The FDA has approved a new dermal filler that contains enough lidocaine to provide nearly instantaneous numbing for patients getting facial wrinkles and folds filled.

“Before the introduction of Juvederm XC, it often took up to 30 minutes for an anesthetic block to take effect,” clinical investigator Dr. Charles Boyd said in a press statement. The product has a similar safety profile as its predecessor, Juvederm, a gel hyaluronic acid dermal filler manufactured by Allergan.

The smooth consistency of the Juvederm gel makes it easier to inject and reportedly provides more natural looking results that last for up to a year. Injectable fillers provide a safe, non-surgical option for women and men who want to smooth facial wrinkles and folds without surgery, such as a brow lift or lower face lift.

The new formulation, Juvederm XC, maintains the same results as its predecessor and also contains a small amount of lidocaine, which numbs the treatment area within seconds, making the cosmetic treatment a more comfortable experience for the patient. The lidocaine is also intended to reduce or eliminate the need for any additional anesthetic.

The results during a double blind test were promising: 93 percent of patients reported less pain when treated with the new formulation of Juvederm compared to those treated with the non-lidocaine formulation.

Juvederm XC is now available nationwide; however, just like other dermal fillers, it should be administered by a trained medical professional.

Macrolane isn’t available in the U.S. just yet. But, while it waits for FDA approval, thousands of British women – about 3,000 since the filler was approved 18 months ago – have taken advantage of this new, non-surgical way to enhance the body.

“Macrolane is a new, injectable product that’s specifically been developed for body contouring,” says Dr. Christopher Inglefield.

Instead of getting breast or butt implants to correct unevenness, doctors can simply inject the large-scale filler into the area that needs enhancement.

It can also help with issues such as restoring breast volume after childbirth and breastfeeding. It’s also injected under local anesthetic, which means less downtime and quicker recovery than surgical enhancements.

Since the filler will degrade over time, it’s necessary to have a maintenance treatment about every 12 months. “The results of the treatment last about 12 months, so most women will need a top-off treatment around that time,” says Dr. Inglefield. 

If you’re at that age where you’re starting to notice a few wrinkles and thinking it may be time to consider injectable fillers, you may soon have a new option.

A new study demonstrates that a combination of adipose stem cells combined with micronized acellular dermal matrix (also known as Alloderm), may be a better solution than collagen or fat transfer.

Dr. Jin Soo Lim of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Catholic University of Korea, who is leading the team that is developing the new filler technology, claims this new mix offers a softer, more natural appearance and may raise the bar in terms of aesthetic outcomes in dermal filler procedures.

Dr. Lim recently told Cosmetic Surgery Times that micronized Alloderm may be useful for the growth and differentiation of human adipose stem cells and provide a good scaffold for the stem cells when constructing fat tissue for fillers.

This concept is still early in development, and more studies to evaluate its safety and efficacy are needed before doctors can determine whether it is a viable treatment option for patients.

We’ll keep you posted on future developments.