Mesotherapy (injection lipolysis) is a cosmetic procedure that was originally developed by Dr. Michael Pistor in Europe. This technique claims to reduce excess fat in localized areas of the body. Recently, here in the United States, this “therapy” has been widely advertised as a viable alternative to conventional liposuction. Conventional liposuction is a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia and the skill of a good surgeon. Injectable lipolysis, on the other hand, is the practice of injecting a chemical “cocktail” into an area of localized subcutaneous fatty deposits. The procedure must be repeated several times to attain any indication of reduced fatty deposits.
Currently there are no guidelines, benchmarks or standards by which to gauge the effectiveness of the technique and no standard regarding the chemical make-up of the mixure injected. The procedure for injecting the mixture is not standardized either. For this reason, the FDA has not approved this procedure for cosmetic use or any other purpose.
The American Society of Plastic Surgery maintains the position that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of mesotherapy/injectable lipolysis for fat reduction and therefore does not endorse its use. Plastic surgeons who are members of the A.S.P.S. respect the Society’s recommendations on such matters and adhere to their guidelines. Please click on the link below to learn more about the Society’s position on localized fat reduction techniques currently popular and often highlighted in the media.
Click here to read the guidelines.
