Hello, this is Medi-Fella!
When receiving aesthetic treatments like salmon injections or Botox, the level of pain can vary greatly from person to person.
Today, let’s talk about Lidocaine, a local anesthetic commonly used to relieve pain before cosmetic procedures or even tattoo sessions!
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works by blocking nerve signals to help reduce pain.
It’s widely used in not only dermatology but also in dental treatments, wound suturing, endoscopy, and many other medical fields.
Ion Channels — How It Works
Lidocaine numbs the skin by blocking sodium ion channels in nerve cells.
In simpler terms, it shuts down the “pathway” that allows pain signals to travel through your nerves!
To work properly, our nerves need electric signals — and these are generated by sodium ions (Naโบ) moving in and out of nerve cells.
Lidocaine blocks the “doorway” (a.k.a sodium ion channels) that these ions pass through.
Still sounds tricky? Let’s use an analogy. Think of sodium ions as trains๐.
These trains need to travel along the neural railway in order for your brain to feel pain.
When Lidocaine closes the station (the ion channel), the train can’t run — and your brain never gets the message that says “Ouch!”
How It’s Used in Dermatology
In cosmetic procedures, Lidocaine is often applied to the skin in cream form.
After applying it, the area is covered with a plastic wrap and left on for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps reduce injection pain significantly.
For stronger pain relief, a higher-concentration cream or even an injectable form may be used.
There are also Lidocaine patches and sprays available for different needs.
Lidocaine in Botox Procedures
Botox is injected directly into the muscle using a very fine needle.
Compared to other treatments, Botox sessions are short and generally less painful — so local anesthesia is usually not necessary.
However, depending on the patient's sensitivity or at the doctor’s discretion, a Lidocaine cream may be applied beforehand.
Note: Lidocaine is not typically mixed directly with the Botox solution.
Lidocaine in Filler Treatments
Filler treatments take longer than many other aesthetic injections, as they involve careful shaping and multiple needle or cannula insertions.
That’s why they can be more painful.
Luckily, many modern fillers already contain about 2% Lidocaine, which helps minimize discomfort during the procedure.
However, fillers that are CE-certified (for sale in the EU) cannot contain Lidocaine, so applying a Lidocaine cream beforehand becomes essential.
Lidocaine in Skin Booster Treatments
For lightweight boosters or those applied via MTS (Microneedle Therapy System), Lidocaine isn’t always needed.
But some skin boosters, especially salmon-based ones like Rejuran, are known for being quite painful.
These formulas have larger molecules, which can cause significant discomfort when injected.
That’s why a 30-minute to 1-hour application of Lidocaine cream is typically recommended beforehand.
In some cases, the booster is mixed with Lidocaine and saline to make the injection more tolerable.
Things to Know Before Using Lidocaine
In Korea, medications are categorized as either over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription-only.
Lidocaine creams can fall into either category depending on their concentration.
If the Lidocaine concentration is under 10%, it’s considered an OTC product.
If it’s 10% or more, it becomes a prescription-only medication.
But remember — a higher percentage doesn’t always mean it’s better.
High-concentration Lidocaine can increase the risk of side effects, such as temporary pore closure that makes the skin puffy and more prone to bruising.
Also, allergic reactions can happen in rare cases, so it’s a good idea to do a patch test on a small area of skin before full application.
That’s all for today’s look into Lidocaine — the go-to anesthetic before many skin procedures.
You can also look around numbing creams at our Medi-Fella Shop!
Click the image below to explore numbing creams at our Medi-Fella Shop
We’ll be back with more helpful tips and insights next time. See you soon!
Customer Service
Hello, this is Medi-Fella!
When receiving aesthetic treatments like salmon injections or Botox, the level of pain can vary greatly from person to person.
Today, let’s talk about Lidocaine, a local anesthetic commonly used to relieve pain before cosmetic procedures or even tattoo sessions!
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that works by blocking nerve signals to help reduce pain.
It’s widely used in not only dermatology but also in dental treatments, wound suturing, endoscopy, and many other medical fields.
Ion Channels — How It Works
Lidocaine numbs the skin by blocking sodium ion channels in nerve cells.
In simpler terms, it shuts down the “pathway” that allows pain signals to travel through your nerves!
To work properly, our nerves need electric signals — and these are generated by sodium ions (Naโบ) moving in and out of nerve cells.
Lidocaine blocks the “doorway” (a.k.a sodium ion channels) that these ions pass through.
Still sounds tricky? Let’s use an analogy. Think of sodium ions as trains๐.
These trains need to travel along the neural railway in order for your brain to feel pain.
When Lidocaine closes the station (the ion channel), the train can’t run — and your brain never gets the message that says “Ouch!”
How It’s Used in Dermatology
In cosmetic procedures, Lidocaine is often applied to the skin in cream form.
After applying it, the area is covered with a plastic wrap and left on for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps reduce injection pain significantly.
For stronger pain relief, a higher-concentration cream or even an injectable form may be used.
There are also Lidocaine patches and sprays available for different needs.
Lidocaine in Botox Procedures
Botox is injected directly into the muscle using a very fine needle.
Compared to other treatments, Botox sessions are short and generally less painful — so local anesthesia is usually not necessary.
However, depending on the patient's sensitivity or at the doctor’s discretion, a Lidocaine cream may be applied beforehand.
Note: Lidocaine is not typically mixed directly with the Botox solution.
Lidocaine in Filler Treatments
Filler treatments take longer than many other aesthetic injections, as they involve careful shaping and multiple needle or cannula insertions.
That’s why they can be more painful.
Luckily, many modern fillers already contain about 2% Lidocaine, which helps minimize discomfort during the procedure.
However, fillers that are CE-certified (for sale in the EU) cannot contain Lidocaine, so applying a Lidocaine cream beforehand becomes essential.
Lidocaine in Skin Booster Treatments
For lightweight boosters or those applied via MTS (Microneedle Therapy System), Lidocaine isn’t always needed.
But some skin boosters, especially salmon-based ones like Rejuran, are known for being quite painful.
These formulas have larger molecules, which can cause significant discomfort when injected.
That’s why a 30-minute to 1-hour application of Lidocaine cream is typically recommended beforehand.
In some cases, the booster is mixed with Lidocaine and saline to make the injection more tolerable.
Things to Know Before Using Lidocaine
In Korea, medications are categorized as either over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription-only.
Lidocaine creams can fall into either category depending on their concentration.
If the Lidocaine concentration is under 10%, it’s considered an OTC product.
If it’s 10% or more, it becomes a prescription-only medication.
But remember — a higher percentage doesn’t always mean it’s better.
High-concentration Lidocaine can increase the risk of side effects, such as temporary pore closure that makes the skin puffy and more prone to bruising.
Also, allergic reactions can happen in rare cases, so it’s a good idea to do a patch test on a small area of skin before full application.
That’s all for today’s look into Lidocaine — the go-to anesthetic before many skin procedures.
You can also look around numbing creams at our Medi-Fella Shop!
Click the image below to explore numbing creams at our Medi-Fella Shop
We’ll be back with more helpful tips and insights next time. See you soon!