title: Using a Vibration Device to Ease Pain During Facial Needling and Injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In general, needling and injection are painful procedures, especially when the face is the target. Although local anesthetics (cream or tape) can be used to reduce the pain, they are not sufficiently effective. It has been suggested that vibration can reduce pain. The aim of this case study was to determine whether application of a vibration device to an area adjacent to the facial target area to be injected/needled would relieve pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive women scheduled to undergo facial injection with hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin were recruited. Half of the face was injected with concomitant vibration, whereas the other half was injected without vibration. The pain experienced by the women during both procedures was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale. The safety of injection with vibration was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 32 patients, 28 indicated that vibration relieved the pain, 3 stated that it had no effect, and 1 (who received deep botulinum toxin injections to the masseter muscle) complained that it made the pain worse. Vibration did not affect the safety of the injections. The average Numeric Rating Scale scores for the no-vibration and vibration injections were 4.5 ± 1.5 and 2.3 ± 0.9, respectively (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Gate Control Theory of Pain explains why vibration reduces pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Aidu-Chuo Hospital, Fukushima, Japan; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Nippon Medical School Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ogawa
keywords: face; gate control theory; pain; the trigeminal nerve; vibration