Treatments with injectable fillers, such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, and Evolence, not to mention others, can restore a youthful appearance to the lips, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, midface, jowls and lower eyelids, with minimal to no downtime. Many patients avoid these treatments, though, because they have heard horror stories from friends or colleagues about the pain associated with these treatments. Suffice it to say, this needn’t be the case – there are steps your plastic surgeon can take to make these treatments more comfortable.
Recently, BioForm Medical, Inc., makers of Radiesse, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to mix the filler with lidocaine, an injectable local anesthetic, prior to injection into the skin. This approval was based on a large study of patients, in which 100% of patients reported feeling less pain when Radiesse was pre-mixed with lidocaine. Many plastic surgeons, including me, have begun to pre-mix lidocaine with all fillers, including Juvederm, Restylane, and Evolence, not to mention Radiesse, prior to injecting into patients. The results of treatment are still great, but patients are significantly more comfortable during treatment.
Others things your plastic surgeon can do to make your treatment with injectable fillers more comfortable include:
• Using topical anesthetic gel for at least 30 minutes prior to commencing any injections.
• Augmenting treatment with topical anesthetic gel with injections of local anesthetic into nerves above and below the lips.
• Using small gauge needles and slow injection techniques
Combining all of these treatments can ensure that you’ll not only look fantastic after your treatment with injectable fillers, but you’ll feel pretty good during the treatment too!