Carbon dioxide therapy in the treatment of localized adiposities: Clinicalstudy and histopathological correlations

The authors report their experience using carbon dioxide (CO2) therapy for the treatment of 48 female patients presenting adipose accumulations, locat ed on the thighs, knees, and/or abdomen; a Carbomed programmable Automatic Carbon Dioxide Therapy apparatus was used. In light of the effects of CO2 o n the microcirculation recently described in the literature, we expected th is gas, which we administered subcutaneously, to positively affect the phys iological oxidative Lipolytic process. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of this therapy on localized adiposities. As such, we describe the method we used and report the results observed in the areas treated tin terms of reduction in maximum circumference) as well as side effects. Furt hermore, we assessed the effect of subcutaneous administration of CO2 on th e microcirculation by showing changes in the Laser Doppler signal and in th e concentration of transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO(2)). Pre- and posttr eatment biopsies of tissues were performed in seven patients in order to st udy the changes induced by the use of CO2 on both adipose and connective ti ssues. All data obtained were statistically analyzed; values of P < 0.05 we re considered significant.