SAN ANTONIO -- An age-old European practice that claims to eliminate fat and cellulite has arrived in San Antonio.

Mesotherapy is a cocktail of substances specifically designed to help people lose weight.

Dr. Connor Chase, M.D., of San Antonio, who practices mesotherapy, said the cocktail's range depends on the patient.

"Some of them are homeopathic," Chase said. "Some of them are as simple as vitamins and supplements. Some of them are simple medications that we use to open up receptors on fat cells."

In cases of spot-fat reduction, Chase uses a syringe that he said blocks the fat-entry gates and stimulates the fat-exit gates so that fat cells literally shrink in size and are metabolized by the body.

While Chase said there has never been a complication or death in the 50 years mesotherapy has been used, critics fear the fat released could travel to other organs in the body.

But Suzette Christensen, of San Antonio, said the results speak for themselves.

"I wear shorts now and don't worry about dimples peaking out behind my shorts," Christensen said. She now hopes to have similar success on her stomach.

Mesotherapy takes between five and 15 treatments and each treatment requires between 20 and 200 injections. The cost is not cheap -- $500 per treatment.