title: Effectiveness of carboxytherapy in the treatment of cellulite in healthy women: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carbon dioxide therapy, better known as carboxytherapy, relates to percutaneous infusion of medical carbon dioxide with therapeutic approaches, and its use in the treatment of localized fat has demonstrated good results. Gynoid lipodystrophy, also known as cellulite, affects 80%-90% of women after puberty, especially in the buttocks and thighs. Its etiology is complex and involves multifactorial aspects. Its treatment and evaluation require the use of new technologies (more effective and low-cost approaches). The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of carboxytherapy in the treatment of cellulite in the areas of buttocks and posterior thigh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women, 29±6.1 years, were selected and all of them received eight treatment sessions, with an interval of 7 days between sessions. Standardized digital photographs were used to assess the severity of cellulite, and panoramic images were collected by ultrasound diagnosis. The evaluations were performed before the first treatment (baseline) and 7 days after the last treatment session of carboxytherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment, there was a significant reduction (P=0.0025) of the cellulite from degree III to degree II, and this improvement had correlation with the improvement in the organization of the fibrous lines and the disposal of adipose tissue lines of the treated regions observed through the panoramic ultrasound images diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carboxytherapy is an effective technique of treatment of cellulite in the buttocks region and posterior thighs of healthy women.
authors: Ibramed Center for Education and Advanced Training (CEFAI), Amparo.
authors: Luana Ramalho
authors: LR
authors: Pianez
authors: Ibramed Center for Education and Advanced Training (CEFAI), Amparo.
authors: Fernanda Silva
authors: FS
authors: Custódio
authors: Ibramed Center for Education and Advanced Training (CEFAI), Amparo; Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia, São Paulo; University of Campinas, Campinas; Ibramed Research and Development Department, Amparo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Renata Michelini
authors: RM
authors: Guidi
authors: Universitá Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Centro de Medicina Pesquisa e Ensino (CEMEPE), Belo Horizonte; Advanced Dermatology Studies Group (GDA), Rio de Janeiro.
authors: Jauru Nunes
authors: JN
authors: de Freitas
authors: Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR); University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos; Indústria Brasileira de Equipamentos Médicos (IBRAMED), Amparo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Estela
authors: E
authors: Sant'Ana
keywords: carbon dioxide; cellulite; gynoid lipodystrophy; localized fat; panoramic ultrasound; skin