Ambivalence Over Mesotherapy Treatment

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A new cosmetic procedure available in Europe is causing concern among surgeons in the United States, regarding the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Mesotherapy is a series of injectable drugs intended to achieve various cosmetic purposes such as cellulite reduction, fat melting and scar reduction.

A 45-year-old resident of New Jersey claims that her experiences with mesotherapy treatment have been positive. Cindy Conway, underwent mesotherapy treatment under the care of French-trained doctor Marion Shapiro, who is now exclusively involved in the treatment. Conway claims that mesotherapy treatment reduced her waist, lower back and thighs by a total of 11 inches.

Dr. Shapiro describes the treatment as using, “different formulations depending on what you’re trying to accomplish”. Shapiro claims to have as many as 30 different formulas that each utilize seven to ten drugs to attain a certain cosmetic goal.

Conway, who underwent 12 mesotherapy sessions with Dr. Shapiro, claims that the side effects were very mild, including light itching and bruising. The cost was approximately $400 per session.

Many surgeons and doctors in the United States are skeptical about the procedure. Mesotherapy has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is currently is only provided by about 500 doctors in the US.

Dr. Allen Rosen, a board certified plastic surgeon claims that these statistics are not a coincidence. “The problem is, there are no standard agents being used in the mixtures,” commented the doctor regarding the safety of mesotherapy. “We don’t know if it’s effective, and, if it is, what the body does with the fat once it’s melted.”

Other doctors have expressed similar sentiments as Dr. Rosen, suggesting that it might be in the best interest of patients to wait and observe side effects from new procedures like mesotherapy, even after FDA approval, to see what long-term, real life results are produced.

Formulas in mesotherapy treatment are reported to contain agents such as drugs used to treat heart disease and asthma, in addition to other drugs such as antibiotics, vitamin C, novocain and various herbs.


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