anti-wrinkle treatments > carboxytherapy

Fed up with your anti-wrinkle treatments? Then try some carbon dioxide, as scientists claim the gas that gives fizzy drinks their pop does wonders in tackling deepest stretch marks or saggiest faces.

The gas, the latest weapon in the cosmetic surgeon's armoury, helps melting away fat and stretch marks effectively when injected below the skin, doctors said. In the latest study at the University of Siena in Italy, researchers found the treatment, called carboxytherapy, was effective at smoothing skin and reducing fat.

For their study, the researchers gave the jab to 48 participants in six sessions over three weeks. They found that on average their thighs reduced by two cm, and the participants lost one cm from each knee and three cm from their stomach. At the same time their skin became thicker and their cellulite smoother.

Sabine Zenker, a doctor who has pioneered the use of the technique, said, "This is quick, largely pain-free and a more natural alternative to dermal fillers and Botox. It takes four or five minutes. It is not painful at all," Zenker was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.

The jabs dilate blood vessels, boosting the flow of blood and oxygen and nourishing the regeneration of skin cells, the researchers said, adding that deep injections can kill fat cells. Carboxytherapy, they said, could also come to the aid of the bald, with jabs reopening closed pores, potentially allowing hair to regrow. It has been used in France since 1930s to treat patients suffering from poor circulation, blocked arteries and heart problems.