Facial Mesotherapy: All Of Its Anti-Aging Benefits

Photo: Imaxtree

One of the best compliments that a person can get about their skin, especially on days when it looks particularly good, is that it “positively glows”.  Although we don’t necessarily know how sincere these people are, we’ll still take it… I mean, after all, we are really polite (and maybe just a tad superficial).  A good serum or night cream does the trick in terms of targeting a dull complexion, but for more advanced results an anti-aging treatment might be a good investment. Mesotherapy for the face might just be the one worth looking at. It goes beyond just treating how skin looks and actually helps it restore itself by replenishing levels of essential nutrients that the body stops being able to produce in the same amounts as we age.

HOW DOES MESOTHERAPY FOR THE FACE WORK?

Mesotherapy for the face is a non-surgical procedure that focuses on rejuvenation through micro-injections of nutrient-rich formulas into the mesoderm (which is about 4-6 mm beneath the skin’s surface).  From hydration to a dull complexion, the mixtures in the injection are often unique to the skin-concern involved. Research indicates that facial mesotherapy provides great results for boosting collagen reproduction, wrinkle depletion and other signs of aging through a cocktail of ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, coenzymes and antioxidants in order to help the skin replenish.

TWO MAIN ANTI-AGING BENEFITS OF FACIAL MESOTHERAPY

Although the list of anti-aging ingredients used in facial mesotherapy is pretty exhaustive, below are some key things that you should be on the look-out for. Many of the ingredients are multi-beneficial, meaning they actually contribute to helping more than one aging concern.

SKIN BRIGHTENING 

These ingredients help target the likes of pigmentation issues, age-spots, melasma, acne marks as well as a loss of radiance and uneven skin-tone in general.

GLUTATHIONE

This powerful brightening agent compromised of 3 amino acids (Cysteine, Glycine & Glutamic Acid) is naturally produced in the body although levels of it decrease as we age. Aside from helping with skin tone, Glutathione is an antioxidant that protects against the effects of environmental damage from the sun and other elements.

VITAMIN C

Another antioxidant, Vitamin C helps to fight free radicals, boost collagen synthesis, regulate melanin production (which helps those brown spots and acne marks) and also increases overall skin rejuvenation.  L-Ascorbic Acid is one of the more common forms of Vitamin C used in mesotherapy formulas and is considered to be the most effective in terms of anti-aging results.

To learn more about Vitamin C as well as other antioxidants that work well for topical application make sure to see our article on effective facial vitamins.

HYDRATION

Certain ingredients used in facial mesotherapy formulas have extremely effective moisture boosting abilities, which results in skin that not only looks firmer but is also more supple and healthy in general.

HYALURONIC ACID

As we age our body’s ability to retain moisture decreases. Luckily, Hyaluronic Acid has the capacity to hold 1000 times more water than its own weight and will definitely help with restoring both the way skin looks and the way it works.

VITAMIN E

As an antioxidant with powerful anti-aging benefits, Vitamin E’s emollient nature nourishes the skin and also helps to prevent water loss. Facial mesotherapy formulas that use a combination of naturally derived alpha-tocopherol, mixed tocopherol and tocotrienols are among the most effective.

Discover more about hydration with our guide on anti-aging moisturizers that really work and explore when to use them, the ingredients that do something and the ones that you should be avoiding.

SCARRING,  FINE LINES & WRINKLES

When used in formulas for facial mesotherapy these anti-aging ingredients boost the skin’s ability for cell-turnover as well as regeneration, making them perfect to target more advanced aging concerns.

GLYCOLIC ACID

Glycolic Acid is usually used in concentrations of around 1% in facial mesotherapy formulas in order to exfoliate dead skin cells as well as help increase collagen production.

VITAMIN A 

Retinoic Acid is the most powerful derivative of Vitamin A and is well known within the realm of anti-aging. Not only is it one of the most effective ingredients helping to repair skin damage, retinoic acid also helps with overall skin rejuvenation. As it’s such a potent ingredient, it’s usually found in extremely low percentages of about 0.01% in facial mesotherapy formulas.

If you want to learn more about a gentler form of Vitamin A, look into our in-depth rundown on retinol for aging concerns which includes precautions, best practice usage as well some recommendations for the best formulas on the market.

VITAMIN B3 

Also known as Niacinamide, Vitamin B3 is a cell-communicating ingredient; it helps cells work together well and function at their best.  Among the numerous anti-aging benefits this ingredient offers is that it helps strengthen the skin’s structure as well as boosts its immunity to environmental damage.

If you’re looking to learn more about the antioxidant make sure to explore our review on the benefits of a niacinamide cream.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A FACIAL MESOTHERAPY PROCEDURE?

PRE-TREATMENT

Before going forward with mesotherapy for the face, look into an initial consultation with your skincare practitioner to discuss your aging concerns as well as any questions you have.  Based on your initial discussion your skincare practitioner may be able to develop a customized plan.

TREATMENT

A mild topical anesthetic might be applied to the areas being treated depending on your tolerance to pain. Using a micro-needle, your skincare practitioner will inject the areas being targeted multiple times.  As the needles only reach 4-6mm beneath the skin’s surface, discomfort should be minimal and is often described as feeling like mosquito bites.

POST TREATMENT

Your skin may feel slightly tender and look red around the areas targeted for a little while after treatment (usually for a maximum of 2-3 days). Since there is no real downtime, you can get up and head back to work right away should you wish.

HOW MANY FACIAL MESOTHERAPY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?

Depending on the severity of aging concerns, 3-5 sessions spaced 10-14 days apart are needed. In order to extend the lifespan of results a session every 1-2 months is generally recommended after the initial set of facial mesotherapy treatments.

HOW LONG DO RESULTS LAST?

With regular maintenance expect results to result 1-2 years or longer.

SIDE EFFECTS

Slight itching and redness may affect the areas treated, but these reactions will diminish often a few hours after treatment and will generally be gone within a few days. To prevent post-treatment hyperpigmentation at the injection sites make sure to be thorough with the application of an effective sunscreen.

Be sure to check out our guide the benefits of an effective sunscreen if you’re interested in learning more about how they work and what exactly they do.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL WITH MESOTHERAPY FOR CELLULITE OR FAT REDUCTION

You may have seen advertising for mesotherapy for cellulite or fat reduction around a shady beauty clinic in a strip mall. Formulas used for this kind of mesotherapy often include ingredients like Phosphadityl Choline or Deoxycholate that, when injected, result in negative side-effects such as severe swelling (or worse) and may need medical attention.  If you choose to go through with this type of mesotherapy we recommend that you do your research and be very selective with the skincare practitioner you work with.

If you’re looking for an alternative treatment make sure to check out our in-depth guide that covers Cellfina the most effective treatment for Cellulite and provides information on several other treatments as well.

In order to learn more read our article on the different types of facials as well as types of facial treatments.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Admittedly, the thought of multiple needle injections may sound terrifying, but the treatment sounds a lot scarier than it feels.  Although mesotherapy for the face will definitely help, remember that any good anti-aging regime involves both effective skincare in addition to treatments.