Mesotherapy and "Fat Melting"

The biggest buzz word that is used to describe mesotherapy in the cosmetic and weight loss industry is “melting fat.”  Is this really an accurate statement? 

In some ways yes because it is a form of “injection lipolysis” meaning that it has shown success when it comes to some non-surgical cosmetic application such as the removal of cellulite (sometimes generally called disfiguring fat) in most places in the body including the thighs, buttocks, hips arms, legs and face. 

Mesotherapy procedures can also be used to minimize the pads of fats that gather around the eyes and under the chin and also to tighten loosen skin.  This can also help tighten the skin and the underlying shape of the face.

Common Injected Substances For Fat Removal

There are various nutraceuticals that are used to “melt fat” and these include  aminophylline, collagenase,  glycolic acid , hosphatidylcholine (PC), L-carnitine, hyalorunidase, multivitamins (A, D, E, K) retinoic acid,), trace elements (essentially tiny quantities of zinc, copper, selenium, chromium and manganese), an acetylcholine analog dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) and lidocaine. 

An often used fat-removing compound is the PC (hosphatidylcholine) which, in essence, thins out fat cells by making their membranes more permeable. Minute amounts of stimulants that aid fat release are included with PC injections. Common for this purpose are thyroid preparations, isoproterenaol and aminophylline.

Common Injected Substances for Cellulite

DMAE

Substances such as hyaluronidase and collagenase are used to disintegrate the fibrous tissue bands that form between the fat globules in cellulite.  This is a like a net of tissue that makes the skin look dimpled and lumpy as the fat clumps are caught in it.  DMAE can also help smoothen out lax skin and the injected trace elements can help the skin turn over and repair itself.

Melting fat is not all that mesotherapy is used for, however that is what most of your clients equate it with. They probably need to know that the procedure can also be used for correcting vitiligo, hyperpigmentation, acne and alopecia.

One thing that your patients might mistake mesotherapy for is liposuction. Although it is often promoted as being a safe non-invasive replacement for liposuction, it does not remove huge volumes of fat from the body.  As a practitioner, it is important to be clear with your patient about what mesotherapy can and cannot do for him or her.  Although fat is released and skin is removed, and the area may appear to have less volume, this is not quite the same as having fat surgically removed or sucked away from beneath the dermis.

For more information about The Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of Natural Medicine courses including course outlines, detailed descriptions of courses and information about upcoming training sessions, please go www.pinewoodinstitute.com.  You can also send us an email using our email form at http://pinewoodinstitute.com/contact.aspx or call us at 416-656-8100. If you prefer to fax the number is 416-656-8107.

Common Side Effects of Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy treatment is a cosmetic procedure where vitamins, minerals and medicines are administered through several injections artfully placed in sites on the face and body to minimize the look of aging. The procedure is used to eliminate fat and cellulite, treat wrinkles and smooth out wrinkles.  Common areas of the body that are treated include the eyelids, under the eyes, the creases from nose to mouth, double chins and forehead creases.  Elsewhere on the body it is used to improve the appearance of the face and neck.

When you perform a mesotherapy procedure on a patient, there are usually few side effects. In fact, it is well known for being a great non-invasive procedure.

Still some patients might experience the following effects:

A Burning Sensation or Itching

Sometimes, during or just after an injection, the patient feels a mild feeling of burning or heat in the area. This is the result of feeling the therapeutic properties of the vitamins, minerals or medicines entering the body. Typically this is a symptom that disappears within minutes if not seconds after the injection.

Hematoma at injection site -
something to avoid!

Itching can also be an issue but usually this does not last more than a few hours after treatment and at most a day.

Pain and Soreness

Everybody is an individual and experiences pain differently. Some people experience pain at the injection site.  What feels like a mild prick to some is more extreme for some people who are naturally nervous, sensitive or even suffering from a form of neuropathy.  

Some people also experience residual soreness at the injection site or int he surrounding muscles. This is easily treated with an Advil or herbal pain reliever if for some reason it does not go away within a day or two.

Bruising and Swelling

Bruising, tiny bumps or swelling can also occur at the injection site. If this is the case, they can be treated with aloe vera gel or arnica.  This also usually clears up within a day or two and most certainly within two weeks of the treatment. 

Other Side Effects

Temporary numbness and discoloration at the injection site is very rare but can happen in some cases. 

If the needle is not handled properly some people can develop a hematoma (a localized swelling at the site that fills with blood) or scarring at the injection site.  

In the Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of Natural Medicine you are taught how to administer these injections artfully and with medical and aesthetic expertise so that your patients do not suffer problems afterwards.

