What is facial mesotherapy?
Facial mesotherapy is a medical technique that involves injecting small quantities of active substances directly into the dermis of the face. Unlike dermal filler injections that add volume or restructure contours, facial mesotherapy exclusively aims to improve the intrinsic quality of the skin: hydration, radiance, texture, and firmness.
This approach uses multiple micro-injections performed at shallow depth in the superficial and mid-dermis, allowing for local and progressive diffusion of the active ingredients. The objective is not to modify facial volumes, but to restore an optimal physiological environment for skin cells.
Difference from skinboosters: skinboosters are a specific form of mesotherapy mainly using non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid at high concentration. Classical facial mesotherapy can combine several types of active ingredients depending on the indication: vitamins, amino acids, trace elements, and hyaluronic acid. Both techniques belong to the same family of treatments aimed at improving skin quality without volumizing effects.
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Who is facial mesotherapy for?
Facial mesotherapy is suitable for different patient profiles:
Dull and tired skin: when the complexion lacks radiance and the skin appears grey or dull, often after periods of stress, intense fatigue, or hormonal changes.
Skin dehydration: skin that feels tight, lacks suppleness, and shows dehydration lines, particularly visible in the morning or at the end of the day.
Early signs of aging: appearance of fine lines, gradual loss of natural radiance, and mild deterioration of skin texture. Mesotherapy acts preventively in this context.
Skin stressed by external factors: chronic exposure to smoking, urban pollution, sun without adequate protection, or extreme climatic conditions (cold, wind, air conditioning).
Typical age: although there is no strict threshold, facial mesotherapy is generally offered to adults from their twenties or thirties for prevention and can be proposed at any age as a complement to other techniques for more mature skin.
The key factor is the quality of the indication. A young patient with simply dehydrated skin will benefit from a light protocol. Mature skin with advanced signs of aging will likely require a combined approach including other treatments. During consultation, the physician evaluates whether mesotherapy is appropriate or if other options would be more relevant.
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Face-specific indications
Deep hydration: mesotherapy delivers hydrating molecules directly into the dermis, bypassing the skin barrier. Improved skin hydration is among the most frequently reported effects after several sessions.
Radiance and complexion uniformity: by improving local microcirculation and delivering antioxidants, mesotherapy can contribute to a brighter and more even complexion.
Skin texture and grain: improvement in skin texture is among the most commonly reported benefits. The skin surface becomes finer and smoother to the touch.
Superficial dehydration lines: fine lines related to lack of hydration may soften thanks to deep dermal rehydration. These are not deep expression lines, but superficial lines mainly visible around the eyes and cheekbones.
Prevention of skin aging: by stimulating the dermis and maintaining an optimal cellular environment, mesotherapy may slow the appearance of early aging signs in younger patients.
What facial mesotherapy does not treat: deep expression wrinkles (forehead lines, glabellar lines, pronounced crow’s feet), significant skin laxity (jowls, sagging jawline), deep acne scars, established pigment spots. Other techniques are more appropriate for these indications (botulinum toxin, fillers, lasers, surgical lifting).
Facial areas treated
Mesotherapy can be performed on different facial areas depending on needs:
Full face: global treatment including forehead, temples, cheekbones, cheeks, perioral area, and chin. This is the most common approach for homogeneous improvement of skin quality.
Cheeks and cheekbones: areas particularly exposed to oxidative stress and early loss of radiance.
Forehead: to improve texture and hydration, possibly as a complement to botulinum toxin treatment for expression lines.
Eye contour (periorbital area): a delicate area requiring precise technique. The eye contour may benefit from mesotherapy for hydration and fine lines, but requires specific expertise due to thin skin and proximity to sensitive structures. Results are generally more modest than on the rest of the face.
Neck and décolleté: often neglected, these areas show early signs of aging (thin, dehydrated skin, horizontal lines). Mesotherapy may be offered as an extension of facial treatment.
