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Overview of injectable techniques in body cosmetology
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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In modern body cosmetology, various injection methods are widely used:
- Mesotherapy - allopathic and homeopathic
- Ozone therapy and oxygen therapy.
- Reflexology.
- Homeooxymesotherapy.
Mesotherapy is the introduction of pharmacological preparations intradermally into the area of the pathological focus in order to create a "depot" of the preparation in the skin with slow peripheral diffusion deep into the tissues. The main effects develop as a result of the action of the introduced substance, mechanical stimulation of skin receptors by a needle, and improvement of microcirculation of blood and lymph circulation in the skin.
The main indications for mesotherapy in body cosmetology:
- Cellulite (gynoid lipodystrophy).
- Overweight, obesity.
- Violation of venous circulation.
- Rejuvenation of the bust and décolleté area.
- Correction of stretch marks.
- Rejuvenation of hands.
- Significant decrease in skin turgor (so-called “sagging skin”).
Contraindications to mesotherapy:
Pharmacological:
- presence of an allergic reaction to the drug;
- the presence of somatic diseases that may become complicated after using the pharmaceutical drug (for example: cholelithiasis when using chophytol, autoimmune thyroiditis, gastritis after using caffeine).
Contraindications from the patient:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- fear of injections;
- neuropsychiatric diseases;
- inflammatory diseases, hematomas and damage to the skin in the intended treatment area (except in cases of treatment of this pathology);
- tendency to bleeding;
- acute diseases, including viral ones.
Side effects and complications of mesotherapy:
- Pain.
- Erythema.
- Hematomas
- Infection occurs with the development of inflammation in the injection area.
- Necrosis with subsequent scarring.
- Allergic reactions.
Side effects can be caused by the drugs themselves, their incorrect combination in a cocktail, the method and depth of administration, and can also depend on the characteristics of the body. Thus, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders (including due to taking antiplatelet agents) increase the risk of hematomas.
Some medications themselves cause bleeding.
Pain occurs when acidic solutions and protein preparations (enzymes) are administered. The occurrence of pain is influenced by injection technique, needle diameter, sensitivity of the treated area, and the state of the body. Emotional stress, fatigue, hunger, and menstruation significantly increase the perception of pain.
Necrosis occurs due to errors in the combination of drugs in one syringe, may be a consequence of a severe allergic reaction. Vasoconstrictors, adrenaline can provoke local necrosis. The drug should not be in an oil solution - risk of ischemia and thrombosis.
Erythema is often a normal reaction after a mesotherapy session, since most cocktails contain vasodilators. The appearance of persistent erythema, accompanied by itching, pain, especially several days after the procedure, requires taking measures, as it may be a symptom of an allergic reaction or the development of an inflammatory process.
Purpose and execution of the procedure
When choosing a mesopreparation and injection technique, it is necessary to take into account the distribution of the patient's adipose tissue. For example, with the gynoid type, preference is given to the use of alpha-blockers in the "breeches" and buttocks area. With the android type, drugs that enhance metabolism are chosen. The increase in volume is corrected by deeper injection, compared to superficial injection for cellulite.
All information obtained as a result of examination and questioning of the patient, the planned treatment plan should be entered into the client's card. The results of examination, thermography are entered into a table and repeated several times during the course. On the schematic image of a person, you can indicate the location of "cold" zones, nodes and areas of pronounced fibrosis (skin retraction and thickening). A protocol is kept for each procedure, which indicates all the drugs used, their quantity, ratio in the cocktail, the area being treated and the combination with other body shaping techniques. It is this kind of control that helps to track the dynamics of treatment, work out the most acceptable patient management scheme and confirms the objectivity of the method. In turn, keeping records is necessary in case of conflict situations, insures the specialist against possible lawsuits, and also helps to increase the client's trust in the cosmetologist.
To reduce the risk of infectious complications, the mesotherapy session should be carried out in a prepared sterile room. All instruments and materials that come into contact with the skin should be disposable. The skin is disinfected with an antiseptic that does not contain alcohol, since the latter increases the duration of bleeding and dries the skin. If a capillary is damaged during injections, the bleeding should be stopped by pressing a dry swab. Cold elements with a dry surface are used for the same purpose. Creams containing vitamin K, ascorbic acid, rutin help to speed up the resolution of the hematoma; the homeopathic ointment "Traumeel S" gives a good effect. Clients prone to bleeding are recommended to strengthen the capillaries in advance (a course of ascorutin: 1 tablet 2 times a day, 14 days). After the procedure, the skin is treated with an antiseptic and dried. The patient should be given recommendations that will help to avoid complications during the mesotherapy course (patient memo):
- On the day of the session, do not use any cream, body lotion or perfume.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing to avoid infection.
