Background: Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are the most commonly performed aesthetic techniques by
plastic surgeons. Patients are interested in a
pain-free experience. Surgeons desire patient satisfaction and time-efficient utilization of office staff and resources. Clinical evidence exists for use of vapocoolant technology to reduce
pain associated with intravenous cannulation in the pediatric population and in
hemodialysis patients. Applying vapocoolant technology to facial
rejuvenation is a novel approach to decrease
pain associated with
neurotoxin or filler injection. Methods: A randomized, prospective study was conducted, testing 15 subjects receiving filler
injections and another 15 patients receiving
neurotoxin injections using a split-face model. The vapocoolant spray used was composed of a 95:5 ratio of
1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane and
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. Within each group, individual patients randomly received injection (filler or
neurotoxin) alone versus injection (filler or
neurotoxin) plus vapocoolant on an equivalent half of his or her face. An independent examiner recorded from each patient on a scale of 1 to 10 perceived
pain for injection alone versus injection plus vapocoolant spray. Results were calculated as a percentage change of
pain scores experienced after injection for each person between the control (nonvapocoolant) and treatment (vapocoolant) sides of the face. Results: Vapocoolant spray at the time of cosmetic facial
injections leads to a 59% decrease in perceived
pain score with
neurotoxin injections (range, 0%-100% change) and 64% decrease in perceived
pain score with filler
injections (range, 0%-100% change). These results were statistically significant with P < .05. Conclusion: Vapocoolant spray reduces
pain associated with facial
rejuvenation procedures.