Carboxytherapy for Gynecologic Conditions

The Gel for Gyns

I went to Brazil about a decade ago to speak in Rio at the first ever Cosmetic Gynecology Congress for Latin America. Went back in 2017 to show off ThermiVa to the Latin physicians. During my visit there I was most fascinated with the injected carbon dioxide under the skin called carboxytherapy. 30 gauge needles were used under the skin of the lower lids, face, stretch marks. It was getting injected under the skin of the labia and perineum. It looked like a painful and awful procedure. I looked into it when I returned to America and found out that there was a practice in Beverly Hills and in Manhattan that had obtain the equipment to do these carboxytherapy procedures. I tried to get a machine and found out it was not FDA cleared or approved. It is still not approved in the United States. So I lost interest. Then I get an email from my friend Gustavo Leibaschoff, M.D., an OBGYN from Argentina, living in Dallas, and President of the World Society of Cosmetic Gynecology. He had a new treatment using carbon dioxide but without needles! So obviously that sparked my interest! We got together and he told me about his new baby. CO2LiftV Gel.

Over the past 3 years he taught me about the science, the safety, and the efficacy. All very very impressive. So impressive that it is a daily part of my practice and a topic I speak about internationally. I want to give Gustavo all the credit, all the thanks. He gave me his slide set and told me to teach the world. So everything you will see is Gustavo’s. All the data, the photos are his and not mine. I am just a messenger. You need to hear about this to improve your practice and have another arrow in your quiver. This will help so many of your patients.

Traveling the world with Gustavo and preaching the word of Carboxytherapy.

I think this is an important topic because of the rapid grown of the Feminine Wellness field and huge interest in feminine restoration.

The development of Carboxytherapy became quite important because of the huge number of women entering menopause. The genital symptoms of dryness, burning, and pain drove this development.

The first paper on carboxytherapy came from Argentina decades ago.

Carbon dioxide gas was injected under the skin superficially and in deep tissues to get its intended effect.

French cardiologist injected it improve blood flow in arms and legs.

This resulted in higher localized oxygen levels! It helped with healing.

The microcirculation improved, the vessels became dilated. The Bohr effect was working. Increasing the CO2 reduced O2’s affinity for hemoglobin. This resulted in the pH decreasing or becoming more acidic. Oxygen was released, new vessel formation started. Collagen was stimulated.

The amazing this is that the effects also occurred far away from the place of injection! The vascular flow increased and vessels opened up brought more oxygen to tissues.

Here are the studies listed showing carboxytherapy’s effects:

So here is a summary of the physiologic effects of CO2:

It was safe and non-toxic. However, it hurt, feel heavy, could cause bruising, and crepitation. Imagine using this on the vulva for lichen. It would help but it hurt!

So for 25 years its use in aesthetics grew in many parts of the world such as Latin America. Since it stimulated fibroblasts new and fresh collagen would be made. Tighter and fresher skin! Wonderful for the face, saggy eyelids, lines and wrinkles. It was like a poor man’s filler.

More and more papers came out showing effectiveness for dermatologic conditions.

Here is how Collagen Synthesis occurred. It was really the creation of Procollagen that made the difference.

So injected carboxytherapy gained acceptance for wound care and healing around the world. Except the U.S. The procedure still hurt and injections were painful. The injections of carbon dioxide under the skin would cause a separation of the skin from the underlying tissue. It was actually a physical trauma that initiated the healing cascade. Carbon dioxide bubbles were being made under the skin and you were trying to create crepitis for a short while.

Then the Big Event happened. Yoshitada Sakai of Japan published a paper about a gel that caused the same Bohr Effect without having to inject anything. No needles! No more pain from the dozens of shots needed to get a clinical effect.

A company was created called Lumisque who branded the gel “CO2Lift.” The gel was now used for cosmetics and not just for burn patients and wound care patients. CO2Lift was great for the face and skin and created a fresh and vibrant look. It helped reduce wrinkles and even out the skin tone.

The product was gentle and non-irritating.

Gustavo wrote a paper with Luis Coll and Wendy Roberts and showed the increase in microcirculation using the gel.

Gustavo showed that the injected CO2 and the gel CO2 gave very similar results.

The horizontal and vertical capillaries were increased! More blood flow!

Not only more blood flow but also more density in the vascularity.

The vessel diameter even widened!

The study conclusion:

So now you wonder if this works in the genital area? A gel for GYNs perhaps! Read on to see my experience of the past few years. Go to Lumisque and get more info.