When the treatment was over, my complexion was visibly brighter, glowing. My skin appeared plumper, my lines, especially the vertical line between my eyes, less pronounced. n the quest for a more youthful face and a shapely body, a growing number of men and women are seeking solutions that don't require surgery or down time. Dr. Robert Pitera, a specialist in non-surgical Aesthetic Medicine, offers several such options at his clinic on Manhattan's Park Avenue. SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS USED IN THE MESOLIFT Alpha-hydroxy Acids: Alpha-hydroxy Acids help with fine lines, irregular pigmentation and age spots and can help decrease the size of large pores. Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps restore collagen and elastin. Vitamin C: Vitamin C is the only antioxidant that is proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen. Collagen is the "glue" that strengthens tissue and skin. Vitamin C also plays an important role in wound healing. Vitamin B5: Pantothenic Acid is involved in the cellular production of energy and is needed for the synthesis of our bodies’ hormones. Hyaluronic Acid: This substance occurs naturally in humans and is abundant in young skin. It is a component of connective tissue and is known to cushion and lubricate. Aging reduces the body's Hyaluronic acid. When it is replaced, the skin holds more moisture thereby decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Alpha-Lipoic Acid: This is a potent antioxidant that helps fight skin damage and helps repair past damage. Its use reduces fine lines and gives the skin a glow. It is also believed to boost the levels of other antioxidants. DMAE (Dimethyllaminoethanol): DMAE is naturally found in our brain. Its use dramatically reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Copper: Copper is shown to promote collagen and elastin production and also acts as an antioxidant. Copper is needed to increase the body's natural tissue building process. It helps firm, smooth and soften skin. Amino Acids: Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins which are used in growth, repair and maintenance of body tissue. Examples include Argenine, which assists in wound healing and increases protein synthesis which in turn increases cellular growth. Bioflavinoids: Bioflavinoids such as Rutin are anti-inflammatory in nature and protect blood vessels. Co-enzyme Q10: CoQ10 is an anti-oxidant which protects against free radicals. It is also shown to assist in energy production, which in turn assists healing. Silica: Silica is needed to maintain the cell matrix. Zinc: Zinc protects against free radicals and helps cells reproduce. It is needed in the body's repair process. Dr. Pitera achieves results in rejuvenating faces and re-shaping bodies with Mesotherapy, the practice of injecting a cocktail of conventional and/or homeopathic medications, plant extracts, vitamins and nutrients into the mesoderm or middle layer of skin. Pioneered in France by Dr. Michel Pistor, it has been performed there since 1952. Initially, it was used to treat arthritis, joint problems and sports injuries. A relatively recent arrival to the United States, Mesotherapy has been hailed here as a non-surgical fat-buster, a way of melting fat away from specific areas of the body without the risks of surgery. Dr. Pitera, one of the first practitioners in the Unites States and one of a handful of physicians to be Board Certified in Mesotherapy, has taken the science one step further with his Meso-Magic (tm) Mesolift, which can postpone or avoid the need for a facelift. The Mesolift combats the effects of aging, of many years in the sun," says Dr. Pitera. "The skin has less elastin, less collagen--these are the normal facts of aging. The Mesolift gets the body to rejuvenate, to improve moisture, texture and tone." When I decided to try the Mesolift, I was reasonably confident that I could tolerate needles applied to my face—after all, I had experienced acupuncture more than once. However, Dr. Pitera assured me that the Mesolift would involve little or no discomfort, as he would use a topical lotion to numb my skin before beginning the treatment. A half hour or so after the lotion was applied, my face was indeed numb. Using the tiniest of needles, Dr. Pitera injected anti-oxidants and other allopathic medicines into my skin, delivering Vitamins B, C, A, E and Magnesium, as well as other ingredients—“trappers” of free radicals. The injections covered the surface of my face, with special attention to the areas where I had lines and/or wrinkles. In addition to the injections, Dr. Pitera also used a special mask imported from France on my face. When the treatment was over, my complexion was visibly brighter, glowing. My skin appeared plumper, my lines, especially the vertical line between my eyes, less pronounced. "Patients generally have a series of treatments," says Dr. Pitera, "initially four, one week apart, followed by two, one and a half weeks apart-and then maybe one or two a year after that." The Mesolift treatments cost $500 each, $2700 for a series of six. The treatments are much more effective than applying the vitamins and anti-oxidants topically, Dr. Pitera explains. "Although it is possible to get results from topical applications, there is a limit to any topical medication. With the micro-injections, there is deeper penetration applied to the areas that need it most." In discussing the change in the face after even one treatment, Dr. Pitera says: "I've seen fashion models get the treatment the day before a shoot; it makes them dewy and fresh; it gives a glow." Dr. Pitera also uses Mesotherapy to eliminate fat in targeted areas, to sculpt the body and to treat cellulite. He points out that in contrast to surgery, there is minimal risk of side effects when Mesotherapy is done by a trained physician with sterile needles. "There may be some bruising," he says, "but that is the only side effect I've seen." In addition to Mesotherapy for face and body, Dr. Pitera also offers Meso-Botox, to eliminate tiny lines around the eyes and mouth, and wrinkle fillers such as Collagen and Restylane to add fullness and contour to deeper creases such as the nasolabial folds where Botox is less effective. Dr. Pitera received his medical training at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and served his residency at NYU Medical Center. He obtained his formal Mesotherapy training and certification in Paris, France and continues to update his skills regularly. He is a Board Member of the American Society of Mesotherapy and an attending physician and consultant of two major teaching hospitals in New York, where his duties include the training of resident physicians and fellows in the use of Botox. Robert P. Pitera, MD Aesthetic Alternatives 20 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 947-2626 www.meso-spa.com