Just can’t seem to shift the weight in that one problem area? TOAD investigates mesotherapy, a non-surgical procedure that claims to dissipate those nasty fat cells.
Mesotherapy is the injection of active ingredients into the superficial layer of the skin. The idea is that the active ingredients will target the fat stores that lay under the dermis and epidermis (skin layers) and break up and redistribute the fat cells around the rest of the body. In short, it’s a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that claims to blast away fat.
Mesotherapy is a little controversial on the international medical scene: it’s not a well-known treatment internationally and, as with most weight treatments, it is not regarded as an adequate replacement for a healthy lifestyle. The procedure is very popular in France (which recognised it as a legitimate medical field in 1986) but is lesser known in places such as the USA and UK. The reason the method has been controversial is that the treatment can lead to scarring or necrosis (the killing off of surrounding cells) when not administered appropriately.
TOAD visited Delma Medical Center and Spa to speak to dermatology, venerology and andrology specialist, Dr Samir Aboul Nasr, about the treatment and to try it out.
He explains the concept: ‘Mesotherapy is the treatment of delivering active ingredients into the superficial layers of the cell by needle or a device called a mesogun [a hand-held semi-automatic injection device]. The injections contain various vitamins, minerals and medicines.’
There are three types of mesotherapy: for the hair, face and body. Each one serves a different purpose.
‘With facial mesotherapy, the active materials improve the texture of the skin – they can help with hyperpigmentation, giving the skin radiance. Then there’s mesotherapy for the hair, known as ‘meso-hair’. The main purpose of this treatment is to reduce hair-loss, and to strengthen the hair that is present. The treatment works by strengthening the skin around the hair follicles.
‘Mesotherapy for the body involves injections into the deep layers of fat help to dissolve it.
It’s important to remember that this is not a weight-reduction technique. Part of the fat will leave the body via excretion and some of the fat will redistribute throughout other parts of the body. You don’t lose weight – it’s a method of reshaping. If you lose weight, and find you are at your ideal size but still have problem areas of localised fat, we will inject this area to dissolve the fats.
‘It redistributes the fats to different areas – for example your arms or places you don’t carry as much weight. It will break up the fats in the specific treated area.’
Dr Samir says eight sessions are generally recommended for optimum results, but this does vary.
The experience
As we recline into the seat, we watch the medical assistant draw up several syringes.
We have a little bit of a hard time with needles, but we are lying back in the chair and playing on our phone to distract ourself from what is about to happen.
The doctor pinches sections of our stomach and injects them with the syringes of therapeutic ingredients. The needles scare us but the doctor is quite gentle: it’s painful but far less so than we anticipated. We flinch, but only for 15 minutes and then it’s all over.
After the treatment, our stomach is tender and a bit swollen for a couple of days. Dr Samir tells us to drink lots of water – this will help our body process the treatment. Though we did only have one of the recommended eight sessions, as the days go by, the shape of our stomach seems to change a little bit – which we notice as the swelling goes down – there is no bloating and our stomach appears to be slightly flatter.
Delma Medical Center & Spa, Al Nayhan Camp (opposite TransAD), www.delmamedical.com (02 448 1400).
More mesotherapy clinics
Silkor
Offers facial mesotherapy treatments and consultations for reducing scarring and promoting ‘facial rejuvenation’.
Next to BMW Showroom, Al Khalidiyah, www.silkor.com (02 681 6070).
BodyWorx
Offering a range of dermatology services including mesotherapy, BodyWorx is a one-stop shop for cosmetic procedures in a comfortable environment.
Between 6th & 9th streets, opposite Al Dana Girls’ School, www.bodyworx.ae (02 641 9961).
Coming soon: Burjeel Hospital
In June/July, the Burjeel Hospital will also be launching mesotherapy programmes in conjunction with its plastic surgery department. Great for a one-stop-shop.
Najda Street (02 508 5555).
