Carboxytherapy is a cosmetology treatment in which a carbon dioxide gel is applied to the skin, triggering a response in the body similar to tissue oxygen deprivation and leading to the dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow in the treated area. The skin under the eyes and on the cheeks can look dull when blood circulates more slowly than it should — stagnation remains and less oxygen reaches the tissues. The treatment reverses this for several dozen minutes: the cosmetologist applies the gel and covers it with a mask, the blood vessels dilate and blood flows into the area, helping clear what had accumulated there.
Needle-Free Carboxytherapy
In aesthetic medicine clinics, carbon dioxide is injected under the skin with a needle. Needle-free carboxytherapy works through the epidermis: gel plus a mask, without injections, bruising or taking a day out of your schedule. The results build more slowly and require a series of treatments, but when you leave the salon, no one will be able to tell that you have had a treatment. A product delivered beneath the skin belongs to a different category — this is how biorevitalisation works.
Carboxytherapy Under the Eyes
The eyelid skin is the thinnest on the entire body and the first to show when circulation has slowed — which is why the eye area is the most common reason for an appointment. The cosmetologist works around the eye socket, avoiding the movable eyelid itself. Dark circles become less contrasting against the surrounding skin, while morning puffiness subsides more quickly.
Carboxytherapy for the Face
The treatment covers the cheeks, forehead and area around the mouth and, when performed over a wider area, also the neck. The cosmetologist determines the treatment area during the consultation — the eye area alone may be the entire treatment or part of a full-face procedure.
Carboxytherapy Indications
The cosmetologist may recommend the treatment when:
- dark circles under the eyes remain visible even after a good night’s sleep
- the face looks dull and tired despite good skincare
- the skin has lost elasticity and the facial contour has become less defined
- post-breakout marks take weeks to fade
- the complexion needs refreshing before an event and there is no time for recovery
- needles are out of the question, but a visible effect is needed
For uneven epidermal texture, skincare can be complemented by a facial peel, performed at a separate appointment.
Carboxytherapy Results
Immediately after the mask is removed, the skin feels warm, looks slightly pink and is visibly brighter — this is when blood flow is at its highest. The redness subsides within an hour, while the refreshed appearance remains for several days. A single appointment refreshes the complexion before an event but does not change its condition in the long term.
The remaining results build over a series of treatments. Dark circles gradually become lighter, the skin tone becomes more even, and after several appointments the skin regains elasticity. The cosmetologist determines the number of sessions and the intervals between them after assessing the skin during the first appointment.
The treatment improves circulation and oxygenation but does not deliver active ingredients to the skin — this is what needle-free mesotherapy does and it is often used as the next step. Facial massage works separately on the facial contour.
Carboxytherapy Contraindications
The treatment is not performed in cases of:
- pregnancy and breastfeeding
- asthma and respiratory conditions
- circulatory insufficiency and heart disease
- active infections and inflammatory skin conditions
- fresh wounds in the treatment area
- cancer
For chronic conditions, the cosmetologist asks for approval from the treating physician.
Carboxytherapy Side Effects
Redness and a feeling of pressure under the mask are the only reactions you can expect — both are short-lived. The treatment requires no downtime: you can apply makeup on the same day and return to work straight from the salon.
