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Mesotherapy refers to the injection of specific medications, vitamins, homeopathic and natural medicine preparations into the skin and subcutaneous fat.
In the 1950’s French researchers began to investigate the ability to inject combinations of vitamins and chemicals into the body, which was later known as Mesotherapy. “The use of the Mesotherapy method began as a way to treat muscle conditions and internal infections by injection,” notes Dr. Adam Mamelak, a board certified Dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology. This method has evolved over time and is now utilized for a variety of medical and cosmetic purposes.
“Initially, mesotherapy was really thought of as a drug delivery technique,” shares Dr. Mamelak. What makes this different from your average shot is that the active agents were inserted into the mesoderm, or middle layer of fat underneath the skin. “The problem with mesotherapy was, that despite its use, there was no good scientific evidence that it worked.”
Over the years, mesotherapy really grew in the aesthetic realm, where more and more physicians that practiced cosmetic medicine were using mesotherapy for skin rejuvenation procedures and body contouring.
“Safety was also an issue,” says Dr. Miriam Hanson, cosmetic skin care expert and board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas. Over the years, doctors and researchers have been working hard to ensure the safety and efficacy of this treatment method. “Concerns were really alleviated last month when a mesotherapy treatment was FDA-approved for the treatment of submental fat and neck fullness.”
Much research has been done to discover new and innovative ways to sculpt and contour the body. These range from surgery, liposuction, non-invasive body contouring devices like CoolSculpting, and now the Kybella fat reduction technique. Kybella is based on mesotherapy techniques where an active agent is precisely injected and placed into the fatty layer of the skin, thereby dissolving fat in the treated area.
“The double chin is a common cosmetic concern in my practice,” says Dr. Hanson. There are non-invasive skin tightening procedures and things like the Nefertiti lift that can help define the jawline and reduce the appearance of jowls, but the double chin has largely remained a surgical problem. Until now.
“Mesotherapy could change the game when it comes to removing fat,” claims Dr. Mamelak. The neck has a well-defined anatomic fat pad under the skin that over time, results in neck fullness and the appearance of a double chin. The main component of Kybella is deoxycholic acid, a substance naturally found in the body that assists in breakdown and metabolism of fat. By injecting Kybella into the mesoderm under the neck, the fat pad is dissolved, leaving a more contoured and smooth appearance.
Kybella will be available at Sanova Dermatology in August 2015. Contact us today or book your consultation with our skilled physicians at Sanova Dermatology here.