What is Carboxytherapy
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What is Carboxytherapy?
Carboxytherapy is the injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas under the skin in order to promote circulation and help with the following conditions:
Carboxytherapy is a treatment that stimulates the metabolism of cells and improves their function. In skin cells this means better collagen production. As a result, the skin becomes firmer and younger looking. On the scalp, hair follicles are stimulated to grow more healthy hair. In regions of fat, a higher metabolism means that the fat is burned faster. It is a cosmetic technique that is used to tighten up skin, reduce scarring, reduce localized fat, and stimulate hair loss recovery. This technique is usually available in cosmetic clinics or through doctors specializing in dermatology. The cost of each session may vary from region to region, but is usually between $150-$500.
How does Carboxytherapy Work?
Carboxytherapy works by increasing blood flow to cells through the use of carbon dioxide. The principle behind this treatment is that receptors within the tissue sense that carbon dioxide levels are high and attempt to compensate by dilating the blood vessels and increasing circulation to get rid of the excess carbon dioxide.
With greater circulation comes an influx of nutrient rich blood to the area, which helps cells by providing them with the energy they need as well as the building blocks they use to perform their functions like grow hair or produce collagen. An influx of oxygen also occurs, stimulating cell metabolism. The production of collagen is vital to firming up the skin and making it look younger, as well as for reducing the appearance of cellulite. Increased metabolism helps with skin cell turnover for scars as well as fat burning.
Carboxytherapy for Cellulite
Great news for cellulite sufferers is that carboxytherapy has been found to successfully treat cellulite. A study found that women who underwent 10 sessions of carboxytherapy showed on average a 40% reduction of cellulite in the treated areas. It is believed that even better results can be achieved with the completion of a greater number of sessions. Adding a lymphatic drainage massage and lifestyle changes, including moderate physical exercise and a healthy diet, may improve the results even more.
Carboxytherapy for Scars
Carboxytherapy is effective for the treatment of scars like stretch marks. It works on the same principle of increasing blood circulation to the tissue, which allows the cells within the tissue to better function and heal the scar.
Carboxytherapy for Localized Fat
Localized fat can be treated by carboxytherapy. Carbon dioxide is injected under the skin into the fatty region. This technique can help reduce fat in the belly, legs, arms, hips, and buttocks. During carboxytherapy, gas is introduced into the skin, which leads to increased circulation within the tissue. Increased circulation brings greater amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which makes it function better, promoting cell renewal and increasing cell metabolism.
In addition, the tissue is cleaned of harmful toxins; increased circulation to the site allows the byproducts of fat to be carried away. Results of carboxytherapy for localized fat may be observed, on average, after the 6th or 7th treatment session. Putting your body into a fat burning mode by exercising and eating healthy will especially help the targeted area shrink as compared to untreated areas.
Carboxytherapy for Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are scars on the surface of the skin that appear when the tissue of the body expands at a pace that the skin can’t keep up with. Such rapid tissue gain is common in pregnant women, but can also occur in people that gain a lot of fat or in bodybuilders that see a rapid expansion of muscle. More information on stretch marks.
Carboxytherapy is a cosmetic technique that not only helps in improving the appearance of stretch marks, but can also help with cellulite, localized fat, and sagging skin. The reason it works is because it increases blood flow, and with increased blood flow, the function of cells in each of the tissue types improves. Carboxytherapy is a great treatment for stretch marks, whether they are fresh or have been there for a while.
The procedure reduces the width and thickness of the stretch marks and evens their color with the surrounding skin, making them much less noticeable. Carbon dioxide gas is injected directly into the skin along the area of the stretch mark or scar. The body senses the gas and increases circulation to clease itself from it. With this increased circulation comes the beneficial effect of helping the cells within the scar reform collagen. In general, 5 sessions of carboxytherapy are recommended and results are usually observable after the completion of the 5th session. The price of carboxytherapy for stretch marks ranges from $150-$500 per session.
Carboxytherapy for Hair Loss
Carboxytherapy consists of injections of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the scalp to promote blood flow. As a result, hair follicles are stimulated and hair growth can be restored to areas where it has been lost or thinning. Individuals with the following conditions should not undergo carboxytherapy for their scalp:
Carboxytherapy is effective in stimulating hair growth when used in conjunction with intradermal drug therapy, which consists of the application of drugs that stimulate hair growth directly into the scalp. Treatment of hair loss with carboxytherapy is normally done every 15 days. Results are typically visible after the 2nd session of treatment. Hair in the area of treatment becomes thicker, and new strands will start to appear, resulting in the filling in of the area. As the treatment progresses result should be even more noticeable.
Treatment of hair loss with carboxytherapy is normally done every 15 days. Results are typically visible after the 2nd session of treatment. Hair in the area of treatment becomes thicker, and new strands will start to appear, resulting in the filling in of the area. As the treatment progresses result should be even more noticeable. Due to the scalp's high pain sensitivity, injections made into it would be quite painful. As a result a topical analgesic about 30 to 40 minutes before the carboxytherapy session is usually used to numb the pain. After the analgesic is applied there should be minimal discomfort. When the technique is used correctly, carboxytherapy is risk free. The price of each session ranges from $150-$500 depending on the clinic.
How Many Sessions Do I Need?
Generally, clinics offer packages of 10 sessions lasting 15 to 45 minutes to be carried out from 1 to 2 times per week, but the amount of sessions can vary depending on what area is being treated.
Does Carboxytherapy Hurt?
The needles used for carboxytherapy are very fine 30 gauge needles, and their penetration of the skin can be best compared to that of a mosquito bite. Minor discomfort may be felt as the gas is injected into the skin, and lower amounts of gas per injection can be used to reduce that discomfort. Some swelling can persist after the procedure, but the pain is so minor that it doesn’t normally interfere with the day to day activities of the patient.
Benefits of Carboxytherapy
Some of the benefits of carboxytherapy include:
Contraindications for Carboxytherapy
You should not undergo carboxytherapy if you have the following conditions:
Side Effects of Carboxytherapy
Carboxytherapy has very few side effects. They include:
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