Carboxytherapy in Valencia: revitalise your skin and stimulate tissue regeneration

What is carboxytherapy?

Carboxytherapy is a medical-aesthetic treatment that uses medical carbon dioxide (CO₂) infiltrated beneath the skin to activate the body’s natural mechanisms. This gas, entirely safe and biocompatible, diffuses quickly through the tissues, producing immediate vasodilation and an increase in local blood flow. The result is better cell oxygenation, activation of the local metabolism and stimulation of the synthesis of structural fibres such as collagen and elastin.

This treatment is carried out in short outpatient sessions, adapted to what each patient specifically needs. Carboxytherapy has established itself as an effective, minimally invasive alternative, with no surgical requirements and no long recovery times.

The main benefits of carboxytherapy

The effects of carboxytherapy show both aesthetically and functionally. The most notable benefits include:

• Visible reduction of cellulite: it breaks up the fat deposits in the adipocytes and improves the microcirculation, which reduces fluid retention and smooths the texture of the skin.
• A very subtle effect on localised fat: it encourages the metabolism of the lipids and their clearance through the lymphatic system.
• Softening of stretch marks: it stimulates the production of collagen, which improves the elasticity and the appearance of the skin in areas with recent or moderate stretch marks.
• Skin firming: by improving dermal density through the formation of new fibres, it counters laxity of the body and the face.
• Reduction of dark circles: it improves the circulation around the eyes and reduces the dark pigmentation and congestion in the area.
• Treatment of acne scars: it stimulates skin regeneration and improves the texture of the skin.
• Improvement in hair loss: in cases of non-scarring hair loss, carboxytherapy improves the blood supply to the scalp, stimulating the hair follicle.

The areas of the body where carboxytherapy is applied

At our centre in Valencia we tailor the treatment to the patient’s goals and to the areas affected. The most usual areas include:

• The face (for laxity, dark circles, acne scars)
• Neck and décolletage
• Arms (to treat laxity and localised fat)
• Abdomen (abdominal fat and stretch marks)
• Buttocks (cellulite and firming)
• Thighs (orange-peel skin and toning)
• Whole legs (fluid retention)
• Scalp (hair loss in its early stages)

Each indication requires a specific protocol, both in the number of sessions and in the depth and volume of gas administered.

What is a session like?

Carboxytherapy sessions are carried out in the consulting room. After a prior assessment, the practitioner disinfects the area and applies the gas through a very fine needle connected to regulating equipment that precisely controls the amount of CO₂ administered.

The treatment is generally well tolerated. A slight pressure or itching may be felt during the infiltration, a sensation that passes within a few minutes. As it is an outpatient procedure, the patient can return to their daily activities immediately.

How many sessions are needed?

The frequency and the number of sessions depend on the patient’s goals, the initial condition of the skin and the area treated. In general terms we recommend:

• For cellulite or localised fat: between 8 and 12 sessions, weekly.
• For stretch marks or laxity: between 6 and 10 sessions.
• For dark circles or facial scars: between 4 and 6 sessions.
• For hair loss: an average of 6 to 8 sessions, which can be combined with other regenerative treatments.

Results begin to be noticed from the first sessions, and consolidate gradually.

Results and expectations

The effects of carboxytherapy are seen over the medium term. Patients usually notice:

• Improvement in the texture and tone of the skin.
• A visible reduction in cellulite and areas of localised fat.
• Softening of recent stretch marks.
• Reduction of mild or moderate laxity.
• Skin that is brighter, better oxygenated and rejuvenated.

Although the effects are lasting, an individual maintenance plan is recommended, particularly in cases of skin ageing or chronic cellulite.

Safety and side effects

Carboxytherapy is a safe treatment when carried out by qualified professionals. At our clinic we follow strict medical protocols and use certified equipment, guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.

As with any minimally invasive treatment, however, temporary side effects may appear:

• Mild pain at the infiltration point
• A feeling of warmth or passing swelling
• Small bruises in the treated area
• Redness or a tingling sensation

These effects resolve on their own within a few hours or days and do not interfere with normal activity.

