Many people suffer from dark circles or bags under their eyes, and especially since the 2000s, have tried to fix this with a non-surgical cosmetic procedure called mesotherapy.
Mesotherapy involves injecting a liquid containing vitamins and minerals under the skin using tiny needles to smooth and eliminate wrinkles and reduce fat, in an attempt to eliminate bags under the eyes. In recent years, its popularity has grown in the United States, and mesotherapy is also widely used on the stomach and thighs.
However, before you see any results, the treatment leaves behind a series of honeycomb-like bumps that give the skin under the eyes an almost reptilian appearance.
The risks of mesotherapy according to experts
According to experts contacted by the Daily Mail, mesotherapy carries some risks and may not bring the desired results. Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a dermatologist in New York, told the Daily Mail that the risks of under-eye mesotherapy go beyond minor side effects. Patients can experience long-term bruising, severe allergic reactions, eye damage and skin necrosis, which occurs when cells in the body die due to a lack of blood supply. This is due to the needle being inserted into blood vessels.
While mesotherapy may be legal in some countries, the lack of regulatory oversight in the United States means patients can be exposed to counterfeit or unverified products—in short, there’s no way to know exactly what your doctor is injecting. Mesotherapy was developed in 1952 in France as a treatment for blood vessel and immune system disorders, and has been used for just about everything since. Today, it’s most commonly used to remove belly fat, smooth out wrinkles, and tighten skin.