Botox made its mark on the market in 1989, although it was approved to treat people with a disorder of the eye muscles. It was quickly found, however, that it also helped to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and most people looking for Orange County Botox injections today, do so because of the anti-aging properties. Either way, Botox is administered through injections, and this has given rise to the debate of whether or not people should have the injection area sedated before the procedure. This can be achieved through ice emerges, or topical anesthetic. But is that needed, or not?
The Argument for Sedation
- It minimizes levels of discomfort.
- If properly cooled, it is more difficult to damage the glabellar vessels.
- It has been found to reduce bruising in some patients, particularly those who are otherwise tense.
The Argument Against Sedation
- Botox injections are not painful, so long as they are administered properly.
- Ice packs can be as uncomfortable as the injections.
- Gentle techniques are as effective as ice packs or topical analgesics.
- Patients can be completely relaxed if they are treated with compassion and empathy, meaning there is no need for sedation.
- Using a topical anesthetic makes the procedure more expensive.
Who Is Right?
So who is right, those who feel an ice pack or topical anesthetic should be used, or those who think it is superfluous? As with everything in life, the answer is that it depends. Professional dermatologists should look at what the potential pros and cons are for each individual patient. It is certainly true that, if a patient is nervous, or flinches every time the needle approaches the skin, they are more likely to experience bruising and other forms of discomfort. In that case, some form of sedation may be required. In most cases, however, a good physician should be able to put their patients at ease about what they are likely to experience.
Patients also prefer to be given a choice. They should be informed about what they can expect, and about the possibility of using some form of sedation. Giving them the choice to decide whether they are happy to have an ice pack, which is very uncomfortable, a local anesthetic, which makes the procedure more expensive, or neither, is often all that is needed to make sure they feel they are making the right choice.
Very simply put is that patients need to understand the pros and cons of every option. Many people, for instance, have found that a topical anesthetic doesn’t work, because the needle has to pierce the skin. Similarly, many have found an ice pack to be so uncomfortable, that they actually end up in pain. At the same time, if someone is so nervous that they are completely tense, then the promise of an anesthetic may be sufficient to put them at ease, even if it offers nothing more than a placebo effect. It is all about assessing the situation from every angle.