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Carboxytherapy 'Magic Gas or Hot Air'?
Carboxytherapy is a non-surgical cosmetic medicine treatment. It refers to the transcutaneous and subcutaneous administration of CO for therapeutic purposes. This treatment originated at the Royal Spas of France in 1932 with the treatment of patients affected by obliteration of arteriopathies.
Carboxytherapy employs injections to infuse gaseous carbon dioxide below the skin into the subcutaneous tissue through a needle. It claims to kill fat cells, stimulate blood flow, improve the skin's elasticity and reduce the appearance of cellulite[1] although it has not been clinically tested nor approved by the FDA.[2] It has also become a popular treatment for stretch marks.[3]
In South America and Europe, carbon dioxide therapy has been applied to the treatment of stretch marks, cellulite, and hypertrophic scars with impressive results. Studies have demonstrated that carboxytherapy improves skin elasticity, improves circulation, encourages collagen repair, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and destroys localized fatty deposits
Recent studies have demonstrated the effect of subcutaneous CO2 therapy performed to improve local parameters of circulation (performed by Doppler, laser–Doppler, and trans-cutaneous partial pressure of oxygen determination), and to reduce localized adiposities (verified reporting variations in maximum circumference and performing histologic studies). With these results, the absence of toxicity, and the relevant side effects related to this treatment taken into consideration, the Plastic Surgery Unit of Siena has been committed to researching the role that CO2 therapy can play in the treatment of skin irregularity and as a complement to liposuction. [4]
Carbon dioxide therapy (carboxytherapy) was developed in aesthetic medicine to minimize skin irregularity because of residual fat deposits after liposuction. CO2 gas injected into the residual fat deposits may reduce or eliminate post-liposuction residual fat deposits and improved skin regularity.
Carbon dioxide may cause blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow and oxygen. Carboxytherapy is, therefore, used to treat
- Cellulite
- Localized fat deposits
- Stretch marks
- Bags under the eyes
- Toneless tissue
- Small face wrinkles
- Psoriasis
- Venous insufficiency
- Circulation disorders
- Ulcers
- Difficult wounds
- Arthropathies
- Alopecia
- Tendinitis
- Vaginal Rejuvenation
- Erectile Dysfunction
References
(1) Koutná, N (2006). "Karboxyterapie – nová neinvazivní metoda estetické medicíny" [Carboxytherapy – A New Non-invasive Method in Aesthetic Medicine]. Časopis Lékařů Českých (in Czech). 145 (11): 841–3. PMID 17168416.
(2) Carboxytherapy And Mesotherapy Unproven" (Press release). 2009.
(3) Prendergast, Peter M.; Shiffman, Melvin A. (2011). Aesthetic Medicine: Art and Techniques. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 554. ISBN 978-3-642-20113-4.
(4) Aesthetic Plastic Surgery August 2004, Volume 28, Issue 4, pp 222–225 Carbon Dioxide Therapy: Effects on Skin Irregularity and Its Use as a Complement to Liposuction Cesare Brandi, Carlo D’Aniello, Luca Grimaldi, Elena Caiazzo, Elisabetta Stanghellini
