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. 2010 Apr;34(2):239-43.
doi: 10.1007/s00266-009-9459-0. Epub 2010 Jan 29.

Carbon dioxide therapy in the treatment of cellulite: an audit of clinical practice

Georgia S K Lee  1
Affiliations

Carbon dioxide therapy in the treatment of cellulite: an audit of clinical practice

Georgia S K Lee. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

Background: The clinical practice of using carbon dioxide therapy for localized adiposities was audited over a 4-year period.

Methods: Patients receiving physical, dietary, or drug concurrent therapy were excluded from the audit. Original measurements in terms of mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM) were compared with those obtained after five sessions.

Results: This series included 101 women who underwent abdominal therapy. Significant reduction (p < 0.05) in mean upper, mid, and lower abdomen circumference was experienced by all three age groups: respectively, 1.8 +/- 0.5, 1.6 +/- 0.4, and 2.1 +/- 0.3 cm in the 20- to 29-year- old group, 1.6 +/- 0.4, 2.3 +/- 0.3, and 2.1 +/- 0.3 cm in the 30- to 39-year-old group, and 2.0 +/- 0.4, 2.5 +/- 0.4, and 2.6 +/- 0.4 cm in the 40- to 50-year-old group. For 57 women who underwent localized thigh therapy (27 in the 20- to 29-year-old group, 18 in the 30- to 39-year-old group, and 12 in the 40- to 50-year-old group), thigh circumference was significantly reduced in the right versus left thigh: respectively, 1.6 +/- 0.3 versus 1.5 +/- 0.2 cm, 1.1 +/- 0.3 versus 1.1 +/- 0.3 cm, 1.6 +/- 0.3 versus 1.5 +/- 0.4. Weight loss was significant for older women who underwent abdominal therapy: 1.3 +/- 0.2 kg in the 30- to 39-year-old group (n = 43) and 1.3 +/- 0.2 kg in the 40- to 50 year-old group (n = 29). Older women who underwent thigh therapy also recorded significant weight reduction: 0.9 +/- 0.4 kg in the 30- to 39-year-old group (n = 18) and 1.6 +/- 0.3 kg in the 40- to 50-year-old group (n = 12). The results for 10 men were not significant.

Conclusion: These results agree with those reported originally and demonstrate that carboxytherapy is safe and effective.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Front panel of the Carbomed Programmable (CO2) apparatus
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Ultrasound examination of the abdomen showing measurement of subcutaneous fat before (a) and after (b) carbon dioxide (CO2) therapy. Subepidermal thickness is reduced after carboxytherapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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