Mesotherapy: solution or snake oil?

According to published statistics from the British Beauty Council (2023), the cosmetic and personal care sector supported a total GDP contribution of £24.5 billion in 2022 in the UK; it has also been reported that 43% of UK adults increasingly consider non-surgical procedures to be a normal part of their beauty and personal care routine, which is mirrored by a 40% drop in cosmetic surgeries since 2015, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Mintel Group, 2021). Proposed as a non-invasive alternative to address a variety of patient concerns, including cellulite, body sculpting, weight reduction and skin rejuvenation, mesotherapy remains a controversial therapy, with some arguing that it is ineffective at best and potentially dangerous at worst (Brown, 2006; Konda and Thappa, 2013). Mesotherapy is a minimally invasive method of drug delivery that consists of multiple intradermal or subcutaneous injections of a mixture of compounds in minute doses. Plant extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceuticals, vitamins and other bioactive substances can be used, but alcohol- or oil-based substances should not be used for mesotherapy, because of the risk of cutaneous necrosis (Konda and Thappa, 2013).