What is body carboxytherapy?
Body carboxytherapy is the controlled infiltration of medical CO2 —the same gas your body produces and eliminates naturally— into the subcutaneous tissue, with a very fine needle, to improve local circulation and stimulate the skin. When the gas is introduced, the body reads a transient drop in oxygen in the area and responds by bringing more blood and more oxygen there (the so-called Bohr effect). That vasodilation improves microcirculation, encourages an effect on fat cells and stimulates collagen formation.
It is worth being clear about what it does and does not do. Carboxytherapy can improve the appearance of cellulite, mildly tighten lax skin, soften stretch marks and support the reduction of small localized fat deposits. What it does not do: it is not a weight-loss method, it does not remove large volumes of fat —that belongs to liposuction— and it does not replace contouring surgery when there is significant excess skin or fat. It is a supportive treatment, and its result is built session by session.
Techniques Dr. Arístides Arellano uses
Carboxytherapy is applied following a medical protocol, not a fashion. Dr. Arístides Arellano’s principle is the same one that governs the rest of his practice: assess first, indicate second, and be honest about what each tool can achieve. These are the elements of the approach:
- Prior assessment of the goal — before the first session it is defined what is being treated (cellulite, laxity, stretch marks or localized fat), because each indication changes the area, the depth and the number of sessions.
- Use of medical-grade CO2 with regulated flow — the gas is delivered with equipment that controls the speed and volume of infiltration; adjusting the flow is what makes the session comfortable and safe, not a branded machine.
- Fine-needle infiltration in the indicated area — the gas is introduced at points distributed over the region to be treated, at the depth appropriate to each goal, not at random.
- Series and combined treatment — carboxytherapy is planned as a scheme of several sessions and, where the case allows, is accompanied by other contouring measures or a lifestyle plan, to sustain the result over time.
How is it done?
A body carboxytherapy session takes 20 to 30 minutes and is performed in the consulting room, without an operating theatre and without general anaesthesia. The area is cleaned and the medical CO2 is infiltrated with a very fine needle at several points; during the infiltration it is common to feel pressure, a slight burning or a crackling sensation under the skin, which settles within a few minutes as the gas is reabsorbed. It needs no downtime: you return to your activities the same day. Carboxytherapy is worked in a series —usually several sessions one or two weeks apart— and then maintained with booster sessions, because its effect is not permanent.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
- People with cellulite or mild-to-moderate skin laxity who want to improve the appearance of the skin without surgery.
- Patients with small localized fat deposits resistant to exercise, at a weight close to their goal, not those looking to lose weight.
- Those who want to support the result of another contouring treatment or soften stretch marks, within a realistic maintenance plan.
- It is not the right treatment during pregnancy, with infections or wounds in the area, or in certain cardiac, respiratory or clotting conditions; the indication and contraindications are decided at the consultation.
Recommended post-treatment care
Body carboxytherapy has no surgical recovery: you return to your routine the same day, protecting the area from direct sun and very intense exercise for the first hours, and drinking enough water to support microcirculation. To understand the general principles of care after a procedure, See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
Body carboxytherapy costs approximately $700 MXN per session, and is usually offered as a package —for example $6,000 MXN for ten sessions— because it is a treatment done in a series. The number of sessions your case requires is defined at the consultation according to the area, the goal and the response you show. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
If you are weighing carboxytherapy as an alternative or complement to contouring surgery, choosing who treats you is the most important decision. Read How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Same dayThere may be redness, a crackling sensation under the skin or mild discomfort in the area, which settle within minutes to hours. Normal activity resumes with no downtime.
- First 24–48 hoursA slight bruise or tenderness at the infiltration points is possible. Intense direct sun, sauna and very demanding exercise are avoided.
- During the seriesSessions are done one or two weeks apart. The change is gradual and is best seen by comparing baseline photographs, not in the mirror day to day.
- End of the seriesThe result on cellulite, laxity or fat is assessed, and the plan is adjusted according to what was achieved and the initial goal.
- MaintenanceThe effect is not permanent. It is kept up with periodic booster sessions and lifestyle, the frequency adjusted to each patient.
Frequently asked questions
Does body carboxytherapy hurt?
Discomfort is mild and tolerable. During the infiltration it is common to feel pressure, a slight burning or a crackling sensation under the skin, which settles within a few minutes as the gas is reabsorbed. It needs no general anaesthesia, and most patients describe the session as uncomfortable rather than painful.
Does carboxytherapy help you lose weight?
No. Carboxytherapy is not a weight-loss method and does not remove large volumes of fat. It can support improvement of cellulite, mild laxity and small localized fat deposits in people at a weight close to their goal. For significant excess fat, the option to assess is liposuction, which is surgery.
How many carboxytherapy sessions do I need?
It depends on your case, but carboxytherapy is always worked in a series: it is not a single application. It is common to start with a scheme of several sessions one or two weeks apart and then maintain the result with boosters. The exact number is defined at the consultation, according to the area, the goal and your response.
Is carboxytherapy safe? Gas is being injected into me.
The CO2 used is medical grade, the same gas your body produces and eliminates naturally, and it is delivered with regulated flow. Like any medical procedure, it requires a prior assessment and is not indicated in pregnancy, in infections of the area, or in certain cardiac, respiratory or clotting conditions. Results may vary from one patient to another.
When will I see results?
Not immediately. Carboxytherapy acts gradually on microcirculation and collagen, so the change is seen across the series of sessions and not after the first one. The best way to confirm it is to compare baseline photographs, not to judge in the mirror day to day.
Does carboxytherapy replace liposuction or contouring surgery?
No. They are different things. Carboxytherapy is a supportive treatment that improves the appearance of the skin and supports small fat deposits; liposuction and contouring surgeries remove excess fat or skin. Which one suits your case is decided at the consultation, with honesty about what each option can achieve.
Is the result of carboxytherapy permanent?
No. The effect is built during the series and then tends to fade if not maintained, because cellulite and laxity also respond to weight, lifestyle and the passing of time. That is why the result is kept up with periodic booster sessions and a lifestyle plan defined in consultation.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.