Abstract
Mesotherapy, the injection of compounds into the subcutaneous tissue, is based on empiric observations. Although phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate have been used as a mesotherapy solution to ablate fat cells, this form of mesotherapy is associated with inflammation, pain, scarring, and has been scrutinized by the FDA. This chapter will consider lipolytic mesotherapy which appear to be safer. Mesotherapists use known lipolytic agents in combination and herbal compounds that have not been shown to be effective. We tested components and combinations of mesotherapy solutions. We demonstrated that combining the solutions can enhance lipolysis and that melilotus, an herb used in mesotherapy, is lipolytic. Lidocaine, which is combined in mesotherapy solutions, is antilipolytic and should not be used. Although injection therapies are popular, lipolytic creams and low-level laser treatments may offer an effective, safer, and less invasive alternative.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Pistor M (1964) Mesotherapy. Librairie Maloine S.A, Paris
Ronsard N (1973) Those lumps, bumps and bulges you couldn’t lose before. Beauty and Health Publishing Co., New York
Rose PT, Morgan M (2005) Histological changes associated with mesotherapy for fat dissolution. J Cosmet Laser Ther 7:17–19
Nabavi CB, Minckler DS, Tao JP (2009) Histologic features of mesotherapy-induced orbital fat inflammation. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 25:69–70
Caruso MK, Roberts AT, Bissoon L, Self KS, Guillot TS, Greenway FL (2008) An evaluation of mesotherapy solutions for inducing lipolysis and treating cellulite. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 61:1321–1324
Mersmann HJ (1983) Effect of anesthetic or analgesic drugs on lipogenic and lipolytic adipose tissue activities. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 172:375–378
D’Costa MA, Asico W, Angel A (1979) Inhibition of rat and human adipocyte adenylate cyclase in the antilipolytic action of insulin, clofibrate, and nicotinic acid. Can J Biochem 57:1058–1063
Komabayashi T, Sakamoto S, Tsuboi M (1978) Effects of various drugs on the lipolytic actions caused by catecholamines and methylxanthine derivatives in white adipose tissues. 1. Effects of procaine and xylocaine. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 74:459–466
Arner P, Arner O, Ostman J (1973) The effect of local anaesthetic agents on lipolysis by human adipose tissue. Life Sci 13:161–169
Kral JG, Bjorntorp P, Schersten T, Sjostrom L (1977) Body composition and adipose tissue cellularity before and after jejuno-ileostomy in severely obese subjects. Eur J Clin Invest 7:413–419
Smith U, Hammersten J, Bjorntorp P, Kral JG (1979) Regional differences and effect of weight reduction on human fat cell metabolism. Eur J Clin Invest 9:327–332
Lafontan M, Berlan M (1993) Fat cell adrenergic receptors and the control of white and brown fat cell function. J Lipid Res 34:1057–1091
Pierard GE, Nizet JL, Pierard-Franchimont C (2000) Cellulite: from standing fat herniation to hypodermal stretch marks. Am J Dermatopathol 22:34–37
Greenway FL, Bray GA (1987) Regional fat loss from the thigh in obese women after adrenergic modulation. Clin Ther 9:663–669
Crampes F, Beauville M, Riviere D, Garrigues M (1986) Effect of physical training in humans on the response of isolated fat cells to epinephrine. J Appl Physiol 61:25–29
Atkinson JN, Galton DJ, Gilbert C (1974) Regulatory defect of glycolysis in human lipoma. Br Med J 1:101–102
Bechara FG, Sand M, Sand D et al (2006) Lipolysis of lipomas in patients with familial multiple lipomatosis: an ultrasonography-controlled trial. J Cutan Med Surg 10:155–159
Lai E, Rosen OM, Rubin CS (1982) Dexamethasone regulates the beta-adrenergic receptor subtype expressed by 3 T3 L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes. J Biol Chem 257:6691–6696
Lacasa D, Agli B, Giudicelli Y (1988) Permissive action of glucocorticoids on catecholamine-induced lipolysis: direct “in vitro” effects on the fat cell beta-adrenoreceptor-coupled-adenylate cyclase system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 153:489–497
Redman LM, Moro C, Dobak J, Yu Y, Guillot TS, Greenway FL (2011) Association of beta-2 adrenergic agonist and corticosteroid injection in the treatment of lipomas. Diabetes Obes Metab 13(6):517–522
Greenway FL, Bray GA, Heber D (1995) Topical fat reduction. Obes Res 3(Suppl 4):561S–568S
Caruso MK, Pekarovic S, Raum WJ, Greenway F (2007) Topical fat reduction from the waist. Diabetes Obes Metab 9:300–303
Neira R, Toledo L, Arroyave J et al (2006) Low-level laser-assisted liposuction: the Neira 4 L technique. Clin Plast Surg 33:117–127
Caruso-Davis MK, Guillot TS, Podichetty VK, et al (2011) Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy for Body Contouring and Spot Fat Reduction. Obes Surg 21:722–729
Danilovic DL, Bloise W, Knobel M, Marui S (2008) Factitious thyrotoxicosis induced by mesotherapy: a case report. Thyroid 18:655–657
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gutierrez, B., Greenway, F.L. (2012). Mesotherapy Solutions for Inducing Lipolysis and Treating Cellulite. In: Prendergast, P., Shiffman, M. (eds) Aesthetic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20113-4_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20113-4_24
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20112-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20113-4
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)