- Avoid taking anticoagulants, do not give injections during menstruation due to the appearance of hematomas.
- If you suspect an allergic reaction - redness, itching, swelling - contact your cosmetologist.
After the session you should:
- Avoid sun exposure for 48.
- Do not take a shower, bath, or visit a sauna or bathhouse during the day.
- Do not use any cream or body lotion for 24 hours.
The main techniques used in body mesotherapy:
- Microcirculatory technique. Injections are performed along the vascular axes. The drug is administered along the main vessels, paying additional attention to the projection of regional lymph nodes. It is used at the beginning of treatment to improve lymph and blood circulation, for drainage, to relieve tissue pastosity, and in venous insufficiency.
- Treatment of paravertebral zones and reflex points. Paravertebral zones are trenchant for enhancing metabolism and relieving pain. In the treatment of cellulite and obesity, it is useful to make injections in the sacrum area in case of hormonal disorders, in the reflex points of the gallbladder and stomach in case of concomitant pathology in these organs.
- Classical technique. Treatment of the entire surface of the problem area.
Basic techniques when working with the body:
- "Papular" technique. The goal is to create a "depot" of the drug in the dermis. It is used for skin lifting, when treating folds, reflex points
- Nappage. Superficial injection technique. Used for treating large areas to reduce pain, combines the action of a pharmaceutical preparation and reflex irritation of skin receptors.
- Linear technique. Retrograde injection of the drug is used for stretch mark correction.
- Infiltration (mesoperfusion). Deep injection of a relatively large volume of the preparation is required to treat hard-to-reach areas with poor microcirculation (fibrosis foci, large cellulite nodes), and to relieve pain (muscle strain, sports injuries).
- Tracer injection technique is a variant of infiltrating injections. From one injection, the needle is inserted deeply in different directions. It is used in the treatment of cellulite (deep into nodes and foci of fibrosis), pronounced subcutaneous fat tissue to enhance lipolysis.
Classification of mesotherapeutic agents by effects:
- Lipolytics:
- alpha-blockers - block lipogenesis and fat accumulation in adipocytes (lofton, buflomedil, yohimbine);
- phosphodiesterase inhibitors - an enzyme that regulates lipolysis by reversibly converting cAMP into AMP (xanthines, triac);
- beta-adrenergic agonists - lipolysis stimulants (algae preparations, yohimbine, graphites).
- Preparations that enhance the utilization of lipolysis products
- drugs that enhance the transport of lipolysis products through the adipocyte membrane (mesostabil, phosphatidyl choline);
- L-carnitine - improves the transport of triglycerides in the mitochondria, reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, improves lipid metabolism.
- Drugs that improve blood flow:
- alpha-adrenergic blockers - block alpha-adrenergic receptors of the precapillary sphincter, dilate peripheral vessels (dihydroergotamine, lofton, buflomedil, foneilin, sermion, vadilex, minoxidil);
- angioprotectors (pentoxifylline, trental, dicinone);
- herbal preparations (hofitol, ginkgo biloba, melilotrutin, witch hazel, horse chestnut) - anti-edematous, vasoprotective, lymphokinetic action. Hofitol also has a diuretic, choleretic, hepatoprotective and hypocholesterolemic effect.
- Sympatholytics - reduce the formation of acetylcholine, reduce the excitability of peripheral cholinergic systems, causing blockade of autonomic ganglia and vasodilation; anesthetics (procaine, lidocaine, mesocaine).
- Defibrosing drugs:
- enzymes (lidase).
- Preparations that improve skin structure:
- multivitamin preparations (multivitamin oligosol, NSTF-135)
- trace elements (Zn, Cu, Se, Mg - antioxidants; Zn, Ni, Co - improve skin tone, regulate pancreatic function; Mg is indicated for telangiectasias, stabilizes cell membranes, improves muscle tone, is a regulator of enzymatic reactions of the Krebs cycle, carbohydrate metabolism);
- conjoctyl (organic silicon) - increases the concentration of AMP in adipocytes and stimulates lipolysis, enhances the synthesis of collagen, elastin and proteoglycans, improves lymphokinetics;
- preparations that renew the intercellular matrix and promote the synthesis of collagen and elastin fibers (X-ADN, Placentex, DONA, hyaluronic acid preparations, embryoblasts);
- Ready-made cocktails: homeopathic (lipodystrophin, metabolites chondrodystrophin) and allopathic (intralipo, intracell).
It is more convenient for a novice mesotherapist to work with ready-made complex preparations. They have a balanced composition and pH, which eliminates the precipitation of an unstable solution, minimizing possible complications in the form of necrosis and allergic reactions.
As an example, we will give several cellulite treatment schemes. Mesotherapy in complex cellulite correction is prescribed for the following purposes: improving microcirculation, tissue drainage, reducing fibrosis, reducing fat deposits, oxygenation and tissue nutrition.
