Cosmetic Surgery Blog

 

Illinois- Mesotherapy, a type of removing unwanted fat with just a few series of simple injections has been attracting thousands of patients nationwide, in the hope of permanently taking off their excess fat. However, according to a committee report of the ASPS Device and Technique Assessment (DATA), this type of fat-removing method has not yet been proven safe and effective.

The report published in the Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s official medical journal, stated that the promise of achieving a non-surgical and permanent manner in removing fat and body contouring is indeed very appealing. But patients must me wary that mesotherapy has not been proven to be the ultimate cure to problems dealing with excess fats. Alan Matarasso, MD, a co-author of the study says that the problem with this non-surgical fat removal method is that the whole technique is still covered with mystery. He added that the only proven way to safely and effectively remove fat is still liposuction.

How Mesotherapy Works

Mesotherapy, popular as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction, involves injecting drugs, along with plant extracts, into the layers of fat and connective tissues that lie under the skin. Ingredients of the drug normally include agents used in opening blood vessels, anti-inflammatory medications that are non-steroidal, antibiotics, hormones, nutrients, and enzymes.

This method is used in conjunction with a patient’s dietary modification, nutritional supplements, exercise, and hormone replacement therapy but no drug is available for mesotherapy that has been tested and duly approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

The practice of a mesotherapy procedure has already been around in Europe for decades but it is only just recently when this fat-removal technique was introduced in the United States. No published scientific studies that demonstrate how effective the procedure is have been recorded.

Additionally, there are no records that prove if the ingredients for the medications really work, or how safe the procedure is for the patients. Furthermore, mesotherapy has no standardization. The kinds of drugs used for the procedure vary from one physician to another, along with the frequency and the quantity of the injections.

Dr. Matarraso admitted that plastic surgeons are still doing constant research for better techniques to help patients attain their desired appearance, keeping in mind that safety and health is always on top priority. As with mesotherapy, no definite information is gathered as to what happens to those fatty acids the moment they are removed from the targeted areas. Additionally, there are no explanations yet as to how the ingredients affect the tissues and the body organs of the body. This is basically the reason why plastic surgeons are still in doubt about mesotherapy.

Liposuction is still advised

Presently, liposuction is the only proven safe method that effectively removes fat. In 2004 alone, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recorded more than three hundred thousand liposuction procedures performed.

Susan Kaweski, MD, the committee chair of the ASPS DATA said that without the right details to support claims that mesotherapy is indeed effective, the method will always remain a mystic type of therapy. The DATA Committee admitted that they have not seen any long-term studies valid enough to prove that mesotherapy effectively removes fat from the body. She added that there plastic surgeons should know more about the cosmetic procedure before they can finally endorse and recommend it to patients.

Mesotherapy also is very expensive. The prices ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 per session and patients require six minimum treatments before visible effects are accordingly noticeable. This method can prove really expensive for patients who can not receive their desired results.

Related posts

• No related posts.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.