Ask a doctor

Can numbing cream impact the effectiveness of EMATRIX?

I had my 2nd session today. Numbing cream (lido + tetra?something) was applied for 45 minutes and I was asked to wash it off in the restroom. There was no hot/warm water so the ice cold water made it really hard to take off the numbing cream but I did the best I could. It's now 4 hrs post treatment and I have very defined areas on cheeks that look as though I was never treated w/ ematrix. My cheeks have the grid marks but only in certain spots so I'm worried the laser/RF didn't penetrate appropriately.

Doctor Answers 4

Skin prep before eMatrix

April 14th, 2015
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
We use a lidocaine tetracaine topical cream and use an alcohol based wipe to cleanse the skin of all oil based products before the eMatrix procedure is done for best effectiveness.

Web reference: http://www.AdvanceYourBeauty.com

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS
April 14th, 2015

Skin prep before eMatrix

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
We use a lidocaine tetracaine topical cream and use an alcohol based wipe to cleanse the skin of all oil based products before the eMatrix procedure is done for best effectiveness.

Learn more: http://www.AdvanceYourBeauty.com

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS

NO. In fact it can help.... just as long as it is removed prior to treatment.

December 21st, 2014
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
If we are using very high treatment settings, say over 80 mj per pin, we use the standard 23/7 Lido -Tetracaine cream. This makes the treatment comfortable for patients, especially if treatment is around the eyes. We make sure that this is completely removed prior to treatment, so the pin can have good contact with a nice 'clean click'  when energy is delivered. Acetone or alcohol wipes post numbing cream is standard protocol. 

Regards

Dr Davin S. Lim
Laser Dermatologist
Brisbane, Australia. 
Davin Lim, MBBS, FACD
December 21st, 2014

NO. In fact it can help.... just as long as it is removed prior to treatment.

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
If we are using very high treatment settings, say over 80 mj per pin, we use the standard 23/7 Lido -Tetracaine cream. This makes the treatment comfortable for patients, especially if treatment is around the eyes. We make sure that this is completely removed prior to treatment, so the pin can have good contact with a nice 'clean click'  when energy is delivered. Acetone or alcohol wipes post numbing cream is standard protocol. 

Regards

Dr Davin S. Lim
Laser Dermatologist
Brisbane, Australia. 
Davin Lim, MBBS, FACD

EMatrix and Numbing Cream

May 14th, 2014
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Topical numbing cream is typically applied prior to EMatrix to make the treatment more comfortable.  The cream is washed off and the skin is cleansed with alcohol so that the oils are removed from the skin.  The EMatrix is very sophisticated in that it will notify the technician if a pulse is not delivered properly.
Craig Mezrow, MS, MD, FACS

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD, FACS
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 17 reviews

May 14th, 2014

EMatrix and Numbing Cream

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Topical numbing cream is typically applied prior to EMatrix to make the treatment more comfortable.  The cream is washed off and the skin is cleansed with alcohol so that the oils are removed from the skin.  The EMatrix is very sophisticated in that it will notify the technician if a pulse is not delivered properly.

Craig Mezrow, MS, MD, FACS
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Numbing cream before eMatrix

December 26th, 2013
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
The numbing cream will have no effect on the results. After you cleansed your face your technician should have cleaned your face again with a specific type of alcohol to "degrease" the face. If this step wasn't done, then yes, that could have serious impact on results as it's 100% necessary to remove the face of all oils, creams, soaps, etc. before the treatment is performed. The pattern will be more evident in some areas due to the fattiness of the skin and dependent upon which settings were used where.

"This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."
F. Victor Rueckl, MD
December 26th, 2013

Numbing cream before eMatrix

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
The numbing cream will have no effect on the results. After you cleansed your face your technician should have cleaned your face again with a specific type of alcohol to "degrease" the face. If this step wasn't done, then yes, that could have serious impact on results as it's 100% necessary to remove the face of all oils, creams, soaps, etc. before the treatment is performed. The pattern will be more evident in some areas due to the fattiness of the skin and dependent upon which settings were used where.

"This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."
F. Victor Rueckl, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.