The physician adapts injection technique and formulation according to the area: the eye contour requires less concentrated products and shallower injection depth than the cheeks.
Products used in facial mesotherapy
There is no universal formula. The physician selects or composes a cocktail adapted to skin type, patient age, and treatment goals.
Non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid: the main component of many facial formulations. Non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid has strong hydrating capacity due to its ability to retain water in tissues. Unlike crosslinked hyaluronic acid used in fillers, it does not create volume but diffuses within the dermis to improve hydration and create a favorable environment for cellular activity.
Antioxidant vitamins: vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E, B-complex vitamins. Vitamin C contributes to collagen synthesis and has antioxidant properties.
Amino acids: proline, glycine, lysine — precursors of skin structural proteins. They provide the building blocks for collagen and elastin synthesis by fibroblasts.
Trace elements: zinc, selenium, magnesium — enzymatic cofactors involved in cellular metabolism and protection against oxidative stress.
Antioxidants: glutathione, coenzyme Q10 — neutralize free radicals responsible for premature aging.
Composition varies according to objectives: formulations targeting hydration prioritize hyaluronic acid and vitamins, while anti-aging approaches may include higher proportions of amino acids and antioxidants.
How a facial mesotherapy session works
Pre-treatment consultation: mandatory step. The physician examines the skin, assesses phototype, checks for contraindications, explains the protocol and expected results. Photographs are often taken to monitor progress.
Skin preparation: on the day of treatment, the face is cleansed, makeup removed, and disinfected. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied 20 to 30 minutes beforehand to reduce discomfort, especially around the eyes and sensitive areas.
Injection technique: the physician performs micro-injections using the nappage technique (multiple closely spaced points) or point by point, covering the entire treatment area. Injections are delivered at shallow depth in the superficial and mid-dermis. Two modalities exist:
- Manual injection with syringe and fine needle
- Automated injection gun allowing control of depth and injected volume
The nappage technique involves multiple closely spaced micro-injections, creating a “sheet” of product within the dermis.
Average duration: a facial mesotherapy session typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area.
Sensations during treatment: pain is generally mild to moderate. Patients feel pinching or a mild burning sensation during injections. The periorbital area is more sensitive. Anesthetic cream reduces discomfort. Pain stops once the session ends.
Immediate after-effects: the face may be slightly red and sometimes swollen, with small pinpoint bleeding at injection sites. These reactions subside within a few hours. Patients can resume normal activities immediately, avoiding makeup the same day and sun exposure for 48 hours.
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Recommended protocol
Initial phase: 3 to 6 sessions spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. The most common protocols include 4 monthly sessions. This phase aims to saturate the dermis with active ingredients and achieve visible, lasting improvement.
Maintenance phase: one session every 3 to 6 months to maintain results. Without maintenance, effects gradually fade as the skin continues to age and injected actives are metabolized.
Variability according to age and skin condition:
- Young patient with simply tired skin: 3 sessions may be sufficient
- Middle-aged patient with moderate dehydration: 4 to 5 sessions recommended
- Older patient with established aging signs: 5 to 6 sessions, often combined with other treatments
The physician adjusts the protocol over time based on observed skin response.
Expected results on the face
Onset of results: first effects generally appear after the second or third session. The skin gradually becomes brighter, better hydrated, and smoother. Improvement is cumulative, with each session reinforcing the previous one.
Expected visible improvements:
- Increased skin hydration perceptible to the touch
- Improved complexion radiance
- Finer skin texture and smoother surface
- Reduction of superficial dehydration lines
- Improved skin elasticity
Realistic results vs excessive expectations:
Facial mesotherapy improves skin quality but does not produce a dramatic transformation. It does not replace:
- Surgical lifting for significant skin laxity
- Fillers to restore lost volumes (cheekbones, temples)
- Botulinum toxin for pronounced expression wrinkles
- Laser or deep peels for established pigment spots
Patients with realistic expectations (fresher, more hydrated, more radiant skin) are generally satisfied. Those expecting spectacular rejuvenation may be disappointed.
