Carboxy Therapy is a procedure that uses carbon dioxide to get rid of stretch marks, cellulite and scars, as well as plumping the skin and getting rid of dark circles under the eyes.
Micro injections of carbon dioxide are injected just beneath the surface of the skin; this is meant to stimulate circulation and collagen production, which improves the appearance of skin. Ageing causes capillaries to become dormant, which reduces blood circulation.
This deprives cells of oxygen which stops the cells’ ability to regenerate. Injecting carbon dioxide makes your body think there is an oxygen deficit and it responds by increasing the blood flow. This leads to a surge of oxygen and nutrients to the treated area, which results in cell restoration.
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Because of differences in the techniques used to treat the eyelids, stretch-marks, scars, and fat deposits, the sensation is slightly different depending upon what is actually being treated.
The treatment of stretch-marks and scars is relatively painless because this skin doesn’t have the same ability to sense pain.
Some pressure from the gas may be felt as the stretch-marks are distended, and they can feel a bit itchy, but this subsides in about five minutes once the gas is absorbed by the body.
Scars generally feel no pain because there are no nerves in scar tissue. The treatment of cellulite and fatty deposits on the arms, abdomen, and legs has a unique sensation of its own.
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This is because a larger amount of the gas is injected directly into the offending fat deposits and allowed to expand.
While the gas is expanding, you may feel some pressure in the area being treated that feels similar to when the arm is squeezed by a blood pressure cuff.
The areas will feel warm and tingly for up to 24 hours after the treatment as the circulation to the area is improved.
The only real possible side effect of the procedure is the potential for a bruise at the injection site. Usually, the eyelids can be treated without leaving any marks, making it a truly “no-downtime” procedure.
There are no known risks associated with Carboxy Therapy. Carbon dioxide injection has been safely used for years to facilitate endoscopic surgeries of the abdomen.
Carbon dioxide is also being injected directly into the bloodstream by invasive cardiologists for certain diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
The average treatment takes approximately fifteen to thirty minutes to complete.
q Information obtained from www.carboxytherapy.com; www.skinrenewal.co.za; www.myfacemybody.com and www.theskincentre.co.za.
