Analgesic electrical currents associated with carboxytherapy in women with cellulite: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain is considered the main limiting factor in carboxytherapy. Electroanalgesia has gained recognition in the field of dermatology and to date, only transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has proved to be effective at reducing pain associated with carboxytherapy; however, the effect of medium frequency currents has yet to be investigated. AIMS: Compare the effects of TENS, interferential current (IFC), and Aussie current on pain intensity associated with carboxytherapy and sensory comfort in the treatment of cellulite. PATIENTS/METHODS: Seventy-five women aged 18-49 years with moderate and/or severe gluteal cellulite were randomized into three groups: TENS (n = 25), IFC (n = 25), and Aussie current (n = 25), which underwent three sessions of carboxytherapy associated with an electrical current. Current amplitude was adjusted after each puncture, according to the maximum tolerance reported by participants, below the motor threshold. Pain intensity was measured using a numeric rating scale (0-10) and sensory comfort with the visual analogue scale (0-10). RESULTS: There was no significant intergroup difference in pain intensity (p > 0.05) and sensory comfort (p = 0.502) during the application of carboxytherapy throughout the three treatment sessions. CONCLUSION: TENS, IFC, and Aussie currents showed no difference in pain intensity reduction and no current was found to be more comfortable.

Changes in the Pattern of Superficial Lymphatic Drainage of the Abdomen after Abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: The changes in the pattern of lymphatic drainage of the superficial abdominal wall after abdominoplasty are still unknown. These changes may increase the risk of numerous complications, including seroma formation. Depending on the alterations, the manual lymphatic drainage technique should be modified in postoperative patients. The aim of this study was to map the pattern of lymphatic drainage of the superficial infraumbilical abdominal wall after abdominoplasty. METHODS: Twenty women with indications for abdominoplasty were selected in the Plastic Surgery Division of the Federal University of São Paulo. Intradermal lymphoscintigraphy with dextran 500-99m-technetium was performed in 20 female patients in the preoperative phase and 1 and 6 months after abdominoplasty to evaluate superficial lymphatic drainage of the abdominal wall. RESULTS: Before surgery, all patients presented with abdominal lymphatic drainage toward the inguinal lymph nodes. One and 6 months after abdominoplasty, only 15 percent exhibited the same drainage pathway. Drainage toward the axillary lymph node chain occurred in 65 percent of the patients, 10 percent displayed a drainage pathway toward both the axillary and inguinal lymph nodes, and lymphatic drainage was indeterminate in 10 percent of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: A significant change in lymphatic drainage pathway occurred in the infraumbilical region after abdominoplasty. The axillary drainage path was predominant after the operation, in contrast to the inguinal path observed in the preoperative period. However, 35 percent of cases exhibited alternative drainage. No significant changes were documented between 1 and 6 months postoperatively. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Vibration anesthesia during carboxytherapy for cellulite: a study protocol.

Background: To date, there has been no investigation addressing the effects of vibration anesthesia during carboxytherapy. Aim: Investigate the analgesic effect of different vibratory devices during carboxytherapy for the treatment of cellulite. Materials & methods: A total of 78 women between 18 and 49 years of age with cellulite in the gluteal region will be randomly allocated to three groups: Group A (carboxytherapy and vibratory device A), Group B (carboxytherapy and vibratory device B) and control group. Pain intensity will be assessed using a numerical rating scale after each puncture. Expected outcome: Vibration anesthesia is expected to be effective at diminishing the pain intensity caused by carboxytherapy comparison with the control group, with no differences between the vibratory devices. Trial registry: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: ReBEC (RBR-8jcqy7c).

Vibrating anesthesia involves applying vibrations to the skin to reduce discomfort and pain during injections. So far, we do not know much about the therapeutic action of vibrating anesthesia on pain associated with carboxytherapy, a cosmetic treatment that involves injecting carbon dioxide into the fatty layer just beneath the surface of the skin. This article describes a plan to investigate the effect of vibration devices on pain reduction during the application of carboxytherapy in the treatment of cellulite. A total of 78 women between 18 and 49 years old with cellulite in the gluteal region (around the buttocks) will participate in the study and will be divided into three study groups; two groups will receive carboxytherapy with two different vibrating devices, and the third group will receive carboxytherapy without vibrational anesthesia. Pain intensity will be assessed by asking participants to rate their pain using a numerical rating scale after each puncture of carboxytherapy. Vibrational anesthesia is expected to decrease pain caused by carboxytherapy compared with the control group, and it is expected that there will be no differences in pain intensity relief between the two vibrating devices.

Electroanalgesia during a carboxytherapy procedure for cellulite: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the present study is to describe a study protocol to compare different types of analgesic electrical currents on pain intensity and sensory comfort during the application of carboxytherapy for the treatment of cellulite. Seventy five women with the presence of moderate and/or severe gluteal cellulite will be randomly allocated into three groups: carboxytherapy plus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, carboxytherapy plus interferential current or carboxytherapy plus Aussie current. Pain intensity, which is the primary outcome, will be measured by a numeric rating scale (0-10). The secondary outcome is sensory comfort, which will be measured using the visual analogue scale (0-10). Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: ReBEC (RBR-6z82zb) www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6z82zb/.