At Skin and Scar Care Clinic, we offer carboxytherapy as a minimally invasive regenerative treatment to improve skin quality, circulation and tissue oxygenation.
Carboxytherapy uses small, controlled amounts of medical carbon dioxide gas delivered under the skin. The treatment is designed to stimulate blood flow, improve oxygen delivery to the tissues and support collagen activity.
It can be used for a range of concerns, with our main focus on:
- Under-eye dark circles
- Hair thinning and scalp support
- Cellulite
- Crepey skin
- Stretch marks
- Localised skin laxity
- Skin rejuvenation
Our approach is medical, personalised and safety-led.
What is Carboxytherapy?
Carboxytherapy is a treatment that involves injecting a small amount of sterile carbon dioxide gas under the skin using a fine needle.
The body naturally produces and removes carbon dioxide every day. When a controlled amount is placed into the tissue, it can encourage a local response that improves circulation and oxygen release in the treated area.
Carboxytherapy may help to:
- Improve microcirculation
- Support tissue oxygenation
- Stimulate collagen production
- Improve skin elasticity
- Improve the appearance of dark circles
- Support scalp health in selected hair-loss cases
- Improve the appearance of cellulite
- Improve crepey or lax skin texture
It is not a filler, not a toxin and not a laser. It does not add volume like dermal filler and does not resurface the skin like CO₂ laser.
How does Carboxytherapy work?
Carboxytherapy works by introducing a controlled amount of carbon dioxide into the treatment area. This creates a temporary local response where the body increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to the area. This may help improve the skin and soft tissue environment by encouraging:- Better circulation
- Improved oxygenation
- Collagen stimulation
- Tissue repair response
- Improved skin firmness
- Reduction in fluid stagnation in selected cases
- Improved appearance of skin irregularity
Carboxytherapy for Under-Eye Dark Circles
A gentle option for selected types of dark circles
Under-eye dark circles can have many causes. These may include thin skin, vascular congestion, pigmentation, tear trough hollowing, genetics, tiredness, allergies or fluid retention.
Carboxytherapy is most suitable where dark circles are linked to:
- Poor microcirculation
- Bluish or purple under-eye discolouration
- Thin, tired-looking skin
- Mild under-eye crepiness
- Poor tissue oxygenation
- Dull under-eye skin quality
It can help improve the appearance of the under-eye area by supporting local circulation and skin quality.
What under-eye carboxytherapy can improve
Carboxytherapy may help with:
- Blue or purple-toned under-eye circles
- Tired-looking eyes
- Mild under-eye skin crepiness
- Thin skin quality
- Dullness around the lower eyelid
- Mild under-eye shadowing caused by vascular congestion
What it cannot correct
Carboxytherapy may not be the best option for:
- Deep tear trough hollowing
- Significant under-eye bags
- Fat pads or eyelid herniation
- Pigmentation caused by melasma or ethnic pigmentation
- Severe loose eyelid skin
- Medical causes of puffiness
- Fluid retention linked to kidney, thyroid, allergy or systemic causes
In some cases, other treatments such as Viscoderm Hydrobooster, PRF, laser treatment, pigmentation treatment or eyelid surgery may be more appropriate.
What to expect under the eyes
A very fine needle is used to deliver small amounts of gas under the skin. You may feel mild pressure, tightness, warmth or a temporary bubbling sensation.
Temporary swelling or puffiness under the eyes is common immediately after treatment and usually settles quickly. Mild bruising can occur.
Most clients can return to normal activities shortly afterwards, although we recommend avoiding important social events immediately after treatment.
Carboxytherapy for Hair Thinning
Scalp stimulation and hair-regeneration support
Carboxytherapy can be used as part of a hair-regeneration programme for selected clients with early or moderate hair thinning.
The treatment aims to improve scalp circulation and support the follicle environment. It is not a cure for genetic hair loss, but it may help improve scalp health and support other regenerative treatments.
Hair concerns carboxytherapy may help support
Carboxytherapy may be suitable for:
- Early male pattern hair loss
- Early female pattern hair loss
- Diffuse thinning
- Weak or miniaturised hair
- Poor scalp circulation
- Hair shedding where follicles remain active
- Maintenance after PRF or PRP hair treatments
- Combination treatment with topical or medical hair-loss therapy
- What hair carboxytherapy cannot do
Carboxytherapy cannot revive follicles that are permanently lost. It is unlikely to help if the scalp is completely bald, shiny or scarred.
It is also not a replacement for medical assessment where there may be underlying causes such as:
- Iron deficiency
- Thyroid imbalance
- Hormonal changes
- PCOS
- Autoimmune hair loss
- Nutritional deficiency
- Stress-related shedding
- Medication-related hair loss
A proper diagnosis is important before starting any hair-loss treatment.