Side effects and face-specific precautions
Redness: almost systematic, appears immediately after treatment and resolves within a few hours. More pronounced in fair or reactive skin.
Mild edema: temporary swelling, particularly noticeable in the periorbital area where the skin is thinner. Swelling peaks in the hours following treatment and resolves within 24 to 48 hours.
Bruising (ecchymosis): frequent, especially around the eyes and highly vascularized areas. Occurs when a micro-injection hits a small blood vessel. Usually resolves within a few days to one week. Patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy have higher risk.
Small injection-site hematomas: possible but generally discreet.
Post-treatment care:
- Avoid makeup the same day
- Apply SPF 50+ sun protection for at least 48 hours and avoid direct sun exposure
- Do not vigorously massage the treated area
- Avoid intense physical activity and sauna/steam room for 24 hours
- In case of periorbital swelling, sleeping with the head slightly elevated may help reduce swelling
Rare complications: infection (exceptional if aseptic rules are followed), granulomas (very rare persistent inflammatory reaction to injected products), allergic reactions to a component.
Facial mesotherapy vs other facial treatments
Mesotherapy vs superficial peels: superficial chemical peels (fruit acids, glycolic acid) act on the epidermis through controlled exfoliation. They improve radiance and texture via accelerated cell turnover. Mesotherapy acts deeper within the dermis. The two can be complementary.
Mesotherapy vs fillers: crosslinked hyaluronic acid fillers are injected deeper to restore volume, fill wrinkles, or reshape contours, producing immediate structural effects. Mesotherapy improves skin quality without volumizing. The two are often combined: fillers restore structure, mesotherapy improves surface texture and radiance.
Mesotherapy vs cosmetic skincare: creams and serums, even high-quality ones, act at the surface. Dermal penetration is limited by the skin barrier. Mesotherapy delivers active ingredients directly into the dermis, allowing higher local concentrations. It does not replace daily skincare but complements it for more ambitious goals.
Choice depends on indication, patient age, expectations, and budget. Physicians often propose combined approaches to optimize results.
Common combinations
Facial mesotherapy combines effectively with other techniques to maximize benefits:
Mesotherapy + light peels: combining mesotherapy with superficial fruit-acid peels addresses both dermal quality (mesotherapy) and epidermal renewal (peel). Recommended interval: at least 2 weeks apart.
Mesotherapy + medical LED therapy: LED photobiomodulation stimulates cellular activity and may enhance mesotherapy effects. Can be performed the same day, with LED after mesotherapy.
Mesotherapy + radiofrequency: radiofrequency stimulates collagen production via thermal effect. Combined with mesotherapy, it offers a comprehensive approach (thermal stimulation plus active delivery).
Mesotherapy + botulinum toxin or fillers: possible, but requires appropriate scheduling. Some practitioners space treatments by 2 weeks; others perform them on the same day depending on areas treated. Discuss timing with the physician.
Recommended scheduling:
- Mesotherapy + LED: same day
- Mesotherapy + light peel: 2-week interval
- Mesotherapy + radiofrequency: according to protocol, often same day or alternating
- Mesotherapy + toxin/fillers: 2-week interval or same day per medical judgment
Price of facial mesotherapy in Belgium
Costs vary depending on several factors. Indicative prices:
Full face: €150 to €300 per session
Targeted areas (eye contour only, cheeks): €100 to €200 per session
Complete course (4 to 6 sessions): clinics often offer reduced rates for full protocols.
Factors influencing price:
- Size of treated area
- Type and quality of products used
- Practitioner expertise and reputation
- Geographic location of the clinic
- Inclusion of follow-up consultation
Aesthetic mesotherapy is not reimbursed by Belgian health insurance or mutual funds, except in very rare specific medical indications.
FAQ about mesotherapy for face
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