Restylane on Nasolabial Folds Without Dental Block?

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 Restylane is very painful and a dental block is extremely helpful. Regardless, I have had some patients that do not want a dental block for this area either.

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 this, which is a shame!

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.

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 at a surgery center. This is the ultra extreme not the routine. For the vast majority, occluded topical anesthetic makes nasolabial treatment very comfortable. Some are more uncomfortable... more

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 the solution helps to prevent bleeding from the injections. Only a very few brave individuals can tolerate multiple injections without any anesthetic.

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 should be minimal. Regards

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 injections intolerable, go for the nerve block. Good luck.

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 with Lidocaine. This product has the lidocaine anaesthetic built in. You feel the first needle prick and injection, but after that, with a patient injector, the anaesthetic kicks in and you... more

Most patients can be comfortably treated with Restylane or Juvederm injections in the Nasolabial Folds (parenthasies area) without an injection of anesthetic. I would suggest that you place anesthetic cream (BLT-Benzocaine, Lidocaine, and Tetracaine) on the area to be treated one our prior to your treatment. You can ask your doctor to give you a small amount of the cream so that you can apply it prior to the visit. It is fine for you to apply the cream to the nasolabial fold area or... more

Restylane in the N-L folds is definitely doable without a block. consider ice, topical and make sure they use Restylane -L with lidocaine, anesthetic in the syringe. should be no prob.

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. Otherwise it can be quite painful, and the injections cannot be rushed because it is a kind of sculpture.