Indications and contraindications

Carboxytherapy is indicated in patients with:

• Visible cellulite
• Mild or moderate laxity
• Recent stretch marks
• Localised fat resistant to diet and exercise
• Dull or aged skin
• Vascular dark circles
• Atrophic acne scars
• Hair loss in its early stages

It is contraindicated in cases of:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Active infections in the area to be treated
• Clotting disorders
• Serious uncontrolled cardiovascular disease
• Active systemic inflammatory processes

What the published evidence says

There is one piece of data on carboxytherapy that explains why this page says its effect on localised fat is very subtle, and not the opposite.

A randomised trial with a sham control, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, treated one side of the abdomen with five weekly CO₂ infusions and the other side with a sham procedure, in the same patients. One week after the last treatment, ultrasound showed less fat volume on the treated side (p = 0.011); but that difference was not maintained at 28 weeks, and the abdominal circumference did not change significantly. The authors conclude that carboxytherapy produces a transient reduction in subcutaneous fat (PMID 29698710).

In other words: carboxytherapy is not a treatment for losing weight and it does not replace liposuction. Its ground is the quality of the tissue — cellulite, recent stretch marks, mild laxity, dark circles, scars — relying on vasodilation and the stimulation of collagen, and there it does fit within a combined plan. We would rather say so before starting than after twelve sessions.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is it, and why inject a gas?

Medical carbon dioxide — the same gas your body produces — is infiltrated just beneath the skin with a very fine needle. The idea is that this local increase in CO₂ produces a response of vasodilation and improved blood supply in the area, and that this response translates into a change in the tissue.

It is an outpatient treatment, over several sessions, and its effect is cumulative: it is not designed to be done once.

Does it hurt? What does it feel like?

You feel it, and it is worth saying so beforehand. The prick is mild, but as the gas enters there is a feeling of pressure, stinging or crackling beneath the skin — as if something were bubbling — which lasts a few seconds and passes. In thin areas, such as around the eyes, it is more noticeable.

It is so characteristic that there are studies devoted to reducing that discomfort. Tolerance is individual: some describe it as odd but bearable and some would not repeat it.

What results has it actually been shown to have?

The most interesting thing published is not a satisfaction survey but a study that measured the tissue with ultrasound. In 2026, in 78 patients with moderate or marked dark circles treated with one session a week for seven weeks, clinical improvement and measurable changes in the tissue were seen — an increase in skin thickness and in local vascularisation — which were maintained at six months.

And now the small print, which matters as much as the result: that study had no control group. Its own authors warn that, without one, it cannot be established that the changes are due to the treatment, and they call for randomised trials. It is a good indication, not a demonstration.

Outside that indication, the evidence for carboxytherapy is scarcer and more scattered. The body of this page sets out what there is.

Does it leave marks? Can I carry on as normal?

Yes, you can carry on as normal. It is usual to leave with the area red and with a feeling of swelling from the gas, which is reabsorbed shortly, and with the possibility of a small bruise at the entry points, particularly in thin areas.

The routine for those hours — what to avoid, when you can wear make-up or exercise — is given to you by whoever treats you.

When is it not advisable?

With an infection or a wound in the area to be treated, in pregnancy, and with certain conditions that call for assessment: heart or respiratory failure, kidney or liver failure, epilepsy, clotting disorders or anticoagulant treatment, and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

It is not a list to assess yourself against: that is why there is a medical consultation with a clinical history before the first session.

Why choose our clinic in Valencia

The Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo is distinguished by its integrated medical-aesthetic approach, in which every treatment is adapted to the patient’s profile and goals. The carboxytherapy we offer is carried out exclusively by healthcare staff with experience in aesthetic medicine and specific training in advanced skin regeneration techniques.

We combine carboxytherapy with other synergistic therapies, such as facial mesotherapy, platelet-rich plasma or collagen biostimulators, to obtain natural, safe and lasting results.

Our clinic is also equipped with the latest generation of technology, guaranteeing a controlled, precise and effective procedure.

Carboxytherapy in Valencia is much more than an aesthetic trend: it is an effective medical tool for treating common problems of the skin and the body without resorting to surgery. If you want to recover the firmness of your skin, tackle cellulite or soften the signs of ageing, this treatment may be the right answer for you.

We invite you to request an individual assessment at our clinic. We will evaluate your case with medical rigour and propose a treatment plan adapted to your needs, so that you get the best results safely and professionally.