Injectable Fillers Offering More Comfortable Treatments
Cosmetic dermal fillers have been used for many years to rejuvenate or refresh the skin. They are useful for improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by adding volume to facial skin. Fillers such as JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, Perlane® and RADIESSE® are among the popular dermal fillers available today. Many women and men like the idea of a temporary solution for improving the appearance of aging skin, but some may worry about potential discomfort. In an effort to increase patient comfort during treatment, both JUVÉDERM and RADIESSE have recently introduced new formulations in which the filler comes pre-packaged with lidocaine. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that relieves skin inflammation and is mixed with the injectable filler prior to injection at our plastic surgery practice in San Jose.
How Lidocaine Works
Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic that works by blocking the pain signal sent by the nerve endings. The wrinkle filler injection will be more comfortable to the patient because lidocaine blocks the pain signal that is triggered from the injection itself. Lidocaine was chosen as the local anesthetic in these pre-packaged fillers because its effects take place instantly – it works at the same time as the injectable filler, so no waiting is necessary for pain relief to set in.
While increased patient comfort is a major benefit of combining injectable fillers with lidocaine, this combination also serves another purpose: decreased swelling after the procedure. Because there is less swelling than an injectable procedure without lidocaine, this allows the doctor to sculpt the targeted areas more accurately for optimal results. It is likely that injectable fillers coming pre-packaged with a local anesthetic will become the norm very quickly in the field of cosmetic medicine.
Topical Numbing Cream
Doctors and professional injectors may continue to use some fillers that do not come pre-mixed with lidocaine. Instead, a topical numbing cream can be used prior to the injectable procedure in order to alleviate any discomfort a patient may experience during the treatment. Typically, topical anesthetics require 30 to 45 minutes to take effect before the procedure. Right now, the use of topical anesthetics is largely based on patient preference and level of sensitivity. Some patients choose not to have any anesthetic during their filler treatment, given that the injections use a very small needle and only last a few minutes.
Fillers versus Facial Surgery
Certainly injectable fillers offer vastly increased patient comfort than when compared to cosmetic surgery in San Jose. Also, there is little to no downtime after an injectable procedure, meaning that patients can return to their normal, everyday activities immediately following treatment. However, because fillers can provide only so much cosmetic enhancement and any enhancements they provide are only temporary in nature, some patients who require more extensive facial rejuvenation may be candidates for a face lift or other facial plastic surgery procedure. Recovery time is a necessary part of any facial surgery procedure. For instance, I inform my San Jose face lift patients that they should plan on taking a full 2 weeks to recover before resuming their everyday, normal activities.
Patients who are unhappy with lines and wrinkles on the lower portion of their face need to consult with a qualified surgeon who can provide guidance about modern injectable filler options in addition to providing an opinion about whether a surgical approach will be more closely aligned with the patient's goals.
How Lidocaine Works
Lidocaine is a common local anesthetic that works by blocking the pain signal sent by the nerve endings. The wrinkle filler injection will be more comfortable to the patient because lidocaine blocks the pain signal that is triggered from the injection itself. Lidocaine was chosen as the local anesthetic in these pre-packaged fillers because its effects take place instantly – it works at the same time as the injectable filler, so no waiting is necessary for pain relief to set in.
While increased patient comfort is a major benefit of combining injectable fillers with lidocaine, this combination also serves another purpose: decreased swelling after the procedure. Because there is less swelling than an injectable procedure without lidocaine, this allows the doctor to sculpt the targeted areas more accurately for optimal results. It is likely that injectable fillers coming pre-packaged with a local anesthetic will become the norm very quickly in the field of cosmetic medicine.
Topical Numbing Cream
Doctors and professional injectors may continue to use some fillers that do not come pre-mixed with lidocaine. Instead, a topical numbing cream can be used prior to the injectable procedure in order to alleviate any discomfort a patient may experience during the treatment. Typically, topical anesthetics require 30 to 45 minutes to take effect before the procedure. Right now, the use of topical anesthetics is largely based on patient preference and level of sensitivity. Some patients choose not to have any anesthetic during their filler treatment, given that the injections use a very small needle and only last a few minutes.
Fillers versus Facial Surgery
Certainly injectable fillers offer vastly increased patient comfort than when compared to cosmetic surgery in San Jose. Also, there is little to no downtime after an injectable procedure, meaning that patients can return to their normal, everyday activities immediately following treatment. However, because fillers can provide only so much cosmetic enhancement and any enhancements they provide are only temporary in nature, some patients who require more extensive facial rejuvenation may be candidates for a face lift or other facial plastic surgery procedure. Recovery time is a necessary part of any facial surgery procedure. For instance, I inform my San Jose face lift patients that they should plan on taking a full 2 weeks to recover before resuming their everyday, normal activities.
Patients who are unhappy with lines and wrinkles on the lower portion of their face need to consult with a qualified surgeon who can provide guidance about modern injectable filler options in addition to providing an opinion about whether a surgical approach will be more closely aligned with the patient's goals.
Source...