Cellulite stage I, slightly expressed, swelling. We choose preparations for strengthening the skin (vitamins, trace elements) and improving microcirculation (hofitol):
- Hydrosols polyvitamin 2.0
- Oligosoli Mg 2.0
- Chophitoli 5.0
- Procaini 2% - 2.0.
S. The classical injection technique is recommended.
Cellulite stage II, "orange peel" is detected locally, fat deposition is of the gynoid type. For treatment, we choose drugs that improve microcirculation and alpha-adrenergic blockers.
1st syringe:
- Procaine 2% - 2.0
- Esberiveni 2.0
S. Injections along the vascular axes.
2nd syringe:
- Aminophyllins 2.0
- Dihydroergotamini 0.3
- Conjoctyli 4.5
- Procaini 2% - 2.0.
S. Classical injection technique.
Stage III cellulite, fibrosis areas. To improve blood circulation and metabolism in the thickness of fibrous tissue, enzyme preparations are required. They often cause allergic reactions. In this case, it is best to use ultrasound therapy. This will soften the fibrosis foci, "break up" the cellulite nodes, and reduce the number of mesotherapy sessions. The injection techniques used are: tracer injections deep into the nodes, deep injections into the fibrosis foci, papular injections along the vascular axes and paravertebrally, nappage over the problem area.
1st syringe:
- Mag-2 - 5.0
- Torrental 3.0
- Procaini 2% - 2.0.
2nd syringe:
- Hyaluronidasa 5.0
- Procaini 2% - 2.0.
When combining mesotherapy with hardware methods of body shaping, it is important to consider that drugs injected into the skin retain their activity for about 3-5 days. Any hardware action enhances tissue metabolism and promotes the elimination of the drug. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out physiotherapy treatment the day before or before the mesotherapy session.
Mesotherapy in rejuvenation of the bust, décolleté and hands. The condition of the skin of the chest and hands is one of the reasons for turning to a cosmetologist. Signs of aging appear early in these areas. Due to photoaging and age-related changes in the skin.
Indications for mesotherapy of the bust and décolleté:
- Decreased skin turgor.
- Strengthening the muscular-fascial corset.
- Stretch marks.
- Pigmentation.
Recommended drugs:
- Preparations of hyaluronic acid (IAL-SYSTEM, AcHyal, X-ADN); glucosaminoglycans (GAG, DONA), embryoblasts, collagen, elastin, ATP, placentex, etc.
- To strengthen muscles and lift the breasts, L-carnitine, DMAE Complex, Musclebig are used, including in combination with hardware techniques (microcurrent lifting, myostimulation, endermological correction, ultrasound therapy, etc.).
- The same preparations are used to correct stretch marks as to improve skin tone. But the most effective treatment will be for "young" stretch marks that are red. At this stage, almost complete restoration of the skin structure is possible. In other cases, the synthesis of intercellular substance is restored, the elasticity of the skin in the stretch mark area increases, and wrinkles above the rupture in the dermis disappear. A good effect is achieved by combining mesotherapy with medical chemical peels, lermabrasion, and endermology.
- Pigment spots (lentigo) on the décolleté are a sign of photoaging of the skin. It is impossible to remove pigmentation with mesotherapy, but it is possible to prevent photoaging and increase the skin's resistance to the ultraviolet spectrum with the help of antioxidant preparations (multivitamin oligosol, vitamin C, DMAE - complex, IAL-SYSTEM, etc.).
When treating the décolleté, it should be taken into account that the sternum area is very sensitive and is a risk zone for the formation of keloid scars. The tendency to keloids increases during hormonal changes in the body - periods of pregnancy, lactation, menopause. To prevent complications, when working on the décolleté, atraumatic needles and microinjection techniques are used.
Mastopathy is not a contraindication for mesotherapy of the décolleté area, but the mammary glands should not be treated with mesopreparations. Ozone therapy gives a good therapeutic effect. This method of treatment allows you to soften fibrous-nodular formations, relieve pain. The treatment is carried out jointly with a mammologist, under ultrasound control.
Mesotherapy in hand rejuvenation. With age, the skin of the hands is increasingly exposed to aggressive external influences - these are atmospheric factors, and solar radiation, and the action of household chemicals. The main complaints that people turn to a cosmetologist with: dryness, wrinkled skin, pigment spots (lentigo), visible dilated veins. Mesotherapy gives a strong rejuvenating effect on the skin of the hands. But for an optimal result, it is good to combine it with other cosmetology techniques (photorejuvenation, chemical peels, plasticizing masks, wraps). Preparations for mesotherapy of the hands are the same as for rejuvenation of the skin of the décolleté. Injection techniques - classic papular lappage, working out reflex points, along the synovial sheaths.
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