What You Should Know About Carboxytherapy

Fast facts

About

• Carboxytherapy is a procedure used to address cellulite, stretch marks, and dark circles beneath the eyes.
• Its origins trace back to French spa practices in the 1930s.
• The treatment can be administered to the eyelids, neck, face, arms, buttocks, abdomen, and legs.
• It involves infusions of carbon dioxide, a gas naturally present in the body.

Safety

• Although many clinics and websites assert carboxytherapy is safe and FDA-approved, it has not undergone extensive clinical testing nor received FDA approval for these indications.

Convenience

• The procedure is brief, typically lasting 15 to 30 minutes as an outpatient service.
• You can resume normal activities immediately, except avoiding swimming and soaking in a tub for 24 hours after treatments aimed at cellulite or fat reduction.

Cost

• Most patients require 7 to 10 sessions.
• Each session typically ranges from about $75 to $200.

Efficacy

• Participants in a 2016 study experienced an improvement in cellulite grading from degree III to degree II.

What is carboxytherapy?

Carboxytherapy is employed to treat cellulite, under-eye discoloration, and stretch marks. Individuals undergoing the therapy often notice enhancements in:

• blood circulation
• skin elasticity
• fine lines and wrinkles

It also promotes collagen regeneration and helps break down fatty accumulations.

Moreover, it can lessen under-eye darkness by boosting blood flow to the eyelid area. Some practitioners have also applied the technique for erectile dysfunction, acute arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and hair loss (alopecia) related to poor circulation.

For reducing fat and cellulite, carboxytherapy is often chosen as a less invasive alternative to higher-risk procedures such as liposuction.

Carboxytherapy can be administered on the:

• face
• eyelids
• neck
• abdomen
• arms
• legs
• buttocks

How much does it cost?

Most people need 7 to 10 carboxytherapy sessions spaced about a week apart before seeing noticeable changes. Each session typically costs between $75 and $200, depending on the clinic.

How is carboxytherapy performed?

Details of the procedure depend on the treatment area, but the core technique is largely consistent.

A carbon dioxide gas cylinder is connected to a flow regulator via plastic tubing. The clinician carefully adjusts the gas flow from the tank.

The gas travels through the regulator into sterile tubing that features a filter at the end.

The filter removes contaminants before the gas reaches the body. The gas then passes through a very fine needle beyond the filter. The clinician injects the gas beneath the skin through this needle.

The treatment is almost entirely pain-free. Some clinicians apply a topical anesthetic before inserting the needle. Despite minimal pain, some patients report a brief unusual sensation afterward.

Carboxytherapy is performed on an outpatient basis and generally takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

How do you prepare for carboxytherapy?

There are no strict preparations required before the procedure, although your clinician might give specific instructions tailored to your situation.

How the procedure works

Poor circulation contributes to cellulite, stretch marks, and under-eye shadows. Body cells produce carbon dioxide as a waste product. Red blood cells transport inhaled oxygen to tissues and pick up carbon dioxide, which is eventually exhaled by the lungs.

A clinician can boost blood flow to a targeted area by injecting carbon dioxide, prompting red blood cells to converge there.

When blood cells arrive at the area, circulation increases. This helps restore skin elasticity and, for under-eye darkness, shifts coloration toward a healthier tone.

• Stretch marks: Stretch marks are caused by breaks in dermal collagen. Carboxytherapy stimulates new collagen formation, thickening the skin and improving its appearance.
• Cellulite: Injecting carbon dioxide into fatty tissue can disrupt fat cells, allowing them to be removed by the body. Cellulite occurs when subcutaneous fat bulges through the skin. Multiple studies have shown carboxytherapy to be both safe and effective for treating cellulite.
• Under-eye circles: Dark circles often arise from poor circulation and vascular pooling. Injecting gas beneath the eyelid reduces blue-tinged pooling and restores a healthier rosy tone.
• Alopecia: Hair loss linked to inadequate circulation can also be addressed with carboxytherapy.

What are the side effects of carboxytherapy?

Carboxytherapy is relatively low-risk with minimal side effects. Patients may experience bruising at the injection sites, particularly on the arms and legs, which typically resolves within a week.

Those receiving treatments for fat or cellulite should avoid immersing treated areas in water for 24 hours, including swimming or bathing in a tub.

What to expect after

When used for stretch marks and scars, carboxytherapy is fairly painless because scar tissue lacks nerves. You might feel brief itching as the stretch marks are stretched during treatment; this should fade within about 5 minutes.

Patients undergoing carboxytherapy for cellulite and fatty deposits may sense pressure during injection, similar to the feeling of a blood pressure cuff inflating. This is caused by the expanding gas.

Treated areas may feel warm and tingly for up to 24 hours as the carbon dioxide promotes improved circulation. You should be able to resume your usual activities after the session concludes.