Nerve Blocks Prior to Microfocused Ultrasound Treatment are Safe and Reduce Patient Discomfort

Microfocused ultrasound with visualization has become one of the more popular nonsurgical facial rejuvenation therapies available. Although the treatment has gained wide acceptance, providing adequate pain relief during the procedure can be challenging.

The aim of this study was to test our hypothesis that nerve blocks prior to treatment would be well tolerated and significantly reduce patient discomfort.

Subjects undergoing microfocused ultrasound were offered the choice of participating in a split face nerve block, bilateral block, or a control group. Nerves targeted included infraorbital, supratrochlear, supraorbital, zygomaticofrontal, mental, great auricular, and cervical plexus. Pain assessment was based on a 10-point Wong-Backer FACES Pain score.

A total of 65 patients were included in the study: 28 in the split face group, 19 in the bilateral block group, and 18 without a block. The mean [standard deviation] pain score of the bilateral block cohort was 3.9 [1.2], and that of the control group was 5.1 [1.7] (P = 0.001). Patients in the split face cohort reported a higher pain score on the unblocked side of the face (7.5 [1.3]) than on the blocked side (2.9 [1.0]) (P < 0.001). The mean pain score for local anesthetic injection was 2.7 and 1.4 for the split face and the bilateral groups, respectively. There were no adverse events.

Nerve blocks are well tolerated and significantly improve patient comfort during microfocused ultrasound treatment without compromising outcomes or increasing adverse events.