If you’ve considered getting a little non-surgical cosmetic work done, but hesitated 
because you’re afraid of needles or discomfort, you’re not alone. Juvederm, Prevelle, Hydrelle, and Restylane have awesome cosmetic benefits but the question many people ask is, do these procedures cause serious discomfort?
Fortunately, the answer is no. Today, a number of non-surgical facial procedures can be done with little or no discomfort, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand. Lidocaine is the one most frequently used by plastic and cosmetic surgeons.
Lidocaine blocks pain signals, relieves swelling
Your dentist uses Lidocaine as as a quick and simple way to numb the mouth prior to potentially painful dental work. Likewise, plastic surgeons have found that it’s an excellent local anesthetic for injections. Lidocaine blocks the pain signal sent by the nerve endings on the skin in response to injections of the dermal filler solution. Patients quickly feel the anesthetic taking effect, and numbness kicks in.
The Benefits of Lidocaine for facial cosmetic procedures
- Reduces or eliminates pain when the doctor is injecting into sensitive facial tissue
- Minimizes tissue swelling that occurs when solutions are injected subcutaneously (underneath the skin)
- Without swelling, the doctor can resculpt and correct the targeted areas of the face with more accuracy to get the most attractive, natural looking result
- Patient can relax during the procedure
- When used during longer procedures – filling in the cheek area, for instance – it eliminates the need for general anesthesia
Several of the new dermal fillers, including Radiesse, Prevelle Silk, and Hydrelle, even come pre-mixed with Lidocaine.
Learn more about Lidocaine
- http://www.medicinenet.com/lidocaine-injection_local/article.htm
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601515