Injectable Advancement Means Less Pain for Patients

The July 2010 issue of Cosmetic Surgery Times reports that the U.S. injectables market now offers lidocaine-containing versions of popular hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that is injected directly into the body area and decreases pain by temporarily numbing that area, according to WebMD.

Three injectables won FDA approval in February 2010 for lidocaine versions in the U.S.:

• Juvéderm® XC
• Restylane®-L
• Perlane-L

Dr. Michael H. Gold, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing, says the products performed similarly to their lidocaine-free predecessors in terms of efficacy and safety.

Furthermore, in the clinical trials, he says, “The incorporation of lidocaine has surely provided a higher comfort level for patients.”

Based on his clinical experience, Dr. Gold says when undergoing an injection that includes even a small percentage of lidocaine, “Most patients say they barely feel the second stick. To me that is the home run of lidocaine in these fillers.”

In the 72-patient trial of Juvéderm® XC, patients were blindfolded and their nasolabial folds were treated with either Juvéderm® or Juvéderm® XC. Patients assessed pain levels during treatment and then 30 minutes and 24 hours post-treatment. In the study, 93 percent reported less pain when treated with the lidocaine formulation versus the non-lidocaine formulation of Juvéderm.

The FDA also cleared a method for doctors mixing lidocaine with Radiesse in July 2009. “Originally, I was against doctors mixing a lot of fillers because I was afraid of potential changes in the products themselves,” says Dr. Gold. But once the FDA clears these products, especially those premixed by manufacturers, “I’m pretty comfortable with it.”
Both Juvéderm® and Restylane® are offered at Dr. Branman’s Little Rock office.

Read the full story from Cosmetic Surgery Times: “Fillers with lidocaine among latest injectable advancements.”