Carboxytherapy sounds mysterious, although the mechanism starts with something very mundane: carbon dioxide. The same gas we inhale with air, which bubbles in mineral water, and which our cells produce with every breath. The difference is that in carboxytherapy, CO₂ is precisely administered under the skin — and there it triggers a series of reactions that the body interprets as an alarm.
It is this body response that is the essence of the treatment. Not the gas itself — it is just a signal. What matters is how the tissues respond to this signal. And they do surprisingly much: they dilate blood vessels, enhance circulation, stimulate fibroblasts, and promote regeneration. All because a high level of CO₂ in the tissue is a message to the body: “there is a problem here, sending help".
Interestingly, the same mechanism triggers different processes depending on where it is applied. Carboxytherapy on the face, abdomen, or scalp is technically the same method — but with different logic and a different end effect. In this text, we break it down into its components.
Why CO₂ triggers the body's defensive reaction
To understand carboxytherapy, it is worth starting with physiology, not the procedure. The body constantly monitors the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the tissues. When CO₂ suddenly increases in a certain area, the circulatory system reads this as a signal of oxygen deficiency — and reacts immediately: it dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow, and directs more red blood cells to that area. This is known as the Bohr effect — one of the fundamental mechanisms of regulating blood supply in the body.
The mechanism on which carboxytherapy is based was described by Danish physiologist Christian Bohr back in 1904. He discovered that hemoglobin releases oxygen more easily where there is more CO₂. The body interprets an excess of carbon dioxide as a signal: “there is an oxygen deficiency here, deliver it immediately". Carboxytherapy simply consciously takes advantage of this reflex — introducing CO₂ where we want to increase blood supply and stimulate tissues to work.
In practice, it looks like this: a specialist administers CO₂ under the skin using a thin needle, controlling the amount and rate of gas delivery. During the procedure, one may feel a slight distension or tingling — this is the tissues reacting to the gas. The gas is absorbed spontaneously: most disappears within a few to several minutes. It does not remain in the tissues permanently — it is absorbed into the blood and expelled through the lungs during exhalation. The needle itself is thin, and discomfort is usually minimal.
But the increase in blood flow is just the beginning of a chain of events. Better circulation means more oxygen and nutrients in the tissue, more efficient removal of metabolites, and — importantly — activation of the cells responsible for regeneration. In the skin, these are primarily fibroblasts: cells that produce collagen and elastin. When they receive more oxygen and a “boost" of stimulatory signals, they begin to work more intensively. This is why carboxytherapy is described not only as a hyperemia method but also as biostimulation of the skin from within.
The procedure is performed using a specialized device that doses medical CO₂ — pure, sterile gas administered through a thin needle directly under the skin. The specialist regulates the amount of gas and the speed of administration depending on the area and purpose of the treatment. The absorption time of the gas, sensations, and post-treatment recommendations vary depending on the area — the scalp reacts differently than the tissue on the abdomen. Details are always discussed during the consultation before the series of treatments.
Face: when it’s about skin, not volume
On the face, carboxytherapy is applied with a different logic than on the body. It is not about breaking down fat tissue or draining fluids — it is about the condition of the skin itself and its ability to regenerate. The face is an area where the visibility of changes is greatest, and the skin — especially around the eyes or mouth — can be thin, sensitive, and quickly lose elasticity.
The Bohr effect in this area primarily triggers stimulation of fibroblasts: cells that produce collagen and elastin. With regular treatments, the skin can gradually become denser, more elastic, and have better tension. Many people also observe an improvement in skin tone — gray, tired skin often regains its glow after a series of treatments, which specialists attribute to improved microcirculation. Carboxytherapy does not add volume like fillers — its effects are work from within, not external correction.
- Eye area — one of the most common indications; the thin skin under the eyes is particularly susceptible to weakened microcirculation, which can manifest as dark circles or bags
- Overall condition of the facial skin — improvement in elasticity, tension, and tone with regular series
- Scars and discolorations — in this area, carboxytherapy can support tissue remodeling, although effects are individual and usually require several series
- Prevention of aging — some start treatments before the problem is clearly visible, treating them as regular skin stimulation
The skin under the eyes is one of the thinnest in the entire body — and one of the least vascularized. That’s why it’s so easy to have stagnation of circulation here, which manifests as dark circles or swelling. Carboxytherapy works in this area on the principle of local activation of flow: CO₂ dilates small vessels, blood (and with it oxygen) reaches areas where it previously circulated too sluggishly. This is not an immediate or guaranteed effect — but for many people, regular treatments bring noticeable improvement.
Facial carboxytherapy does not replace fillers, threads, or other methods correcting volume loss or sagging. These are treatments with different logics of action — some rebuild support, others improve skin condition. They often make sense together, as a complement, not an alternative.
