What Is Mesotherapy? Ingredients, Effects, Product Selection & Personalized Treatment Planning

Although mesotherapy may seem like a treatment that has gained popularity only in recent years, it is in fact one of the foundational procedures of medical aesthetics—present since the very first day the field emerged.

As a medical aesthetics physician, I have always considered mesotherapy one of the most essential applications for improving skin quality. However, due to expectations of quick results and general impatience, fillers or device-based treatments may at times have taken center stage.

Today, the decisive role of skin quality in achieving a youthful and healthy appearance is understood more clearly, and approaches that go beyond temporary volume increases or instant corrections are gaining greater value.

For this reason, mesotherapy is once again receiving the attention it deserves and is becoming an important component of every treatment plan that aims for long-term skin health.

Why Mesotherapy? What Should the Real Goal Be?

Over time, due to both external factors and natural aging processes, our skin loses vitality, radiance, and resilience. Hyaluronic acid decreases, collagen and elastin production slows, and the skin begins to appear dull, dry, and tired.

Mesotherapy aims to reverse this cycle.

Its formulations generally include the following groups of active ingredients:

• Hyaluronic acid (hydration and plumpness),
• Amino acids (structural support),
• Vitamins and minerals (protection against oxidative stress),
• Peptides and growth factors (regeneration and cellular activation).

When these substances are delivered directly into the skin layers where they are needed, both an immediate glow and a longer-term structural renewal process may begin.

Is Every Mesotherapy the Same?

“I had mesotherapy before, but I didn’t see much effect…”
“I had it done somewhere else—why is your price different?”

Such questions often stem from a very understandable confusion. Because the treatments referred to as “mesotherapy” are not always of the same quality or formulation.

Today, there are hundreds of mesotherapy products available on the market. However, only a portion of them are:

• Suitable for injection into the skin,
• Approved by health authorities,
• Clinically tested for their active ingredients.

The formulations used in mesotherapy are crucial not only in terms of quality but also in terms of selecting the right product for the patient’s specific skin type and needs. Not every patient should receive the same “youth injection,” because everyone’s skin structure, concerns, and needs differ.

Just as two individuals with muscle pain versus bone pain cannot receive the same treatment, dull and dehydrated skin cannot be supported with the same formulation as skin experiencing elasticity loss.

It is also important to remember that today, there are high-quality, medically approved cocktail formulations designed to provide a complete mix of ingredients in a single vial.

These cocktails generally contain hyaluronic acid, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and peptides in fixed ratios and can be quite sufficient for basic support. However, because each active ingredient is present in limited amounts, these fixed ratios may not fully meet every patient’s needs.

For example, very dry skin may require a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid, while skin experiencing loss of elasticity may benefit more from peptides and lifting-oriented actives. Fixed-ratio cocktails cannot adjust to these specific needs, which may result in requiring more treatment sessions to achieve the desired effect.

Therefore, in addition to product quality, the practitioner’s ability to correctly match the formulation with the skin’s needs is one of the most critical factors determining success in mesotherapy.

What Factors Determine the Right Mesotherapy Approach?

An effective and safe mesotherapy treatment requires the following elements to come together:

• Skin Analysis:
  Before mesotherapy, the skin must be accurately assessed to determine which areas need support. The eye area, cheeks, forehead, lip area, or under-chin region—each may require different formulations.

• Ingredient Selection and Combination:
  A single product cannot offer a complete solution for the entire face. If necessary, different cocktails should be applied to different areas at varying depths. Some formulations may also be individually combined by the physician.

• Application Depth and Technique:
  One of the most important determinants of effectiveness in mesotherapy is delivering the product to the correct skin layer. This requires technical skill and clinical experience.

• Treatment Planning:
  Mesotherapy is typically planned as a series of sessions, not a one-time treatment. The number and frequency of sessions should be determined by the physician based on the skin's needs.

Mesotherapy Is Not Just a Procedure — It Is a Strategic Care Plan

Mesotherapy is not merely a treatment performed “to add radiance.”

It is a structured and personalized strategy aimed at replenishing what the skin lacks, reactivating the cellular cycle that slows over time, and managing the effects of aging.

When planned with quality products, proper technique, and an accurate assessment, dissatisfaction after mesotherapy is uncommon.

However, just like any medical procedure, mesotherapy cannot guarantee absolute results. Even when the same formulation and technique are used on the same area, each skin may respond differently.

Some skin types show noticeable improvement after two sessions, while others may require three to four sessions. These variations depend on factors such as skin structure, metabolic rate, age, lifestyle, and compatibility with the product’s active ingredients.

What truly matters is evaluating the skin’s needs correctly, maintaining high product standards, and planning treatment appropriately based on the physician’s clinical judgment.