Combination treatments for hair
For best results, scalp carboxytherapy may be combined with:
- PRF or PRP hair injections
- 658 nm hair-regeneration laser
- Topical minoxidil where suitable
- Prescription hair-loss medication where appropriate
- Nutritional and blood test optimisation
- Scalp health treatment
A personalised plan will be discussed during consultation.
Carboxytherapy for Cellulite
Improving the appearance of dimpled and uneven skin
Cellulite is caused by a combination of skin structure, superficial fat, fibrous bands, circulation, hormones and connective tissue changes.
Carboxytherapy can be used to improve the appearance of cellulite by supporting circulation, tissue oxygenation and skin quality.
It is commonly used for cellulite affecting:
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Hips
- Abdomen
- Upper arms in selected cases
Cellulite concerns carboxytherapy may help improve
Carboxytherapy may help with:
- Mild to moderate cellulite
- Dimpled skin texture
- Uneven skin surface
- Poor skin firmness
- Localised skin crepiness
- Mild circulation-related skin changes
- What cellulite carboxytherapy cannot do
Carboxytherapy does not replace liposuction, surgery, Endolift®, body contouring or weight-loss treatments.
It cannot fully remove:
- Severe cellulite
- Deep fibrous tethering
- Significant fat deposits
- Loose hanging skin
- Stretch marks completely
- Severe post-weight-loss laxity
For stronger results, cellulite treatment may require a combination approach such as Endolift®, CO₂ laser, Bio Remodelling / Bio Stimulator Body, skin boosters, subcision or regenerative treatments.
Other Areas Carboxytherapy May Help
Carboxytherapy may also be considered for:
- Stretch marks
- Crepey skin
- Mild skin laxity
- Dull skin quality
- Localised tissue quality improvement
- Post-inflammatory skin texture concerns where suitable
- Scars in selected cases as part of combination treatment
Suitability depends on your skin type, medical history, treatment area and expectations.
What to Expect During Treatment
1. Consultation
Your appointment begins with a consultation and assessment. We will review your concerns, medical history, medication, skin quality and treatment goals.
For under-eye concerns, we assess whether the problem is due to pigmentation, hollowing, puffiness, vascular discolouration or skin quality.
For hair concerns, we assess the pattern of hair loss, scalp health and whether blood tests or medical review may be helpful.
For cellulite, we assess skin laxity, fat, dimpling, tissue quality and whether combination treatment is needed.
2. Treatment planning
A personalised treatment plan will be created for your concern. The number of sessions depends on the area treated and severity of the condition.
3. Treatment session
The skin is cleaned and a fine needle is used to deliver controlled carbon dioxide gas into the treatment area.
You may feel:
- Mild pressure
- Warmth
- Tingling
- Temporary tightness
- A crackling or bubbling sensation under the skin
This is expected and usually settles quickly.
4. After treatment
You may notice temporary swelling, redness or puffiness. Mild bruising can occur, especially around delicate areas such as the under eyes.
There is usually minimal downtime.
Treatment Timeline
Immediately after treatment
You may notice temporary swelling, redness, warmth or mild puffiness. Under-eye swelling can look more noticeable at first but usually settles quickly.
First 24–48 hours
Mild tenderness, bruising or swelling may be present. Avoid heat, sauna, steam rooms, alcohol and strenuous exercise for 24 hours where possible.
1–2 weeks
The treated area begins to settle. Some clients notice improved brightness, skin quality or circulation, but visible results usually require multiple sessions.
4–8 weeks
Early improvement may become more noticeable, especially with under-eye quality, scalp health or cellulite texture.
8–12 weeks
A course of treatment is usually needed before judging results. Improvements may include better skin quality, reduced dullness, improved under-eye appearance or smoother cellulite texture.
3–6 months
Maintenance may be recommended depending on your concern, response and treatment goals.
How Many Sessions Are Needed?
Under-eye dark circles
A course of approximately 4–8 sessions is commonly recommended, depending on the cause and severity of the dark circles.
Sessions may be spaced 1–2 weeks apart.
Hair thinning
Hair treatment usually requires a longer course. We may recommend approximately 6–12 sessions, often combined with PRF, PRP, 658 nm laser or medical hair-loss support.
Results are gradual and are usually assessed over 3–6 months.
Cellulite
Cellulite usually requires a course of approximately 6–10 sessions, depending on severity, area and whether combination treatment is used.
Maintenance may be needed.
Indications for Carboxytherapy
Carboxytherapy may be suitable for clients concerned about:
- Under-eye dark circles
- Blue or purple under-eye discolouration
- Mild under-eye skin crepiness
- Tired-looking eyes
- Early hair thinning
- Diffuse hair shedding
- Scalp circulation support
- Cellulite
- Dimpled skin texture
- Mild skin laxity
- Stretch marks
- Crepey body skin
- Poor skin quality
- Dull skin appearance
- Mild tissue oxygenation concerns
Who Is Not Suitable for Carboxytherapy?
