Discovered in France; Carboxy therapy is a popular treatment for dark circles, under eye bags, stretch marks, cellulite and scars. In Carboxy Therapy; a small amount of carbon dioxide is injected into the area that needs to be treated. This increases oxygen and blood flow to the area causing change in colour and skin texture.
This change occurs as blood cells picks up and releases any excess carbon dioxide from the body with the next exhalation. Apart from increasing oxygen supply to the area; carboxy also increases collagen formation in the skin, giving it a more youthful appearance.
It is not a painful treatment but the sensation is different depending on the area being treated. For ex: eye area may feel puffy or one can feel slight pressure. These side effects will subside when the body will absorb all the carbon dioxide which generally takes about five to ten minutes.
The treatment of scars and stretch marks is generally pain free. There may be some slight pressure felt as the carbon dioxide is injected but this again does subside.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments depends upon the severity of the problem. Before the treatment Dr. Soliman will assess the area to determine number of sessions required. Usually treatments are spaced one week apart.
How long does the treatment take?
It takes around fifteen to thirty minutes for the treatment to get completed.
How does Carboxy Therapy work?
All cells in the body release carbon dioxide as their waste product. Carbon dioxide is the “cost of doing business” of any cell in our bodies. So, we breathe in oxygen to our lungs, the red blood cells pick up the oxygen in our lungs and carry it to our tissues until they encounter an area that has been working hard and has an excess of carbon dioxide. When the blood cells are exposed to high concentrations of carbon dioxide, they flip their conformation, release the oxygen molecules, and pick up the carbon dioxide so that we can exhale it from our lungs.
In a sense, by injecting small amounts of carbon dioxide gas just below the surface of the skin, we are tricking it into increasing the blood circulation to that area. Dark under-eye circles, cellulite, and stretch marks have all been shown to have some root cause in poor blood circulation.
Carboxy Therapy for under-eye circles
Carboxy therapy can dramatically improve the appearance of dark under-eye circles. These may be caused by darkened pigment, or a hollow depression below the lower eyelids or by poor circulation beneath the lower eyelids also known as vascular pooling.
The use of Carboxy Therapy for treating under-eye circles was first studied, conducted and designed in the English Literature by Dr. Zdinak. She found that by injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide gas beneath the skin of lower eyelid increase the circulation which in turn improved the dark under-eye circles.
It takes just five to perform the treatment and it is painless. To achieve a good results; a 2-6 treatments spaced one week apart is required.
What causes dark under-eye circles?
Dark circles are typically caused by one of three factors, either alone or in combination. The first possibility is that there is actual deposition of pigment into the skin of the lower eyelid due to post-traumatic hyperpigmentation. Due to this skin of the lower eyelids gets irritated because of chronic tearing due to allergies or dry eye.
Skin pigmentation is the easiest cause of dark under eye circles. It can be treated using carboxy therapy in combination with home bleaching regimens. GB Medical prescribes you a combination of kojic acid and arbutin to help reduce the hyperpigmentation. This gives their patients a safe and gentle treatment product that they can be used at home.
The second cause of dark under eye circles is vascular pooling. The capillary network of the lower eyelids can become congested for a variety of reasons. Normally, the tears drain from the eyelids into the nose, but if there is some obstruction due to chronic nasal congestion from seasonal allergies or a nasal fracture, the drainage doesn’t function well, and the blood flow to the lower eyelids becomes sluggish, giving rise to the boggy blue tinge known casually as “allergic shiners.”
The lack of appropriate oxygenation to the lower eyelid skin allows the bluish cast to show through the thin skin of the eyelids. Carboxy therapy works to improve the capillary network of the lower eyelids, as well as to increase the dermal collagen layer in the lower eyelid skin.
By injecting a small amount of carbon dioxide gas into the affected areas, blood flow is increased and improved capillary networks are formed for longer lasting circulatory benefit. The bluish cast is replaced with a healthy pink tone. Once a series of four to six sessions is completed, the skin has a more luminous appearance that lasts approximately six months.
The third major cause of dark under eye circles is a depression beneath the lower eyelids called a tear trough deformity. Tear trough deformity is a commonly inherited trait in the African American and Indian communities, but it can also develop in Caucasians over time due to the normal loss of bony architecture in the inferior orbital rim, which is the top of the cheekbone area.
This can be treated using a temporary filling agent such as Restylane or Juvederm which is placed in the valley to plump up the depression, which improves the appearance of the dark circles. The treatment is not painful, and it is a one-time procedure performed after a small amount of numbing cream has been applied to the skin.
For more information or to book your free initial consultation call us on +61 (02) 9637 7322