Carboxytherapy

Carbon Dioxide Therapy or Carboxytherapy, the miracle gas, has been touted as the biggest beauty breakthrough since Botox, and is available in South Africa at Body Renewal. Worldwide, Carboxytherapy is rapidly becoming known as the leading skin rejuvenation treatment. It is a safe, minimally invasive clinically proven method to rejuvenate, restore, and recondition the skin and treat loose skin ( due to ageing or post pregnancy) cellulite, resistant fat and stretch marks. Therapy involves injecting tiny amounts of Carbon dioxide (CO2) beneath the skin to break down fatty deposits and stimulate collagen production. The treatment has no downtime and a single session can take between fifteen minutes and an hour. In short, Carboxytherapy is a simple and safe procedure for beautiful, younger looking body.

Carboxytherapy dramatically;

• Brightens and firms the eye contour area
• Diminishes cellulite and resistant fat deposits
• Tightens loose skin
• Fades stretch marks
• Improves venous insufficiency and varicose veins an spider veins

As one ages especially if there has been yo-yo dieting, subcutaneous capillaries become dormant, decreasing cells of oxygen; this combined with environmental stresses and other variables, inhibits the ability of cells to regenerate and function properly. By the age 30, oxygen levels in your skin drop by 25% and 50% by age 40. The body naturally gets its oxygen through basic breathing, but factors like pollution reduce the levels. The body will first utilize oxygen in the major organs and lastly go to the skin. When the skin doesn't get enough oxygen it becomes more prone to aging, acne, redness, irritation and age spots.

Carboxytherapy infuses CO 2 just beneath the skin's surface; the body interprets this as an oxygen deficit and responds by increasing blood flow and growth factors such as VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) for example encourages production of new blood vessels. This provides a surge of oxygen and nutrients to the treated area and improves circulation, resulting in cell restoration. Increased oxygen concentration also improves the water retention or oedema in the area.

For a dermal effect which reduces fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks, this increased blood flow stimulates collagen, which will soften fine wrinkles and decreases dark circles under the eye. Long term collagen is stimulated with more regular sheets of collagen laid down. A few months later dermal remodeling occurs with collagen contraction, leading to a tightening effect. Brow ptosis and saggy jowls and necks are improved. For fat reduction, the heated gas at high volume is introduced deep in to the fat which then breaks up the fat cell and stimulates new vessels and rejuvenation.

For cellulite reduction, a lymph drainage treatment increases the circulation to the area, thereby reducing the buildup of toxins which is a major cause of cellulite. When the gas is introduced into the dermis, it breaks down the superficial fat causing the cottage cheese effect and stimulates dermal collagen levels. This all leads to improved texture and appearance of the cellulite or orange peel appearance.

Typical problem areas treated:

On the Body Carboxytherapy improves resistant fatty deposits. Once introduced into the fatty deposits, the CO2 changes to Carbonic acid which dissolves the fat cell and releases fat. Increased lymphatic drainage to the area improves the metabolism and excretion of the released fat in problem areas such as:

• Love Handles
• Saddle bags
• Tummy Rolls
• Bra Bulges
• Inner Thighs
• Heavy Thighs
• Buttocks
• Batwing arms
• Double chins

Just about everyone is familiar with fat pockets that you cannot get rid of. No matter how much you exercise, eat healthily and maintain your body at a healthy weight, localized fatty pockets fat pockets will continue to be problematic.

A possible explanation behind this is that some fat cells have a predominance of beta receptors and others have a dominance of alpha receptors. Beta receptors are very receptive to the presence of adrenaline which is produced by exercise. Fat cell breakdown is triggered when adrenaline attaches to the beta receptors. Fatty areas with a predominance of beta receptors respond to exercise and a person on a regular exercise program will see noticeable results.

The opposite applies to fatty areas with a predominance of alpha receptors. When adrenaline attaches to alpha receptors, fat breakdown slows down and the fat tends to accumulate more. This explains why some people will experience problems in areas that just won't respond to a consistent and regular exercise. These problem areas are typically around the hips, tummy and upper thighs, leading to love handles, saddle bags, spare and tummy rolls.

Additional difficult to treat problems improved by Carboxytherapy include:

• Stretch Marks due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line
• Cellulite by improving circulation to the affected area dramatically
• Lax skin due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line
• Wrinkled Décolleté due to new collagen formation
• Saggy bottom due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line
• Saggy Knees due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line Flabby ankles
• Hair loss or Alopecia by stimulating hair growth factors
• Acne by destroying the bacteria causing the acne P acnes
• Acne Scars if used as subcision which releases the acne scar from the subcutaneous tissue which tethers the acne scar and in addition stimulates new collagen formation.
• Improves Saggy Brown Elbows due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line
• Lax skin on arms due to new collagen stimulation and remodelling and contraction down the line

Alternative therapies for which Carboxytherapy include previously difficult to treat problems:

• wound healing (as in diabetic ulcers ) is assisted by dramatically
• venous insufficiency is treated by improving circulation to the affected area resulting in varicose veins and spider veins being improved by shunting blood away from these problem areas
• Post liposuction by improving and reducing fatty irregularities
• Psoriasis by improving increased keratinisation
• Before a surgical procedure such as a surgical facelift to improve wound healing and tissue perfusion. This is especially significant in smokers who have poorly perfused tissues.

