Treatment
Mesotherapy, delivered into the layer that needs it
Topical actives are stopped by the stratum corneum by design. Mesotherapy puts hydration and micronutrients past that barrier, into the dermis itself.
- Appointment
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Anaesthetic
- Topical
- Onset
- Hydration within days; texture over weeks
- Course
- Usually 3 sessions, 3 to 4 weeks apart
- Downtime
- Small bumps for a few hours; redness for a day
What it is
Mesotherapy is a route of delivery rather than a single product. Very small volumes are placed into the dermis across an area, so that whatever is being delivered acts where the tissue is, rather than being stopped by an intact skin barrier or diluted through the circulation.
In aesthetic practice the most defensible version of this is the injectable skin booster: uncross-linked or very lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid, sometimes with amino acids, vitamins or antioxidants. Uncross-linked hyaluronic acid does not hold shape or add volume. It binds water within the dermis and, through the mechanical stimulus of placement, provokes a modest fibroblast response.
The distinction from filler is worth making clearly, because the products look similar in a syringe and are often conflated. Filler is designed to project and hold. A booster is designed to disperse. Asking a booster to lift a cheek, or a filler to improve skin texture, is asking each to do the other's job.
What is assessed
The commonest reason mesotherapy disappoints is that it was chosen for a problem it does not address. Skin that looks dull and crepey because it is dehydrated and thin responds well. Skin that looks tired because the midface has deflated does not, however many sessions are given, because the loss is structural and several layers deeper.
Dubai's climate makes this a more relevant treatment here than in many places. Sustained air conditioning, low indoor humidity and high ultraviolet exposure combine to leave skin dehydrated and photo-damaged in people who are otherwise young. That is a genuine indication rather than a marketing line.
- Hydration versus volume — separating a surface-quality problem from a structural one, which changes the treatment entirely.
- Skin thickness and laxity — a booster improves quality; it does not tighten significant laxity.
- Photodamage — pigmentation and solar elastosis may need resurfacing or a peel alongside, or instead.
- Your existing skincare and sun protection — without daily photoprotection in this climate, any result is being undone between sessions.
- Product suitability — what is in the preparation and whether any component is one you react to.
Where it applies
- Face — global hydration, fine texture and dullness.
- Periorbital and perioral skin — fine crepe where thicker treatments are unsuitable.
- Neck and décolletage — early laxity and crepe texture, and a common site of Dubai sun exposure.
- Hands — dorsal skin quality and crepiness.
- Scalp — as an adjunct in hair programmes, delivered with or alongside PRP.
The appointment
Assessment
Skin is examined under good light and photographed. The distinction between a quality problem and a volume problem is settled here, because it determines whether this is the right treatment at all.
Preparation
Topical anaesthetic for 20 to 30 minutes. The skin is cleansed and prepared.
Delivery
Multiple very small deposits placed across the treatment area at dermal depth, by fine needle or by a multi-injector. You will see small raised bumps immediately; these settle within a few hours.
Course and review
Three sessions three to four weeks apart is the usual starting course, with maintenance every four to six months if the response justifies it.
Before and after
Photographs, unretouched
Each pair below shows the same person, photographed in the same position, under the same lighting and with the same lens. No retouching or filtering has been applied. Drag the handle to compare.
Before
After
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-01-before.jpg
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-01-after.jpg
- Treatment
- Mesotherapy
- Interval
- Add the interval between the two photographs
- Note
- There is no guarantee that the result will be the same, as it might vary from one individual to another.
Before
After
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-02-before.jpg
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-02-after.jpg
- Treatment
- Mesotherapy
- Interval
- Add the interval between the two photographs
- Note
- There is no guarantee that the result will be the same, as it might vary from one individual to another.
Before
After
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-03-before.jpg
/assets/before-after/mesotherapy-dubai-case-03-after.jpg
- Treatment
- Mesotherapy
- Interval
- Add the interval between the two photographs
- Note
- There is no guarantee that the result will be the same, as it might vary from one individual to another.
Please read. There is no guarantee that the result will be the same, as it might vary from one individual to another. These photographs record outcomes in specific individuals and are not a prediction of what any treatment will achieve for you. Anatomy, skin type, age, medical history and healing all differ between people.
Every procedure described on this page carries risks, which are set out in full below and are discussed with you in person before consent is taken. No result is guaranteed, and some people are advised at assessment that a treatment is not appropriate for them.
All photographs are published with the written consent of the individual concerned. Consent can be withdrawn at any time by contacting the clinic.
Risks and limits
These are discussed with you individually before consent is taken. The list is not exhaustive, and it is not a substitute for that conversation.
- Small visible papules at each injection point for a few hours, occasionally up to 24 hours.
- Redness for up to a day.
- Pinpoint bruising, more likely around the eye.
- Tenderness of the treated area.
- Infection, uncommon but possible with any dermal puncture.
- Allergic reaction to a component of the preparation, which is why contents are discussed beforehand.
- A modest result. This is a quality treatment and the change is subtle by design.
When this treatment is not appropriate
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Active infection or inflammatory skin disease at the site.
- Known allergy to any component of the preparation.
- Anticoagulant therapy, which raises bruising risk considerably.
- Keloid tendency, which needs discussion first.
After treatment
- Expect small bumps for a few hours. Do not press or massage them.
- No make-up for 12 hours.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas and hammams for 24 hours.
- Daily broad-spectrum SPF 50, which is not optional in this climate.
- No facials, peels or laser on the area for two weeks.
Questions
Asked often
Is this the same as filler?
No. Boosters use uncross-linked or lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid that disperses through the dermis. They hydrate and improve quality. They do not project, lift or restore volume, and they should not be sold as doing so.
How soon will my skin look different?
Hydration is often noticeable within a week. Texture change accrues over the course and is best judged against standardised photographs at three months.
How long does it last?
Typically four to six months after a completed course, though this varies with sun exposure, skincare and individual metabolism.
Does it hurt?
Topical anaesthetic makes it tolerable for most people. The number of injection points makes it more tedious than painful.
Can I have it before an event?
Leave at least five days. The bumps settle within hours but bruising, if it happens, takes longer.
Will it help my pigmentation?
Some preparations include antioxidants that may help dullness. Established melasma or sun-induced pigmentation usually needs a different approach, and that would be discussed rather than treated with this.
Also relevant
Related treatments
Consultation
Every face is read before it is treated
A consultation establishes whether this treatment is the right one for you. Sometimes the answer is that it is not.