Pain relief used during skin treatments

The majority of procedures at the Cosmetic & Laser Medical Centre cause minimal discomfort and do not require any pain relief (anaesthesia). However, for patients with very sensitive skin or for more uncomfortable procedures pain relief can be provided in a number of ways.

Surface Cooling

Cooling the skin before and during laser treatment can serve the dual purpose of providing an anaesthetic effect as well as reducing skin reaction.  There are several methods used at the Cosmetic and Laser Medical Centre for surface cooling including chilled air through a Zimmer cooler, contact cooling in the laser/IPL handpiece and cryogen cooling where a cooling spray is applied to the skin.  The cryogen cooling in particular is very effective and is routinely used with the Candela laser systems (Gentlelase and V Beam).

Topical Creams

Applying a cream to the skin can also reduce discomfort and the use of creams such as EMLA or compounded prescription creams such as BLT (Benzocaine, Lignocaine, Tetracaine) need to be applied to the treatment area approximately 60 minutes before treatment for best effect.

Local Anaesthetic

In certain circumstances local anaesthetic injections can be used to numb an area prior to treatment in a similar way to how a dentist numbs an area before dental work.  This is sometimes helpful for vascular laser work around very sensitive areas such as the nose.  It is also commonly used before dermal fillers especially around the lips.  In regards to dermal fillers there has recently been made available in Australia a new hyaluronic acid filler which includes the local anaesthetic lidocaine which makes for significantly less pain on injection. This filler can now avoid the need for local anaesthetic injections for the majority of patients when using dermal fillers.

For more information see Dermal Filler.

Inhalants

Another option occasionally used is pain relief via an inhaler, the inhalant we use is called PENTHROX.  Whilst effects are rapid in onset and usually brief in duration, occasionally some effect may persist and patients are not advised to drive for 4 hours after use of this product.