The new Juvederm XC, a formula that contains anesthetic, has received FDA 
approval. According to the company press release, more than 90 percent of the 72 patients in clinical trials said the new version caused less procedural discomfort.
The addition of 0.3% lidocaine is said to numb the treatment area within seconds, decreasing the need for topical anesthetic.
Fillers like Prevelle Silk and the new Juvederm XC have actually been used for years, but physicians have not always been convinced of their value. When Prevelle Silk first received FDA approval in 2008, the response was lukewarm. “The issue with a hyaluronic acid filler with lidocaine is that it doesn’t work until you actually start injecting patients, and these injections are so quick, by the time the lidocaine takes effect, you’re almost finished” said Dr. Joe Niamtu to Cosmetic Surgery Times.
Effective methods of pain control are already in use. During injection, plastic surgeons routinely use numbing cream or dental blocks to control pain, so you might say the new addition of lidocaine is all about marketing the filler to people who are afraid of potential discomfort. We’ll know more once Juvederm XC has been widely used in the United States.
