Restylane on nasolabial folds without dental block?

I am considering Restylane to the nasolabial folds but had a bad experience with a dental block so I don't want to go through that again.

Is it very painful to do this without a block? I have heard some doctors don't use more than simply a numbing cream, but another doctor said it's excruciatingly painful without at block.

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11 answers to “Restylane on nasolabial folds...”

A: Restylane without a dental block

Steven Hacker, MD

Most of the Restylane I inject is done so with solely topical anesthesia. In other words, we do not do a dental block. This is an individual preference and I find that the nasolabial folds do fine without requiring a dental block. People tolerate this fine. However, the lip border when treated with... more

A: Dental blocks before Restylane.

George J. Beraka, MD

Hi! Dental blocks are quick, almost painless, and they work to give you good anesthesia.  If you had a bad experience, it's because it wasn't done right.  You need to go to a plastic surgeon who really understands the anatomy. I almost always use dental blocks before injecting Restylane. ... more

A: Actually, we add anesthetic into the Restylane at my office and it makes it nearly painless

Joel Schlessinger, MD

You can add anesthetic into the Restylane and that makes it pretty much painless, but you have to add numbing cream on the area as well.  This makes a huge difference and can improve the likelihood of not bruising as well. As you can see from the responses, most of the people doing this procedure don't do... more

A: Restylane is commonly done without nerve blocks

Ronald Shelton, MD

Restylane is more commonly done without a block for the smile folds. When slow technique is used the pain is less. Only numbing cream is used for this area in my practice and although there is discomfort most people do not find the smile folds too painful. The lips are more tender and I tend to block those.

A: Occluded topical anesthetic

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Dear KGB The reality is that we all differ in our perception and tolerance to pain.  What works for many may or may not be right for you. I have several patients who because of their extreme intolerance to discomfort and associated panic disorder actually get their Restylane treatments under iv sedation... more

A: Most patients prefer a light local block before filler injections

Jack A. Friedland, MD

Although topical anesthetic creams can be used, you must wait for a period of time until they are effective before undergoing the injections. Without question most patients prefer to have a light local block before injection of fillers. The anesthesia wears off in an hour or two. The addition of epinephrine in... more

A: Resytlane in Nasolabial Folds without Dental Blocks

Tanveer Janjua, MD

It is not that painful. The trick is to use a numbing cream in advance. Wash the face, put on a thick layer of Emla cream one hour before your injection. Then request the physician to mix the Restylane with a small amount of lidocaine to take away the sting of Restylane. Following these directions the pain... more

A: Restylane without nerve block

Bryan K. Chen, MD

The procedure is more comfortable with an infraorbital nerve block; however, most people find the injections tolerable if topical anesthetic cream (the strong stuff found in doctors' offices) is placed 30-45 minutes prior to the injections. You may want to try the cream first and if you then find the... more

A: Restylane without dental block

Theodore Katz, MD

I have performed Restylane to the Nasolabial folds with and without anesthetics.  It is more comfortable with an infraorbital nerve block and you don't specify what problem you had.  However, without a block or with topical BLT it has been well tolerated since the injections are fairly quick.  I... more

A: Many options for anesthesia

Julia Carroll, MD

Pain tolerance is a very individual thing. I see a wide range in my patients. Some patients can get fillers without any anesthesia. Some find simply holding an icepack to the area before injection takes the edge off. Topical anesthetics can also help.  Recently I have had great success with Juvederm... more

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Philadelphia - Most patients do not need a dental block for Nasolabial...
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