Danni King
A doctor has issued a warning about a cosmetic procedure which appears to have made a comeback.
The decades-old beauty trend sees people inject substances under the eyes in a bid to combat the appearance of wrinkles.
The treatment, called mesotherapy, has existed for decades in other countries but has recently grown popular in the US.
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The non-surgical procedure involves a technician using small needs to inject a liquid mixture of vitamins and minerals under the skin to decrease fat and banish under-eye bags.
Mesotherapy was initially developed in 1952 in France in order to treat blood vessel and immune system disorders.
However, it is now most commonly sold as a way to remove fat in stomach, tighten skin and erase wrinkles.
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While mesotherapy can be performed anywhere on the body, it is most popular on the stomach and hands, and it tends to leave small raised bumps underneath the skin immediately, but these are only a temporary side effect and eventually settle.
The aftermath of the injection has been compared to the skin of a reptile, with photos and clips shared on social media platforms such as TikTok attracting attention.
While mesotherapy is considered to be a painless procedure with small recovery time, a doctor has issued a warning about the serious risks the treatment poses and how it may not achieve the results desired.
Dr Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a dermatologist based in New York, told MailOnline: "The risks of under-eye mesotherapy go beyond minor side effects, especially when people go to inexperienced technicians or do this at home.
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"Patients may experience long-lasting bruising, severe allergic reactions, skin necrosis due to product placement in blood vessels, or even permanent eye damage."
It's said that each practitioner has their own mixture of fluids to use in mesotherapy, this means patients are unaware what they're really getting when they go for the cosmetic treatment.
The injections generally combine enzymes, hormones, vitamins and other nutrients, but some blend prescription medications too.
"While mesotherapy may be legal in some other countries, the absence of US regulatory oversight means patients could be exposed to counterfeit or unverified products," Dr Kazlouskaya explained.
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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons doesn't endorse the use of mesotherapy, and the FDA hasn't approved any medications for use in mesotherapy.
Mesotherapy is not currently directly regulated by law in the UK, but the government is currently consulting on a new licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which would likely include mesotherapy.
Risks of mesotherapy include nerve and blood vessel damange, irregular skin contours, burns, and infection, Heathline reports.