Hair Mesotherapy
A non-surgical scalp treatment in which vitamins, minerals and amino acids are delivered directly into the skin around the hair follicles through a series of very fine micro-injections.
What is hair mesotherapy and how does it work?
Hair mesotherapy is a scalp treatment that places a tailored mixture of nutrients into the mesoderm — the layer of skin that sits just above the hair follicles. Instead of relying on oral supplements or topical products that have to travel a long way before reaching the follicle, the mixture is deposited exactly where the follicle is fed.
The injections are shallow and made with very fine needles, distributed in a grid across the treatment area. Two things happen at once: the follicles are exposed to the nutrients they need, and the micro-injections themselves increase local blood flow, which improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients that the scalp already receives from the circulation.
The mixture, often called a mesotherapy cocktail, is prepared according to the findings of the scalp assessment. It commonly includes:
- Amino acids — the building blocks of keratin, the protein that makes up the hair shaft.
- Vitamins and trace minerals — including B-group vitamins along with zinc, copper, iron and selenium, all of which take part in normal hair growth.
- Coenzymes and antioxidants — supporting the energy metabolism of the follicle and limiting oxidative stress.
- Hyaluronic acid — improving the moisture content of a dry, flaking or tight scalp.
- Peptides and growth-factor-type agents — used to stimulate the follicle and encourage circulation in the treated area.
Hair mesotherapy is a supportive treatment. It works on follicles that are still alive but weakened or miniaturised; it cannot regenerate follicles that have already been lost. Where the follicle is gone, a transplant procedure is the relevant option, and mesotherapy may then be used alongside it to support the surrounding native hair.
When is it preferred?
Diffuse thinning and increased shedding. When hair is coming out more than usual and the overall density has dropped without a clearly bald area, mesotherapy is often used to support the follicles while the underlying cause is being addressed.
Telogen effluvium. Shedding that follows illness, surgery, rapid weight loss, childbirth or a period of severe stress usually recovers on its own; mesotherapy may be used to support the scalp during that recovery.
Early pattern hair loss. In men and women whose follicles are thinning rather than absent, mesotherapy is used as part of a wider plan that may also involve medical treatment prescribed by the physician.
Dry, flaking or oily scalp conditions. Where the scalp environment itself is part of the problem, the treatment can be adapted to improve hydration and the general condition of the skin.
Before and after a hair transplant. Mesotherapy is frequently planned around transplantation to support the existing hair between the grafts. The timing is decided by the physician.
How does the treatment proceed?
Assessment. The session begins with an examination of the scalp and hair. Your medical history, medications, family history of hair loss and any recent blood tests are reviewed. Where a systemic cause such as thyroid dysfunction or iron deficiency is suspected, laboratory tests are requested before treatment is planned — mesotherapy does not replace treating the underlying cause.
Preparation. The scalp is cleaned and the mixture is prepared. A topical anaesthetic cream may be applied if you are particularly sensitive, although many people do not need one.
Application. The mixture is injected in small amounts across the treatment area, either by hand with a fine needle or with a mesotherapy device. The injections are superficial. A session usually takes about twenty to thirty minutes, depending on the size of the area.
Afterwards. There is no recovery period. The scalp may look slightly red and feel tender for a few hours, and small raised points at the injection sites settle quickly. You can return to daily activities straight away.
Aftercare. Hair washing is generally postponed until the following day so that the mixture is not disturbed. Direct sun on the scalp, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools and heavy exercise are avoided for the first day or two, along with alcohol immediately before and after the session, since it widens blood vessels and can increase bruising. Hair dye and chemical treatments are left for a few days.
Course and maintenance. Mesotherapy is planned as a course rather than a single session. A typical plan involves sessions at one- to two-week intervals for the first stage, followed by wider intervals for maintenance. The number of sessions depends on the scalp assessment and is decided with your physician.
Who is it not suitable for?
Hair mesotherapy is a low-risk procedure, but it is not appropriate in every situation. It is generally avoided or postponed in the following cases:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Active infection, open wounds, severe inflammation or an untreated skin condition on the scalp
- Known allergy to any component of the mixture
- Bleeding disorders, or use of blood-thinning medication that has not been reviewed by the prescribing physician
- Uncontrolled diabetes or a condition that significantly impairs wound healing
- Immunosuppressive treatment or an active autoimmune condition affecting the skin
- Areas where the follicles are no longer present — scarring alopecia, or long-standing complete baldness
- Active cancer treatment, unless the treating oncologist has been consulted
Tell your physician about every medication and supplement you take, including blood thinners, isotretinoin and hormonal treatments, as well as any allergies, before the session is planned.
When do results become visible?
Hair grows slowly, so changes appear gradually rather than session by session. The first change most people notice is a reduction in shedding, which tends to become apparent somewhere around the third or fourth session. Reduced flaking and a less irritated scalp may be noticed earlier.
New growth follows later. Because a follicle needs time to move back into its growth phase and then produce a visible shaft, changes in density and thickness generally become noticeable a few months into the plan and continue to develop after the initial course is finished.
Results vary between individuals and depend on the cause of the hair loss, how long it has been present and whether the underlying factors are being addressed. Because pattern hair loss is progressive, maintenance sessions are usually needed to hold the result; without them, the previous pattern gradually returns.
Use alongside other treatments
Mesotherapy is rarely used in isolation. It is frequently combined with hair growth factor treatment or with Regenera Activa, and it is often planned around a hair transplant to support the hair that is already there.
Where the hair loss has a medical cause, the treatment of that cause comes first. Correcting an iron or vitamin D deficiency, managing a thyroid disorder, or reviewing a medication that triggers shedding will influence the outcome far more than any topical or injectable support. Mesotherapy is planned as part of that overall picture, not as a substitute for it.