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

The authors report their experience using carbon dioxide (CO2) therapy for the treatment of 48 female patients presenting adipose accumulations, located on the thighs, knees, and/or abdomen; a Carbomed Programmable Automatic Carbon Dioxide Therapy apparatus was used. In light of the effects of CO2 on the microcirculation recently described in the literature, we expected this gas, which we administered subcutaneously, to positively affect the physiological 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 (in terms of reduction in maximum circumference) as well as side effects. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of subcutaneous administration of CO2 on the microcirculation by showing changes in the Laser Doppler signal and in the concentration of transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2). Pre- and posttreatment biopsies of tissues were performed in seven patients in order to study the changes induced by the use of CO2 on both adipose and connective tissues. All data obtained were statistically analyzed; values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.