Carboxytherapy may not be suitable if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an active infection in the treatment area
- Have open wounds or broken skin
- Have uncontrolled diabetes
- Have uncontrolled hypertension
- Have unstable heart disease
- Have severe respiratory disease
- Have a history of embolism or clotting complications
- Have a bleeding disorder
- Are taking blood-thinning medication and are at high bruising risk
- Have active cancer or are undergoing cancer treatment
- Have severe kidney or liver disease
- Have active inflammatory skin disease in the area
- Have a history of poor wound healing or keloid scarring
- Have unrealistic expectations
- Are looking for a surgical-level result
- Have severe skin laxity or large fat deposits requiring another treatment approach
For under-eye treatment, we may advise GP review if puffiness is persistent, worse in the morning or associated with general fluid retention.
For hair loss, medical assessment may be recommended if the hair loss is sudden, patchy, painful, associated with scalp disease or linked to other symptoms.
Carboxytherapy Aftercare
After carboxytherapy, please follow your personalised aftercare instructions.
General advice includes:
- Avoid touching or rubbing the treated area for the first few hours
- Avoid make-up over injection points for the rest of the day where possible
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours
- Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours
- Avoid sauna, steam rooms and excessive heat for 24–48 hours
- Avoid swimming for 24 hours
- Avoid active skincare around the treated area for 24–48 hours
- Use SPF 50 on exposed areas
- Do not massage the area unless advised
Contact the clinic if you experience severe pain, increasing swelling, redness, discharge, blistering, skin colour change or visual symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions
Downtime is usually minimal. Mild swelling, redness or bruising can occur. Under-eye swelling may look more noticeable immediately after treatment but usually settles quickly.
No. Carboxytherapy is not designed to remove true under-eye bags or fat pads. If puffiness is due to eyelid fat, fluid retention or medical causes, another treatment or medical review may be needed.
It may improve skin quality and circulation, but it does not replace volume. Tear trough hollowing may require PRF, skin boosters, carefully selected filler or surgical assessment.
Carboxytherapy may support weak follicles and improve the scalp environment, but it cannot revive follicles that are permanently lost. It works best for early or moderate thinning and is often combined with other hair-loss treatments.
No treatment can guarantee permanent removal of cellulite. Carboxytherapy may improve the appearance of mild to moderate cellulite, but maintenance and combination treatment may be needed.
Some clients notice early changes after a few sessions, but most results develop gradually over a course of treatments. Hair and cellulite treatments usually require longer treatment programmes.
Yes, where suitable. Carboxytherapy may be combined with PRF, PRP, 658 nm hair-regeneration laser, skin boosters, Endolift®, CO₂ laser, Erbium Glass laser, Bio Remodelling / Bio Stimulator Body or cellulite treatments depending on your concern.
Why Choose Skin and Scar Care Clinic?
At Skin and Scar Care Clinic, we provide medical-grade aesthetic treatments with a personalised, safety-led approach.
We focus on:
- Detailed consultation
- Honest assessment of suitability
- Natural-looking treatment plans
- Medical-grade technology
- Combination treatment planning
- Skin, scar and regenerative medicine expertise
- Realistic expectations
- Aftercare support
We will always advise you if carboxytherapy is not the best treatment for your concern.
Disclaimer
Carboxytherapy is a minimally invasive aesthetic treatment and results vary between individuals. Treatment outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Carboxytherapy may improve skin quality, circulation, under-eye appearance, scalp health and cellulite texture, but it is not a cure for dark circles, hair loss, cellulite, loose skin or stretch marks.
Under-eye dark circles can have several causes, including pigmentation, genetics, hollowing, vascular changes, allergies, fluid retention and medical conditions. Carboxytherapy may not be suitable for all types of dark circles.
Hair-loss treatment requires appropriate diagnosis. Carboxytherapy cannot restore follicles that are permanently lost and does not replace medical hair-loss treatments where these are indicated.
Cellulite is a complex structural condition and may require combination treatment. Carboxytherapy does not replace surgery, liposuction, Endolift®, body contouring or weight loss.
Possible side effects include temporary swelling, redness, bruising, tenderness, pressure sensation, tingling, warmth, puffiness, discomfort, infection, skin irritation, incomplete improvement and the need for further treatments.
Rare complications may occur. All treatments require consultation, medical history review, consent and assessment of suitability.
We always aim to provide 100% effort however results depend on your anatomy, skin quality, circulation, age, medical history, lifestyle, healing response, treatment consistency and adherence to aftercare.