Juvederm with a Dental Block Cause More Swelling?

Dental blocks do not cause significant swelling in the locations they are injected. They can make the procedure of filling the smile folds and marionette lines painless.  If the lips are to be injected, then a local block can be done in the lips under the mucosal lining which blocks the middle of the lip which sometimes is not numbed by the dental blocks.

There are many patients though, that do not want dental blocks because they don't like the feeling of the droopy lips as if they were just at the dentist. Without these blocks, the following can be used: Ice before hand, a good numbing cream, mixing the filler with an anesthetic (which is becoming very common) and a slow delivery of the injeciton all make the procedure very tolerable.

Injection of fillers like Juvederm can be done in the office under local anesthesia such as topical, direct injections and/or blocks. These all are combined with ice to limit swelling and bruising. Juvederm does have a new filler called Juvederm XC with powdered lidocaine in it and in both forms: Juvederm XC Ultra and Ultra plus. Dental blocks are great for injection in and around the lips and will make things very comfortable. They should limit the swelling and bruising in the area secondary to the lack of pre-injection trauma and the increased comfort level. Since you had such a bad experience last time I would try the injections with a block and then graduate to the XC for the nasolabial folds. Still use ice, but this will be a better and more accurate placement of the filler.

Nerve blocks should not increase your swelling.  They might increase the risk of bruising however, as each nerve block injection has the potential for causing a bruise.  Your physician will advise you on how long he/she would like you to apply ice after your treatment, but usually intermittently for several hours or throughout that first day is sufficient.

I am not a big fan of the dental blocks it can distort treatment areas.  Usually topicals do the trick and I use lidocaine in the products.

Having facial fillers (Juvederm,Restylane,Perlane etc) SHOULD be PAINLESS. No one, except the hopelessly uneducated and masochistic among us, should subject themselves to doctors or injectors who still subscribe to the totally unnecessary, outdated and foolish boot camp notion of "no pain - no gain" or "grin and bear it".

There are several reasons why injectors do NOT use nerve blocks. None of them take the patients' interests into account. The Doctors / injectors
-  do not know facial anatomy to do so - Not a good thing
- do not want to take the time to do so. The practice revolves around a conveyor belt model and slowing the process to increase patient comfort is just not a priority - Not a good thing
- Administering an (infraorbital) nerve blocks costs a few cents more. The time and money are just not worth it - Not a good thing.
- Patients are willing to put up with the pain and return for more.

Giving a patient a dental block (blocking the infraorbital and mental nerves) is painless. It makes the subsequent filler procedures painless and shorter and allows the patient with a hand-held mirror to supervise and participate in the treatment.

Save the ice for an adult beverage. There is NO REASON why anyone should subject themselves to ANY painful filler injections these days.

Fillers can be injected with dental blocks. however every time you insert a needle whether for block or filler you run the risk for a bruise.

At the very end you need to be comfortable and accept the potential for risks and complications for any invasive procedure. You are changing your physician because of bruising, is the new Dr. quaranteeing no bruise/ no swelling?

There are many unqualified physicians doing injections of Botox and fillers including primary care, gynecologists, emergency room physicians, family physicians, ophthalmologists all with very little knowledge of the anatomy of the face.

Juvederm, particulary the new XC version which contains factory added lidocaine can be injected rather painlessly with just topical and no dental block.  I feel the dental block adds more pain and can lead to swelling which makes the correction harder to do (don't know what is caused by the block and what was there before).  I ask my patients to apply ice for about 1-2 hours, but to be careful because you will be numb and don't want to create a problem by freezing the skin.

We find a block makes filler injections  - juvederm, radiesse, or natural fat transfers very easy around the lips and nose.  It should not cause any extra swelling: but just like going to the dentist, you may have the sensation your face is swollen for a couple of hours. That would be more of a personal feeling than an outward appearance though. Application of ice will depend on several factors and would best be asked of your own doctor. 

Best wishes for a great result.

The dental block allows better anesthesia with slightly less swelling. But you still can get swelling it depends more upon the areas injectecd, the injector, your bleeding history.

Best of Luck From MIAMI Dr. B

The art and skill of injecting facial injectables, such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane, Sculptra and Radiesse require the physician to be adept at the art of minimizing pain and discomfort. It is realistic as a patient to expect some degree of pain and discomfort, but the use of local anesthesia to "block" the areas to be injected can minimize the discomfort. Other strategies deployed by doctors to reduce pain include topical anesthetic gels, and forced cooling air systems.

Fortunately, all the commonly used injectables, Juvederm and Restylane will soon come with local freezing already mixed in with the Gel and these products "numb and freeze' the area as they injection occurs.

Using any type of local anesthetic to "freeze" an area does not in general increase post injection swelling and bruising.

Of course, you should always consult a skilled, experienced and certified physician specialist in aesthetic medicine before embarking upon any treatment advice or program.