The FDA and Mesotherapy: A Shaky Relationship

What does the FDA have to say about Mesotherapy? Read on to find out!

The FDA and mesotherapy have had a shaky relationship throughout the years. Mesotherapy was a popular procedure in Europe long before it came to the United States. However, since it arrived in the US in the 1990s, it has been riddled with doubt towards its effectiveness and safety.

The Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA is the organization that approves the food and drugs that we use and assures that they are safe for use. It is important to note that FDA and mesotherapy have not come to common terms with each other - the FDA has not approved mesotherapy, although it has the support of some very influential dermatologists.

Many of the drugs used in mesotherapy were not created especially for their mesotherapeutic purposes. For example, the commonly use drug in mesotherapy injections, Aminophylline, was originally approved as a bronchodilator drug for those with several lung conditions, such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema. It is used in mesotherapy as it is proven to help improve blood flow in patients with respiratory problems and the hope is that it will do the same with those who have cellulite.

Yohimbine is a commonly used drug approved by the FDA, but not for mesotherapy. It was actually originally used to treat erectile dysfunction. It works in a manner similar to aminophylline, as it causes vasodilation, thus increasing blood flow. It is believed that increased blood flow reduces fluid retention, and reduced fluid retention can possibly lead to less cellulite.

Procaine is another very popular drug used in mesotherapy. It is a local anesthetic also known as novocaine and is used to relieve the burning and itching sensations that sometimes come with mesotherapy injections. Other anesthetics used in mesotherapy include lidocaine and marcaine, both which are also FDA-approved. They are used in hospitals and are injected in patients with pain, the same purpose it holds in mesotherapy. However, anesthetics can be deadly when the proper precautions are not taken, so make sure any local anesthetic that is injected during mesotherapy is under the supervision of a certified doctor or nurse.

Other compounds do not have FDA-approval for any sort of use, as they are not considered drugs and are thus beyond the scope of the FDA‘s regulation. This includes vitamins and minerals, such as those found in the local pharmacy. Mesotherapy practitioners often use liquid solutions of these compounds and inject them directly into the skin.

L-carnitine, a drug used in mesotherapy, is FDA-approved, not recommended for those who are pregnant or nursing; not advised for those with impaired kidneys. It is naturally present in the body as a fat-burning component of metabolism.

Biotin is actually a type of B vitamin sometimes called vitamin H or B7. It is a water-soluble nutrient and even though it is usually left out of Nutrition Facts labels, it is essential for cell growth and metabolism of fats and amino acids. It is also sometimes used in mesotherapy, although it is not approved (not considered a food or a drug).

Minoxidil is another drug FDA-approved for topical use. This drug is actually the generic name for … Rogaine! Yes, the product used by men (and women) who are losing hair. It is part of a not-too common method of mesotherapy that involves injecting minoxidil into the scalp with a Skin & Scalp Roller (a medical instrument) to encourage hair growth.

Unlike many other drugs used in mesotherapy which are approved for oral consumption, retinoic acid has FDA-approval for topical treatment. It is widely used in beauty products because it has been proven to be an effective tool against numerous skin problems, from acne to wrinkles. A similar compound, alpha lipoic acid is also approved for topical use; however the FDA has warned that it often leads to increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun.

Phosphatydlcholine is one drug used in mesotherapy that the FDA actively lobbies against, because it is a drug that the FDA is able to regulate and is not approved by the administration for any sort of use. Despite this, it is still a very popular component in many mesotherapy kits, sold under the name Lipostabil. It is also commonly abbreviated as PC or PPC.

For more information on the FDA and mesotherapy, check out the FDA's website.

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