Anesthesia for Cosmetic Procedures

Published on 26/02/2015 by admin

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Last modified 26/02/2015

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20 Anesthesia for Cosmetic Procedures

Providing adequate anesthesia is an essential part of performing cosmetic procedures and successfully incorporating them into practice. In addition to offering the patient a better procedural experience, minimizing discomfort ensures greater treatment precision and may improve outcomes.1 Cosmetic treatments that commonly require anesthesia include laser treatments, such as ablative skin resurfacing, tattoo removal and hair reduction, dermal filler injections, and occasionally botulinum toxin injections.2

Four anesthesia modalities are commonly used with cosmetic procedures:

 

The anesthetic modality chosen is dependent on the discomfort level associated with the procedure, procedure duration, and patient tolerance for pain. Anesthesia for less painful procedures, such as botulinum toxin and laser hair reduction, can be accomplished with contact cooling using ice or a contact cooling device and topical anesthetics. More painful procedures such as dermal fillers typically require injectable anesthetics, and prolonged procedures, such as ablative laser resurfacing, often require a combination of methods such as topical anesthetic, oral analgesic, and cool air blower (see Table 20-1).

TABLE 20-1 Anesthetic Modalities Used for Cosmetic Procedures

Anesthetic Modalities

Cosmetic Procedures

Injectable anesthetics  
Local infiltration Dermal fillers
Laser tattoo removal
Regional block Dermal fillers
Ablative lasers
Topical anesthetics Botulinum toxin
Dermal fillers
Laser hair reduction
Laser tattoo removal
Laser photorejuvenation for pigmented lesions
Ablative lasers
Contact cooling Botulinum toxin
Dermal fillers
Laser hair reduction
Analgesic devices Laser hair reduction
Ablative lasers

Injectable Anesthetics

Injectable lidocaine (1% to 2%) reduces pain by blocking neural cell membrane sodium channels and inhibiting impulse propagation. Initially, small delta nerve fibers, which are responsible for pain and temperature sensations, are blocked. Larger beta nerve fibers, which are responsible for pressure and vibration, take longer to anesthetize. For this reason, injectable anesthetics have a rapid reduction of pain but a slower reduction in sensations of pressure and pulling.3

Lidocaine may be buffered with sodium bicarbonate in a 1 : 8 or 1 : 10 ratio to reduce the burning sensation upon injection of anesthetic. See Chapter 3, Anesthesia, for information on side effects and toxicity with lidocaine and alternative options for lidocaine allergic patients.

Regional Nerve Blocks

Lidocaine without epinephrine is used for nerve blocks. Facial nerve blocks are beneficial for cosmetic procedures because anesthetic is placed outside of the treatment area. Profound anesthesia can be achieved with minimal distortion of the treatment area, which is particularly useful with dermal filler treatments.2,4 Nerve blocks are also useful for painful procedures such as ablative laser resurfacing, particularly in the sensitive perioral area.

Infraorbital and mental nerve blocks are most commonly used with facial cosmetic procedures. The locations of the infraorbital and mental nerves are shown in Figure 20-1 and can be identified by palpating the nerve foramina. The infraorbital and mental nerves lie along a vertical line extending from the supraorbital notch to the mandible. The supraorbital notch lies along the upper border of the orbit and is palpable approximately 2.5 cm lateral to the midline of the face. The infraorbital foramen is palpable approximately 1 cm inferior to the infraorbital bony margin, and the mental nerve is palpable just above the margin of the mandible.

Infraorbital Nerve Block

The infraorbital nerve innervates most of the upper lip, lower eyelid, lateral portion of the nose, and medial cheek. An infraorbital nerve block can anesthetize all of these regions (Figure 20-2).3 The intent of the infraorbital nerve block technique described here, utilizing a short 0.5-inch needle, is to reach the distal portions of the infraorbital nerve, not the nerve foramen, which would require a longer needle (approximately image inches long). The philtrum and the corners of the mouth are typically poorly anesthetized with infraorbital blocks, and additional local infiltration is also required when treating these areas.