‘Carboxy’ed for the better

Beauty is indeed a serious business! Given how everyone wants to turn up looking their best, the cosmetic arena in India is witnessing a humongous boom. And off late, there’s a new buzzword in the block – Carboxy therapy. Pegged as a breakthrough in the field of cosmetic surgeries, here’s a deeper look into the treatment.

Carboxy therapy is a premium non surgical procedure, specially designed for the harried executive on the go. This clinical treatment takes the advantage of a physiological process called oxygen off-loading. Simply put, Carboxy therapy is the introduction of carbon dioxide into the skin and subcutaneous tissue, which then would increase the blood flow and there by increase the oxygen supply to the tissues. It is a popular treatment directed at dark circle reduction and for effective treatment of stretch marks. The procedure can also be used to treat cellulite and localised fat deposits, when conventional creams and procedures don’t seem to be solving the issue.

No matter what your health history is, the treatment should never be undergone without a prior detailed consultation with an expert. As per the law, anyone above the age of 21 years is eligible to sign up for the treatment. However, patients mostly above the age of 35 come in for the treatment. Some of the most popular requests are from new mommies, who was to shed the stubborn pregnancy fat and the subsequent stretch marks.

The purpose of the procedure is to equip the cells to increase more oxygen redistribution in the following areas. By introducing carbon dioxide, we are literally tricking the cells to increase more oxygen redistribution into the specific area!

Also, when fat cells are exposed to carbondioxide; they are destroyed which leads to fat reduction in specific areas. The results are instant and significant, but a healthy diet and regular exercise are recommended to maintain post treatment.

Like most procedures, some of the most commonly noted side effects include mild bruising and swelling.

The cost of carboxy therapy per session can range anywhere from Rs 800 to Rs 1000. But the pricing varies depending upon the expertise and the area to be treated. On an average, 10 to 12 sessions are required. The procedure is usually done once a week.

The highlight of the treatment is that the procedure is a non surgical procedure with minimal downtime. So, you don’t need to skip work for long. Conditions which are resistant to conventional treatments like dark circle, stretch marks and cellulite reduction can be treated effectively and safely.

The writer is a Bengaluru-based dermatologist