Mesotherapy for hair loss is a non-surgical procedure involving microinjecting a “cocktail” of active ingredients into the middle layer of the skin (the mesodermal layer). These cocktails usually contain a mix of medications, peptides, vitamins and/or growth factors. The idea is that these injections may encourage the release of cytokines and growth factors in hair follicles, helping to stimulate growth.
In this blog, we’ll cover what a typical session involves, how effective it seems to be based on current research, and what alternatives are available.
How does mesotherapy work?
Mesotherapy uses very small needles to deliver active ingredients directly into the scalp. Unlike topical treatments, which must pass through the skin barrier before reaching the follicles, this approach aims to deliver ingredients closer to where they’re needed.
Because of this, it’s often claimed that lower doses can be used less often compared to daily topical treatments. However, the extent to which this improves outcomes is still unclear.
What does a “meso cocktail” usually contain?
The exact formulation differs from clinic to clinic. Typically, clinics will deliver medications such as minoxidil and/or finasteride using this method. Minoxidil 5% spray and finasteride 1mg tablets are licensed ingredients for male pattern baldness, but not when administered via this method.
For androgenetic alopecia, the licence is confined to the 1mg tablet of finasteride and 5% minoxidil spray — any other method of delivery is unlicensed.
Not all clinics use medications. Some use a combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and/or peptides.
What to expect from a mesotherapy session
Mesotherapy is typically offered by aesthetic clinics, dermatology practices, and some trichology centres. Given mesotherapy is relatively unregulated, the procedure will usually differ from practice to practice.
The practitioner should carry out a consultation, which usually consists of a review of your medical history, hair loss pattern, and choosing the best treatment for your needs.
They may offer a numbing cream, but the procedure is said to be fairly painless as the needles are so small — though this will depend on what your pain tolerance is like. After the session, clinics typically advise you not to get your scalp wet for at least 24 hours, but there is little downtime needed, meaning you can carry on with your day-to-day activities straight away.
The schedule of sessions also differs, but typically a minimum of 3–6 either weekly, fortnightly, or monthly sessions are recommended. It’s uncertain how long the results last — they will certainly be temporary — with a follow-up session typically following the course of treatment 3–6 months later, with further sessions usually required.
This can get pricey, as each session will probably set you back anything from €150–500.
What are the common side effects?
Most side effects are mild and temporary, like:
- Headache
- Swelling, redness or bruising at the injection site
- Scalp tenderness or itching
More serious side effects are rare, but mesotherapy comes with the risk of skin infection or allergic reaction.
What does research say about mesotherapy?
The evidence base of mesotherapy as a treatment for male pattern hair loss is limited, so much of its mechanisms are theoretical at best. That’s because no large-scale, peer-reviewed randomised controlled trials have been carried out to assess the efficacy of mesotherapy.
That means it is difficult to draw conclusions about how well it works, how long results typically take, or how long results will last.
One small randomised controlled trial from 2019 compared mesotherapy with 5% topical minoxidil in 49 men. After four months, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups across key measures like hair density, thickness, clinician ratings, or patient self-assessment.
Broader reviews of the literature show a similar pattern. While some smaller studies report improvements, results are inconsistent due to differences in formulations, techniques, and treatment schedules, and there is no standardised approach.
Overall, current research suggests mesotherapy may have some potential, but it has not been shown to outperform established treatments, and stronger evidence is still needed.
Alternatives to mesotherapy
If you’re looking for a treatment for male pattern baldness, finasteride tablets and minoxidil spray have the strongest evidence bases. They are the most widely studied treatments, plus they are licensed and clinically proven to be effective in 9 out of 10 men at stopping hair loss.
If you need help choosing a treatment plan, take our free consultation for personalised recommendations.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
