Intradermotherapy (mesotherapy): what it is and where it is used
Quick facts
- Definition
- Injection of substances in microdoses into the dermis or the superficial subcutaneous layer.
- Other names
- Mesotherapy.
- Difference from filler
- It does not aim for volume or projection: it aims for the local action of the substance on the skin.
- Caution
- Use depends on product registration and the professional council's rules; much of what is done is off-label.
Intradermotherapy, also called mesotherapy, is the technique of injecting small amounts of a substance into the dermis or the superficial subcutaneous layer. The idea is that the active ingredient works close to where it was placed, instead of travelling through the whole body. On the face, it appears in protocols for skin quality, glow and hydration.
How does it differ from filler and skin boosters?
| Technique | Main goal |
|---|---|
| Filler | Volume, contour and projection |
| Skin booster | Hydration and skin quality with hyaluronic acid |
| Intradermotherapy | Local action of active ingredients in the skin, in microdoses |
| Microtoxin | Toxin in microdoses for pores and oiliness |
The names overlap in practice, and the difference lies more in the substance and the goal than in the act of injecting.
What precautions does it require?
Each substance has its own registration, indication and risk. Many formulations used in mesotherapy are compounded or applied for an indication different from the registered one, which brings in off-label use. Check the product's status with ANVISA (Brazil's health regulatory agency) and your professional council's rules before adding any technique to the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
Are intradermotherapy and mesotherapy the same thing?
In common use, yes: both terms describe injecting small amounts of a substance into the dermis or just beneath it. The name mesotherapy is the older one.