Body Renewal is excited to offer the next step in multi-modality therapy in treating body problems. We call it the Bottom Line! Any treatment modality on its own can make a big difference, but in our eyes it's not sufficient. Ageing bodies have different forms and grades of resistant fat and cellulite and thus success needs a combination of treatments that include reduction of fat cells, collagen stimulation and increased circulation

At Body Renewal, Carboxytherapy is commonly performed with other body shaping treatments for best results especially for resistant fat and cellulite. This combination is one of the most widely used and most effective methods of achieving a significant aesthetic improvement within 2 to 6 months when the effects of collagen stimulation, improved circulation and remodeling become evident. The popular Carboxytherapy also helps improve venous insufficiency which caused varicose and spider veins, an added benefit.

For cellulite and body sculpturing, Carboxytherapy can be safely combined with TriPollar, Velashape, Lipomassage, Lipodissolve and mesotherapy. For patients with Stretch marks, Carboxytherapy therapy into the stretch marks stimulates collagen production which then remodels and shrinks the stretch mark to improve the appearance.

Post pregnancy, Carboxytherapy treatments to the affected area improves stretch marks, tightens skin and tummy rolls.

Post liposuction irregular adiposities which are a common phenomena, are evened out.

For hair loss treatments, Carboxytherapy is combined with mesotherapy with growth factors and peptides to stimulate hair growth.

At Body Renewal, with a combination of treatments, in 3 to 6 months we can take a good body and turn it into a Perfect body: slim, firm, smooth and sculpted

During the treatment the sensation can be likened to a dull throb or pressure .This mild discomfort lasts 2 to 4 minutes. CO2 is 20 times more soluble than oxygen and it is easily and quickly diffused from the injection site to the surrounding tissue. After a treatment the gas is totally reabsorbed within 5 minutes and the treated area will raise, turn slightly red as oxygen perfuses into the area which undergoes an inflammatory response which stimulates collagen production.

After the procedure, there is no pain, just possibly a crackling sensation under the skin that lasts until the gas is excreted. The area should not be rubbed or immersed in water for about 4 hours. The only side effect is that bruising can occur if one hits a vessel with the needle. However, this only happens in around two percent of patients. Patients can return to work immediately after treatment, a truly walk in, walk out procedure.

Typically, on the body, 8 to 12 treatments of Carboxytherapy sessions are required for cellulite and fat reduction depending on your age, body shape, cellulite type and grade. Clients have one or two 30 to 45 minute treatments per week.

Maintaining a good body isn't a sprint - it's a marathon. Rather than waiting until their problems are bothersome again, patients must appreciate that maintenance goes a long way especially for cellulite and venous insufficiency. A follow up session every 6 to 8 months should maintain results. Carboxytherapy is a retro ageing treatment, but it does not arrest the ageing process; new cells will age naturally over time. At least one yearly cycle is recommended.

During the treatment the sensation can be likened to a dull throb or pressure .This mild discomfort lasts 2 to 4 minutes. CO2 is 20 times more soluble than oxygen and it is easily and quickly diffused from the injection site to the surrounding tissue. After a treatment the gas is totally reabsorbed within 5 minutes and the treated area will raise, turn slightly red as oxygen perfused into the area which undergoes an inflammatory response which stimulates collagen production.

After the procedure, there is no pain, just possibly a crackling sensation under the skin that lasts until the gas is excreted. The area should not be immersed in water for about 4 hours. The only side effect is that bruising can occur if one hits a vessel with the needle. However, this only happens in around two percent of patients. Patients can return to work immediately after treatment, a truly walk in, walk out procedure.

Typically, on the body, 8 to 12 treatments of Carboxytherapy sessions are required for cellulite and fat reduction depending on your age, body shape, cellulite type and grade. Clients have one or two 30 to 45 minute treatments per week.

Maintaining a good body isn't a sprint - it's a marathon. Rather than waiting until their problems are bothersome again, patients must appreciate that maintenance goes a long way especially for cellulite and venous insufficiency. A follow up session every 6 to 8 months should maintain results. Carboxytherapy is a retro ageing treatment, but it does not arrest the ageing process; new cells will age naturally over time. At least one yearly cycle is recommended.

The methods and indications for performing Carboxytherapy treatments have changed since the introduction of medical protocols and innovative built in safety devices. At Body Renewal, a professional team lead by a doctor does the initial consultation to evaluate whether the patient has any contra indications for doing a carboxytherapy procedure. Certain pre existing medical conditions are precluded from having a carboxytherapy procedure and thus it is essential to have a doctor's consultation before the treatment.

The discomfort has decreased because the gas is heated during the procedure and all unwanted air is drained, as an important additional safety precaution.

Because CO2 is non-embolic it is very safe if done with the correct protocols and pre treatment medical consultation with a doctor. Carbon dioxide is a natural byproduct of the body and is not toxic even in elevated doses unless a pre existing medical condition exists

After a treatment the gas is totally reabsorbed within 5 minutes and the area treated returns to normal. Widely distributed in Europe and South America, Carboxytherapy has been used safely and effectively on 30 000 + patients with no complications against conditions as persistent and difficult to treat such as cellulite, psoriasis, diabetic ulcers, venous insufficiency and stretch marks.

Carboxytherapy has safely been used for many years and in thousands of patients in laparoscopic operations where large volumes of CO2 are used to insufflate the abdomen. The dosage utilized for aesthetic and therapeutic treatment is less 100cc/min and does not exceed more than 1,000cc of CO2.Carbon dioxide has also been used as an alternative contrast medium in peripheral angiography.

In normal physiology, our cells produce CO2 as a by-product of cellular respiration, the process of breaking down sugars or fats with oxygen.

Carboxytherapy safely treats all skin types without significant pain or down-time. It can erase centimeters of the areas treated and the appearance of cellulite is noticeably improved in only 8 to 12 treatment sessions one week apart. A medical consultation prior to treatment is essential.