Carboxytherapy for stretch-marks?
Carboxytherapy is the administration of carbon dioxide [CO2] gas for therapeutic purposes. Carbon Dioxide is the gas that gives carbonated beverages their “fizz.” It should not be confused with Carbon Monoxide gas, which is a by-product of oil combustion that can be deadly.
How was carboxytherapy discovered?
Carboxytherapy was discovered in the Royal Spas of France in the 1930’s when bathing in the pools of carbon dioxide rich waters was shown to speed wound healing.
How does carboxytherapy work, in general?
Carboxytherapy takes advantage of a physiological principle known as oxygen off-loading. Carbon dioxide is naturally present in our bodies at all times and it is essential to the life processes of both animals and plants. With every breath, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Plants absorb the carbon dioxide that we exhale and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. There are many types of cells that make up the human body—heart cells, brain cells, skin cells… even though they may have very different jobs to perform, all cells take up the oxygen that we breathe in and burn it to make energy to do their job, then give off carbon dioxide as a waste product. Have you ever noticed that if the blood supply is cut off to your hand that it will turn a distinctive shade of violet? What you are actually seeing is the accumulation of deoxygenated blood. Here is why. With each inhalation we breathe in oxygen to our lungs. This oxygen is picked up by the red blood cells in the tiny blood vessels of the lungs. Each red blood cell has holding space for precisely four molecules of oxygen. The oxygen-laden red blood cells are carried from the lungs via tiny blood vessels that lead to the heart. The heart beats, forcing the blood into the arteries so that the red blood cells can carry their oxygen-rich cargo to the hard working cells of the body. When the red blood cells encounter an area that has a high level of carbon dioxide, the waste product of cellular metabolism, the red blood cells become distorted, the oxygen is released to the needy tissues and the carbon dioxide is picked up by the now empty red blood cells [think of a subway train pulling into the station-- the doors open, the passengers who have reached their destination get off the train, and the passengers who need to be transported elsewhere get on the train—all in a highly organized manner]. The carbon dioxide is carried back to the lungs, we exhale to get rid of the carbon dioxide, we inhale more oxygen, and the entire process begins again. So, how does carboxytherapy work? Dark under-eye circles, cellulite, and scars are believed to caused, at least in part, due to poor blood-flow to the region. By injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide gas into the area, we are “tricking” the body into increasing the oxygen flow to the area by compelling the red blood cells to pick up all of the excess CO2that we injected so that it can be carried back to the lungs for elimination from the body with the next exhalation.
What are some clinical uses for carboxytherapy?
Carboxytherapy is used for the treatment of dark under-eye circles, stretch-marks, cellulite reduction, and non-surgical fat sculpting on the face and the body.
