A mixture of vitamins, amino acids, and other medications are injected into a selected area, just beneath the surface of the skin. Each treatment takes up to twenty minutes and if found uncomfortable, a local anaesthetic cream can be applied beforehand. Mesotherapy aims to replenish the minerals, vitamins and amino acids that deplete as human skin and flesh ages. Using injections simply means that greater concentrations of the required substances can reach the specific area faster than oral methods. The treatment also aims to help maintain firmness and texture, reducing lines and wrinkles. The results are not permanent, and patients often have injections every three months.
Risks can include allergic reactions to the injected mixture and/or local anaesthetic and bruising may also sometimes occur. There is a debate about the effectiveness and safety of some of the substances used in mesotherapy, and the Royal College of Nursing advises their members not to inject mesotherapy solutions before they are fully aware of what the solution contains.