For more information about The Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of Natural Medicine courses including course outlines, detailed descriptions of courses and information about upcoming training sessions, please go www.pinewoodinstitute.com.  You can also send us an email using our email form at http://pinewoodinstitute.com/contact.aspx or call us at 416-656-8100. If you prefer to fax the number is 416-656-8107.

Your Patient and Dry Skin

Dry skin occurs when that upper layer of flesh called the dermis becomes dehydrated. You will see this symptom in many of your older patients, but dry skin can simply be idiopathic is some people. It can have to do with the amount of time spent outdoors, the side effects of medications and even frequent travel by air.

Symptoms of dry skin include

• A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
• Skin that looks shrunken
• Skin that feels and looks rough rather than smooth
• Itchiness
• Flaking and peeling
• Fine lines or cracks
• Redness and
• Fissures that may bleed

The Causes of Dry Skin

Xeroderma a.k.a. Dry Skin

Most dry skin is caused by exposure. The weather is one of the biggest culprits. In general your skin is driest in the winter when there is not much humidity in the air. Skin also dries out in climates where there is less then ten percent humidity in the air. This can include very cold areas of the world as well as hot deserts.

Central heating and air conditioning can also cause dry skin as their function reduces humidity.

Yet another cause of dry skin are hot baths and showers. This breaks down the lipid barriers in your skin that function as a protective layer of moisturizing oil over the skin. Swimming in chlorinated pools can also dry the dermis out quickly.

Harsh soaps, deodorants, shampoos and detergents also help strip lipids from skin. The most drying of soaps the antibacterial types so advise your patients to avoid those. 

Certain diseases can also cause dry skin. These include psoriasis, which is characterized by a build up of dead, scaly skin cells and hypothyroidism, which reduces the activity of your sex hormones and causes them to dry out.

Alcohol and prescription drugs such as diuretics and antihistamines can be culprits as can remedies for acne such as Accutane.

If you are dehydrated as the result of alcohol intake, diarrhea or fever you can also end up with a flaky dry complexion.

Care and Treatment

Dry skin problems respond well to self-care measures, such as using moisturizers and avoiding long, hot showers and baths. Limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes or less, and use warm, rather than hot, water to prevent dry skin.  Use bath or shower gels with added moisturizers instead of drying soaps.  After bathing pat your skin dry so that some moisture sinks into the skin.

If you live in a dry climate then use a humidifier to prevent dry indoor air from dehydrating the skin further. If dry skin causes itching, apply cool compresses to the area. 

At the Pinewood Institute we have an entire line of products that are designed to assist with dry skinDr. Rx Organics is a skin care collection created specifically to nourish dry skin in a healthy and natural way. Dr. RX Organics utilizes the natural healing abilities of minerals and essential oils and our dry skin formulaes are gentle on sensitive, aging and hormonally affected skin.

Why Choose Organic Skin Care

By choosing to use organic products, you can drastically reduce the amount of chemicals that enter your body. Most skin care products on the market today contain a combination of synthetic ingredients that often include harmful chemicals and synthetic preservatives.  Whether you are a holistic doctor or a cosmetician you know the importance of being able to offer a post-care product that you can stand by proudly.

Plants that are not organic are often heavily contaminated with herbicides, pesticides, and other chemical fertilizers. By choosing organic skin care products, there is confidence iin knowing that the ingredients placed on your skin are nutritious, naturally raised and free from harmful substances.  

The Benefits of Organic Extracts

Here are some other reasons to choose Dr. Rx Organics Products -

The skin is a very absorbent and sensitive organ, absorbing 60% to 70% of what is applied topically and many studies have indicated that the chemicals and synthetic preservatives in most cosmetics can actually contribute to premature aging and many kinds of cancers and diseases.

• Organic ingredients are not mass-produced and therefore do not contain genetically-modified ingredients and toxic additives like non-organic cosmetic products.
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• Nutrients in organic extracts increase skin elasticity and also heal damaged cells resulting in healed, healthy-looking, youthful skin.
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• Nutrients that are applied topically also have a very high nutritional content that can benefit the entire body as the enzymes and vitamins are absorbed through the surface of the skin and into the bloodstream.
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• Non-organic creams and balms can contain chemicals from fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides but the new  Dr. Rx Organic Skin Care Line is guaranteed to be free of all toxins.  

Fortunately, most dry skin results from environmental factors that can be wholly or partially controlled. These include exposure to hot or cold weather with low humidity levels, long-term use of air conditioning or central heating, and excessive bathing.

For more information about the new Dr. RX Organic Skin Line and

information about The Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of Natural Medicine courses including course outlines, detailed descriptions of courses and information about upcoming training sessions, please go www.pinewoodinstitute.com.  You can also send us an email using our email form at http://pinewoodinstitute.com/contact.aspx or call us at 416-656-8100. If you prefer to fax the number is 416-656-8107.