on individual requirements.
