Ultherapy Side Effects. The lower part of my face is still numb. Is this normal?

Question

I've had an Ultherapy procedure done a week ago.licodin injected was to my lower part of face/chin/neck to make it numb in order to preform the procedure. It is now a week since it was done and I feel my lower part of the face is still numb. A.Is this normal? B. Can it be the Licodin, or is it the Ultrasound? C. how long should it last for? D. Is it causing any other damage to my skin? does the fact the the skin feels numb, reduce amount of blood to the place of make any other damage to it?

Edward J. Gross, MD · Answer

Lidocaine wears off in 6-10 hours, so it is not from the anesthetic The ultrasound energy causes inflammation around the sensory (and sometimes motor ) nerves, but it is temporary. Our practice sees more than half of treated patients with numbness and tingling under the chin and around jawline which resolves at 4-5 weeks. It is not a complication.

John J. O'Brien, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for this question. It is not uncommon initially after this procedure to have numbness in the facial areas. I would recommend follow up with your treating physician to go over all of this in detail. Many times this numbness may last as long as 1-2 months.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.I have done hundreds of Ultherapy procedures and have never used lidocaine.Lidocaine is absorbed within 12 hours and therefore there SHOULD NOT be residual numbness.Contact your provider. He/she may consider treating you with steroids to help reverse any potential nerve injury.The literature supports that residual numbness will resolve within 6 weeks following such treatments.Read the Ultherapy book.Best,Dr. Karamanoukian

Ultherapy Side Effects. The lower part of my face is still numb. Is this normal?

Answers (3)