What caused this reaction after lidocaine injections? I want to avoid this in the future. (Photo)

Question

In the process of having a face and neck lift in a surgery center I was injected with lidocaine to numb the area. I had chest pain and this swelling. I was also given Vicodin and Valium. After arrival at the emergency room, I recovered quickly, less than an hour. I have more than one surgery with lidocaine and this didn't happen before.

Daniel Thomas, MD · Answer

Your question and photo offer several clues as to the cause of your facial swelling and chest pain. While allergic reactions to lidocaine are possible, your history of uncomplicated lidocaine exposure and the rarity of lidocaine allergies makes this an unlikely cause of your reaction. The amount and location of the swelling visible in the photo, and how quickly it went away, indicate the volume of the fluid injected was the most likely the underlying cause. The chest pain would support this hypothesis because epinephrine is usually part of a lidocaine injections, and it can cause a rapid heart rate and chest pain in some patients (especially when higher doses are used). There are alternative ways of achieving your desired goals and your unexpected reaction to the procedure shouldn't deter you from talking to your surgeon about options that better conform with your physiology.

J. Marshall Green, III, DDS · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for your question. I am so sorry you had such a rough experience. This does not appear to be anaphylactic in nature and the chest pain likely is due to the epinephrine. All of that being said just saying try it again is not wise. I would recommend a cardiologist consult and allergy testing before trying this again. It sounds like this was being done under local with some oral sedation. I would recommend when you do proceed with another lift general Anesthesia by an anesthesiologist in an accredited OR facility would be recommended. To protect yourself ensure your surgeon performs facelift frequently and even ask to speak with their prior patients. 
Sincerely 
Dr G

Val Lambros, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Hard to say, I think that this may just be your local anesthetic sitting up instead of lying down......... many people inject large amounts of local in the face these days. If you think that there is an allergic component I would get a skin test and see if it really is from the anesthetic or not. I suspect not.

What caused this reaction after lidocaine injections? I want to avoid this in the future. (Photo)

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What caused this reaction after lidocaine injections? I want to avoid this in the future. (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Facelift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.