Carboxytherapy or Carbon Dioxide Therapy treatments are available in Gauteng at the Morningside, Parkhurst, Rosebank, Bedfordview, Fourways, West Rand, Irene, Lynnwood and Brooklyn clinics, as well as in the Western Cape at Cape Quarter, Claremont, Constantia, Century City, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Willowbridge clinics, and Kwa-Zulu Natal at the Ballito, Durban and Umhlanga clinics.
As we age, subcutaneous blood capillaries become dormant or decrease and with this, comes decreasing circulation & less vital oxygen being delivered to all the necessary areas of the body and skin; this combined with environmental stresses and other variables, inhibits the ability of cells to regenerate and function properly and the skin slowly loses its elasticity and collagen.
- By the age of 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 utilise oxygen in the major organs and lastly, go to the skin. When the skin doesn't get enough oxygen it becomes more prone to ageing, acne, redness, irritation, and age spots.
- Carboxytherapy infuses CO2 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 the 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 that 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 remodelling occurs with collagen contraction, leading to a tightening effect. Brow ptosis and saggy jowls and necks are improved.
- For fat reduction such as double chin, the heated gas at high volume is introduced deep into the fat which then breaks up the fat cell and stimulates new vessels and rejuvenation.
Traditionally, the eye area has been difficult to treat but with the advent of Carboxytherapy this area can now be improved:
Carboxytherapy improves:
- Dark Circles by increasing the oxygenation of this poorly perfused area
- Eye Bags are reduced by skin tightening and modest fat reduction ( see before & after photos)
- Crows Feet Wrinkles and sleep lines around the eye area are reduced due to collagen stimulation
- Hooded eyes are modestly lifted by tightening the forehead area with strategically placed Carboxy injections. The open brow expression and brow lift is due to new collagen remodelling and contraction of the skin on the brow down the line
- Skin texture around the eye area improves due to collagen stimulation
On the Face Carboxytherapy improves the following:
- Brow Ptosis is improved due to new collagen remodelling and contraction down the line
- Skin wrinkling improves due to collagen stimulation
- Lip wrinkling improves due to collagen stimulation
- Saggy Jowls are improved due to new collagen remodeling and contraction down the line
- Crepey necks improve due to collagen stimulation ( normally a very difficult area to treat )
- Double chin is reduced due to fat reduction and skin tightening
- Fat or Flabby cheeks are reduced due to fat reduction and skin tightening
- Wrinkled ear lobes improve due to collagen stimulation
Additional difficult to treat problems improved by Carboxytherapy include:
- Wrinkled Décolleté rejuvenation due to collagen stimulation
- Acne Scars improve if Carboxy is used as subcision which releases the scar and promotes collagen formation under the scar.
- Treats hair thinning and hair loss
- Muscle recovery or muscle spasms
- Sexual rejuvenation in both men (erectile dysfunction) and women (labia rejuvenation)
Alternative therapies for Carboxytherapy include:
- Psoriasis improvement
- Before surgical procedures such as a surgical facelift & liposuction to improve wound healing and tissue perfusion post surgery
As one ages, the skin’s elasticity declines dramatically and gravity constantly pulls on our faces. Changes related to sun damage gravity become more pronounced and one of the earliest signs of facial ageing is the development of crow’s feet at the age of thirty, a double chin, and flabby jowls at the age of forty, and under-eye bags at the age of fifty.
Previously there was no alternative to surgical facelifts and eye lifts or blepharoplasties. The choices were fairly black and white; surgery or eye bags. Both areas were very difficult areas to treat non-surgically. Now with the advent of novel devices such as Carboxytherapy and skin tightening lasers and lights, virtually any patient in their thirties or above can be a candidate for a little tightening and firming around the eye and jowl area and the younger the patient the better the result. Eight out of ten patients get a noticeable improvement in skin laxity around the eyes after the first two treatments of carboxytherapy and most will see an improvement in skin colour, luminosity, and texture.
If thirty-year-olds+ opt for preventative non-invasive procedures such as Carboxytherapy, a new trend will develop resulting in a much different type of ageing than older generations.
In addition, for those patients who are nervous about the effects of injectable treatments for wrinkle reduction, new technologies such as Carboxytherapy offer an alternative to rejuvenation and improvement of crow’s feet and a more open-eyed expression.
There are different types of skin and we all age differently. No matter how well we look after our skin, the inevitable ageing will take place. One can maintain the “perfect skin” by keeping one’s skin firm and taught with collagen to avoid the inevitable sagging that takes place over time. Tighter, firmer skin supports the face and prevents the other soft tissues in our face and the muscles from sagging.
The new concept today is to start with tightening and collagen rejuvenation treatments early so as to and avoid or postpone surgical solutions for as long as possible. 4 - 6 treatments of Carboxytherapy are needed 2- 4 weeks apart. At least one yearly cycle is recommended.
Skin Renewal is excited to offer the next step in multi-modality therapy in treating facial rejuvenation. Any treatment modality on its own can make a big difference, but in our eyes, it’s not sufficient. For this reason we believe in a multi-modality approach for superior result. We therefore combine carboxytherapy with one or more of the following treatments:
- Laser Genesis
- Titan
- ND:Yag Skin Tightening
- Cryolipo Fat Freezing
- Monopolar Radiofrequency
- Multipolar Radiofrequency
- RF Needling with Secret RF or Endymed Intensif
- Body Contouring
- Contact Yag for Acne lesions
- Scarring and/or stretch mark treatments such as Fractional Skin Resurfacing with Fraxel Dual, Endymed FSR, Dermapen, CO2 Laser and Pearl Fractional
During the treatment, the sensation can be likened to a dull throb or pressure. This mild discomfort lasts 2 to 4 minutes. Carbon Dioxide is 20 times more soluble than oxygen and it is easily and quickly diffused from the injection site to the surrounding tissue. After treatment, the gas is totally reabsorbed within 5-15 minutes and the treated area will raise, turn slightly red as oxygen perfused into the area which undergoes an inflammatory response that 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 face 4 to 6 treatments of Carboxytherapy sessions are required. Clients have a 30-minute session every 2 to 4 weeks and each treatment is accumulative. Maintaining amazing skin 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 and a touch-up session every 6 months should maintain results.
After a medical consultation, every client is provided with a fully customised yearlong solution dependent on the patient’s age, relevant skin problem, budget, and expectations. The effects of each treatment are accumulative meaning that the results of each previous treatment are improved with each additional treatment and the best results come down the line when new collagen that is stimulated remodels and a further tightening effect is noticed.
The methods and indications for performing Carboxytherapy treatments have changed since the introduction of medical protocols and innovative built-in safety devices. At Skin Renewal, a professional team lead by a doctor does the initial consultation to evaluate whether the patient has any contraindications 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.
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 than 100cc/min and does not exceed more than 1,000cc of CO2.
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 downtime. It can erase years off one’s face and is one of the most effective methods of achieving a significant aesthetic improvement within 2 to 6 months when the effects of collagen stimulation and remodelling become evident. A medical consultation prior to treatment is essential.