Body: cellulite, fat tissue, and stagnation
On the body — primarily on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and the inner side of the arms — carboxytherapy works with a completely different logic than on the face. Here, the primary goal is to improve circulation in fat tissue and break down the structure of cellulite, which is largely a problem of local stagnation and “starved" tissue.
Cellulite is not just an excess of fat — it is a structural change in the tissue, where fat cells enlarge, the collagen network around them hardens and shrinks, and microcirculation deteriorates. The tissue becomes hypoxic, lymphatic drainage is impaired, and the characteristic “orange peel" appears. CO₂ injected into this area can activate blood vessels, improve oxygen perfusion to the tissues, and — with regular sessions — influence the remodeling of the surrounding connective tissue. The effects are usually visible after a series, not after one treatment.
Besides cellulite, carboxytherapy on the body is also used in areas where the skin has lost tension — for example, after a rapid change in weight, after pregnancy, or after liposuction. In these cases, the effect of fibroblast stimulation is similar to that on the face: it is about the quality of the skin and its elasticity, not about volume or body shaping. This is an important difference — carboxytherapy does not “slim down", it does not shift calories, but it can improve the appearance and condition of the skin over fat tissue.
The effects of carboxytherapy on the body are usually visible after a series of treatments — typically several to a dozen sessions, depending on the area and purpose. Breaks between treatments, intensity, and the number of sessions are chosen individually. The best results are achieved in combination with regular physical activity and proper hydration — the gas improves circulation but does not replace the mechanisms that movement triggers.
Scalp: when the problem is the blood supply to the follicles
The third logic of carboxytherapy is the least obvious — and increasingly used by trichologists and cosmetologists dealing with hair health. It concerns the scalp, specifically the blood supply to hair follicles. The hair follicle is an active, metabolically demanding structure: it needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to produce healthy hair and maintain it in the growth phase.
When microcirculation in the scalp is weakened — which can result from stress, deficiencies, genetic predispositions, or simply from natural aging processes — hair follicles are somewhat “undernourished". Hair production slows down, the growth phase shortens, hair becomes thinner and weaker, and shedding may increase. Scalp carboxytherapy works here analogously to the rest of the body: CO₂ triggers the Bohr effect, blood vessels dilate, and blood reaches the follicles more intensely. This can translate into better nourishment for them and — for many people — a noticeable slowdown in shedding.
The hair follicle is one of the most metabolically active structures in the skin — it works continuously, producing hair at a rate of about one centimeter per month (though it varies for each person). This requires intense blood supply. Therefore, one of the first symptoms of poor microcirculation in the scalp can be deterioration in hair condition: thinner strands, shorter growth cycle, increased shedding. Carboxytherapy targets this very point — instead of applying active ingredients externally, it stimulates their pulling from within.
It is worth noting that scalp carboxytherapy is not a method for advanced androgenetic alopecia — there the mechanism is more complex and usually requires a broader approach, often involving a dermatologist or trichologist. However, as a method supporting hair condition, inhibiting excessive seasonal shedding, and improving scalp quality — it can be a very useful tool, especially as part of a regular treatment.
Three areas, one principle — why the effects are different
Looking at the three applications of carboxytherapy together, a common denominator emerges: improvement of microcirculation and tissue stimulation. The mechanism is the same — the tissues it acts on are different, and the structures that awaken to work are different. On the face, it is skin fibroblasts. On the body — fat tissue and the collagen network around it. On the scalp — hair follicles. That’s why the effects look and feel completely different, although the needle, gas, and logic of the procedure remain unchanged.
This also leads to a practical tip: the purpose of the treatment should be clearly defined during the consultation, as it determines the technique, area, and series plan. Carboxytherapy “for everything" is an oversimplification — well-conducted carboxytherapy is always targeted at a specific tissue and a specific effect.
“I didn’t expect to feel such a difference in my scalp so quickly" — this is one of the more common reactions after a few treatments. Not an immediate effect, but a gradual slowdown in shedding that had seemed inevitable for a long time. Conversely, with facial treatments, one often hears about skin tone and “refreshing" rather than specific changes in wrinkles — because carboxytherapy is not a contouring treatment. It is a subtle shift in skin quality, not a revolution in the mirror. And that is what makes it a sensible part of long-term care, not a one-time intervention.
When it’s worth combining carboxytherapy with other treatments
Carboxytherapy works best as an element of a broader plan, not as the only tool. On its own, it stimulates and hyperemia — but the effects are deeper and more lasting when tissues are simultaneously properly nourished, the skin has support for regeneration, and the problem is addressed from multiple angles. That’s why specialists often include it in ready-made combined protocols.
The decision to combine treatments should be made by a specialist after consultation — it is important, among other things, to properly plan breaks between sessions and the order of individual methods. Not every combination is advisable for every person and every area.
