Brazilian Scar Remover

Brazilian scar remover is a misnomer for a procedure that was developed in Europe but is marketed in the United States as RioBlush. The treatment is known medically as carboxytherapy and it promotes the body's natural healing process in the elimination of scar tissue. Before dermatologists and estheticians became educated about the non-FDA approved procedure, skin creams and invasive skin grafts were the only recourse for serious scar bearers.

History

• Descriptions of carboxytherapy can be found in medical journals printed as early as the 1930s. Although the treatment is touted by American aestheticians, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons as having origination in Brazil, carboxytherapy was first developed in France.

  In Europe carboxytherapy is also referred to as carbon dioxide infusion therapy and has been used to treat extremely debilitating conditions of the skin and blood stream including diabetic ulcers and psoriasis. The use of carboxytherapy for cosmetic purposes, such as skin tightening and scar removal, is an invention of the 21st century and is widely used in Brazil.

Significance

• Scars diminish gradually as skin rejuvenates itself over time. Carboxytherapy works by speeding up the rejuvenation process. Doses of carbon dioxide gas are injected under the surface layer of scarred skin. The carbon dioxide causes the capillaries under the skin to widen for easier blood flow. The circulatory system also interprets the influx of carbon dioxide as a deficit in oxygen and oxygen is delivered by the blood stream and in an attempt to oxygenate the injected body part, blood circulation is increases. The sudden circulation and oxygen deposits cause rapid cell restoration, skin rejuvenation and scar elimination.

Advantages

• Depending on the size of the scar being treated, carboxytherapy can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. And, unlike most surgically invasive medical procedures, carboxytherapy requires no post-operative recovery or down time. Patients can have their scarred tissue injected and return to normal daily living activities immediately afterward. Patients who have had the procedure have reported no pain. The only sensation experienced was tingling of the skin followed by a feeling of warmth at the site of the injection.

Considerations

• While carboxytherapy treatments do not require down time for recovery, patients should take some precautions for optimal therapeutic benefit. Because the blood stream is stimulated by the carbon dioxide injections, patients should avoid strenuous activities or immersing themselves in water for at least four hours after each treatment. Carboxytherapy treatment of scars is permanent. Consult your health care provider before attempting this treatment.

Contraindications

• People with the following conditions may not be physician approved for carboxytherapy: diseases of the heart, epilepsy, hypertension, restrictive or obstructive lung diseases, kidney failure, immune suppression or deficiency, uncontrolled diabetes, pulmonary embolisms, hemophilia, cancer and connective tissue disorders.