Investigation of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Vibration Anesthesia to Reduce Pain From Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin A Injections in Chinese Patients: A Multicenter, Randomized, Self-Controlled Study.

[BACKGROUND] Vibration has been proved to be effective to reduce pain during facial cosmetic injections, but it has not been studied in Chinese patients.

[OBJECTIVE] To investigate the efficacy and safety of vibration for pain reduction associated with cosmetic botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections in Chinese patients.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] In this prospective, randomized, split-face and right-left, self-controlled study, 53 patients received BTX-A injections for rhytid reduction, lower face, shoulder, and leg reshaping. Injections were given in a split-face and right-left design randomly assigned. A vibration stimulus was coadministered with BTX-A injections on one side, whereas the other side received BTX-A injections only. Patients completed a questionnaire immediately after treatment and were followed up 2 weeks later. A visual analog scale of pain sensation was statistically analyzed.

[RESULTS] The patients experienced both clinically and statistically significant pain reduction when a vibration was coadministered with injections. Patients reported less pain on the treated side compared with the control side. Overall, 75% of patients preferred to receive vibration with their next treatment. No adverse events were reported.

[CONCLUSION] Vibration is an effective and safe way to reduce pain during cosmetic BTX-A injections and may have applications in other cosmetic procedures.