The U.S. injectables market now offers lidocaine-containing versions of popular hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, reports Cosmetic Surgery Times in its July 2010 issue. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic that is injected directly into the body, decreases pain by temporarily numbing the injection area, according to WebMD.

Three injectables received FDA approval in February 2010 for lidocaine versions in the U.S.:

• Juvederm XC
• Restylane-L
• Perlane-L

The products performed similarly to their lidocaine-free predecessors in terms of efficacy and safety, according to Dr. Michael H. Gold, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing.

In the clinical trials, he says, “the incorporation of lidocaine has surely provided a higher comfort level for patients.”

Dr. Gold says that, based on his clinical experience, when a patient undergoes an injection that includes even a small percentage of lidocaine, “Most patients say they barely feel the second stick. To me that is the home run of lidocaine in these fillers.”

Patients were blindfolded in the 72-patient trial of Juvederm XC, and their nasolabial folds were treated with either Juvéderm or Juvederm XC. Patients assessed pain levels during treatment and then 30 minutes and 24 hours post-treatment. Ninety-three percent reported less pain when treated with the lidocaine version versus the non-lidocaine version of Juvéderm.

A method for doctors mixing lidocaine with Radiesse was also cleared by the FDA in July 2009. “Originally, I was against doctors mixing a lot of fillers because I was afraid of potential changes in the products themselves,” says Dr. Gold. But once the FDA clears these products, especially those premixed by manufacturers, “I’m pretty comfortable with it.”

Dr. Leff offers Juvederm XC, Restylane-L, and Perlane-L procedures, as well as the non-lidocaine versions of the fillers, at his Bellevue office.

The full article, “Fillers with lidocaine among latest injectable advancements,” is available at Cosmetic Surgery Times.