CO2 Insufflation Touted for Eyelid Rejuvenation

LAS VEGAS—Carbon dioxide insufflation of the eyelids provides patients with an improved cosmetic appearance and is the only effective treatment option for vascular pooling, according to a presentation at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

"After four or five treatments, we have seen marked improvement in eyelid texture, rhytidosis, hyperpigmentation, vascular pooling, fatty prolapse, and tissue luminosity," Dr. Stephen Bosniak said. "This is a unique treatment for vascular pooling. A lot of people have this shadowing of the skin below the eye, and we have not had a treatment for this prior to this."

Using what is called the CO₂ Cellulair technique, the lower eyelid is insufflated with carbon dioxide through a 30-gauge needle at 20 mm/minute. The targeted delivery of carbon dioxide gas increases blood flow and oxygenation, leading to improvements in skin irregularities and elasticity, according to studies done by Dr. Bosniak and his colleague, Dr. Marian Cantisano-Zikha of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The theory is that local insufflation of carbon dioxide gas tricks the body into thinking there is not enough oxygen and it responds, said Dr. Bosniak, ophthalmology surgeon, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York.

Each treatment session takes about 10 minutes with no downtime. Dr. Bosniak's technique is safe to use in combination with other skin improvement therapies. Some swelling and erythema are possible immediately after treatment, but these effects are transient, he said. Some patients might be alarmed by the bulging area of insufflation below their eye, he added, but it disappears in 3–5 minutes. "We don't let them look in the mirror while this is happening."

Improvements in rhytidosis and luminosity occur in patients regardless of skin type, Dr. Bosniak said. Some lightening of hyperpigmentation in darker skin types he has observed could be an effect of carbon dioxide on melanin, he added.

Clinical improvements tend to level off after five treatments. "For some patients, the changes appear to be permanent. Others need to return for retreatment in 6–9 months," he said.

LAS VEGAS—Carbon dioxide insufflation of the eyelids provides patients with an improved cosmetic appearance and is the only effective treatment option for vascular pooling, according to a presentation at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

"After four or five treatments, we have seen marked improvement in eyelid texture, rhytidosis, hyperpigmentation, vascular pooling, fatty prolapse, and tissue luminosity," Dr. Stephen Bosniak said. "This is a unique treatment for vascular pooling. A lot of people have this shadowing of the skin below the eye, and we have not had a treatment for this prior to this."

Using what is called the CO₂ Cellulair technique, the lower eyelid is insufflated with carbon dioxide through a 30-gauge needle at 20 mm/minute. The targeted delivery of carbon dioxide gas increases blood flow and oxygenation, leading to improvements in skin irregularities and elasticity, according to studies done by Dr. Bosniak and his colleague, Dr. Marian Cantisano-Zikha of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The theory is that local insufflation of carbon dioxide gas tricks the body into thinking there is not enough oxygen and it responds, said Dr. Bosniak, ophthalmology surgeon, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York.

Each treatment session takes about 10 minutes with no downtime. Dr. Bosniak's technique is safe to use in combination with other skin improvement therapies. Some swelling and erythema are possible immediately after treatment, but these effects are transient, he said. Some patients might be alarmed by the bulging area of insufflation below their eye, he added, but it disappears in 3–5 minutes. "We don't let them look in the mirror while this is happening."

Improvements in rhytidosis and luminosity occur in patients regardless of skin type, Dr. Bosniak said. Some lightening of hyperpigmentation in darker skin types he has observed could be an effect of carbon dioxide on melanin, he added.

Clinical improvements tend to level off after five treatments. "For some patients, the changes appear to be permanent. Others need to return for retreatment in 6–9 months," he said.

LAS VEGAS—Carbon dioxide insufflation of the eyelids provides patients with an improved cosmetic appearance and is the only effective treatment option for vascular pooling, according to a presentation at an international symposium on cosmetic and laser surgery.

"After four or five treatments, we have seen marked improvement in eyelid texture, rhytidosis, hyperpigmentation, vascular pooling, fatty prolapse, and tissue luminosity," Dr. Stephen Bosniak said. "This is a unique treatment for vascular pooling. A lot of people have this shadowing of the skin below the eye, and we have not had a treatment for this prior to this."

Using what is called the CO₂ Cellulair technique, the lower eyelid is insufflated with carbon dioxide through a 30-gauge needle at 20 mm/minute. The targeted delivery of carbon dioxide gas increases blood flow and oxygenation, leading to improvements in skin irregularities and elasticity, according to studies done by Dr. Bosniak and his colleague, Dr. Marian Cantisano-Zikha of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The theory is that local insufflation of carbon dioxide gas tricks the body into thinking there is not enough oxygen and it responds, said Dr. Bosniak, ophthalmology surgeon, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York.

Each treatment session takes about 10 minutes with no downtime. Dr. Bosniak's technique is safe to use in combination with other skin improvement therapies. Some swelling and erythema are possible immediately after treatment, but these effects are transient, he said. Some patients might be alarmed by the bulging area of insufflation below their eye, he added, but it disappears in 3–5 minutes. "We don't let them look in the mirror while this is happening."

Improvements in rhytidosis and luminosity occur in patients regardless of skin type, Dr. Bosniak said. Some lightening of hyperpigmentation in darker skin types he has observed could be an effect of carbon dioxide on melanin, he added.

Clinical improvements tend to level off after five treatments. "For some patients, the changes appear to be permanent. Others need to return for retreatment in 6–9 months," he said.