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A decades-old cosmetic procedure is making a dramatic comeback, promising to be a miracle fix for under-eye bags, wrinkles, and stubborn fat. But doctors are warning that the treatment, which leaves people looking like scaly reptiles, can cause irreparable damage, including scarring and blindness.
Mesotherapy might sound futuristic, but it’s far from new. First introduced in 1952 by a French doctor, it was originally intended to “relieve pain.” But today, it’s been rebranded as a fast fix for beauty woes – and it’s exploding in popularity.
“Mesotherapy is a technique that uses injections of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and plant extracts to rejuvenate and tighten skin, as well as remove excess fat,” Healthline reports of the microneedling procedure. “The idea behind mesotherapy is that it corrects underlying issues like poor circulation and inflammation that cause skin damage.”
The injections often leave tiny bumps, like raised welts, scattered beneath the skin. This can create a honeycomb effect – a lumpy, swollen look that some have compared to the texture of reptile skin. And while the swelling is usually temporary, it’s just the beginning of what can go wrong.
