Mesotherapy is a technique, invented in 1952 by Dr. Michel Pistor, where medication is injected into the mesoderm, the layer of fat and connective tissue under the skin. Over the past 50+ years, an excess of 15,000 physicians world-wide have used Mesotherapy on a daily basis for a variety of purposes, including overall weight loss, spot weight reduction, cellulite reduction, hair loss, scar revision and wrinkle elimination. Mesotherapy is also used to correct unevenness, lumps, or divots that develop after liposuction.

In 1987, the French Academy of Medicine recognized Mesotherapy as an inherent part of traditional medicine. The International Society of Mesotherapy encompasses 14 countries throughout Europe and South America. Using a very tiny needle (0.4 to 0.6 cm or the size of an eyelash), the medication is injected into the mesoderm painlessly. Sometimes the technique of "multi-pricking" is used, where a number of swift, painless injections are concentrated in a specific area. Although "multi-pricking" can be done by hand, we at Mesotherapy Associates offer a mechanical delivery system that delivers the medicine in a more accurate fashion with even less discomfort to the patient. Patients have universally reported that the treatments cause less pain than a momentary, light pinch.

The medications that are used in Mesotherapy melt the fat beneath the skin and shrink the fat cells in the Scarpa's fascia layer. The fat dissolves and is excreted by the kidneys and the bowel without any changes in your bowel habits.

Cellulite is caused by connective tissue bands that hold down the skin, trapping the fat and thereby causing the "dimpling" effect. The medications used in Mesotherapy destroy the connective tissue bands and melt the trapped fat, creating a smooth, dimple-free appearance.

In Mesotherapy, very small doses of different medications are administered in specific areas, depending on the condition being treated. The medicines and plant extracts that we use at Mesotherapy Associates, P.C. are obtained from local pharmaceutical companies in the United States . All medicines used are FDA-approved for their use. In combination, medicines for Mesotherapy are used for off-line purposes. A recent illustration of this distinction is Botox. Although Botox is FDA approved for controlling muscle spasms, the medical community embraced it for its cosmetic properties of controlling wrinkles. For many years, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have used Botox for off-line purposes.

For cellulite, weight loss, and spot weight reduction, the medications are injected directly to the areas being treated. Treatments are administered weekly, and patients usually begin seeing results by the fourth treatment. After 10 treatments, patients see a significant decrease in size, improved skin tone, and smoothing of cellulite. Typically patients lose 4 to 10 inches in 10 weeks.

Many patients develop unevenness, divots, or lumps after undergoing liposuction. These areas can be successfully treated with Mesotherapy. The scar tissue that forms under the skin after liposuction is directly targeted and dissolved. Patients see and feel smoothing of divots and lumps, and the unevenness resolves.

The combination of vitamins, herbal products and medication that is injected is tailored specifically for each patient to optimize results. Many factors are taken into consideration to determine the most effective combination:

1. Genetics: A patient that has had cellulite since adolescence responds differently than one who has developed cellulite more recently.

2. History of Liposuction: Specific medications are added for a patient with a previous history of liposuction.

3. Gender: The selection of herbal medications is determined by the gender of the patient.

4. Type of Fat: The combination of vitamins is guided by the consistency of the tissue being treated. Softer fat is treated differently than firm fat.

5. Age: The age of the patient is taken into consideration in order to formulate the most effective combination of ingredients.

6. Medical History: The patient's past medical history is always thoroughly evaluated.

Dr. Shapiro has been practicing Mesotherapy in the United States since the spring of 2002. Mesotherapy Associates, PC is the practice with the most clinical experience. We have treated over 1000 patients and performed over 10,000 Mesotherapy treatments. A statistical analysis of our patients revealed an overall success rate of 93%. Our patients with a previous history of liposuction have a 99% success rate. Mesotherapy Associates, PC has achieved an unprecedented 95% patient satisfaction. Overall, our patients have lost over 2300 inches!