title: Increasing topical anesthetic efficacy with microneedle application.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since topical anesthetics alone seldom provide adequate analgesia for laser resurfacing procedures, injectable forms of anesthesia are often required. However, their application is uncomfortable for the patient. In this study, it is investigated whether microneedle application would enhance the efficacy of topical anesthetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients participated in the study. Topical anesthetic agent EMLA was applied to the whole face of the patients. Microneedle treatment was applied to one side of the face with a roller-type device. Whole-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing therapy was carried out then. The pain that patients experienced was assessed by using visual analog scale (VAS) method. VAS scores of two sides of the face were compared by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of VAS score of the microneedle treated side was 2.1 ± 1.1 while that of the untreated side was 5.9 ± 0.9 and this difference was statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the Z-value is - 5.9683 and the p-value is < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that microneedle application, with a roller-type device, is a safe and easy procedure in providing sufficient anesthesia for facial laser resurfacing without the need for supplementary nerve blocks or injections.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Bursa Konur Medical Center , Bursa , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Buhsem
authors.affiliation: a Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Bursa Konur Medical Center , Bursa , Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: b Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Izmir Education and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kececi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Izmir Education and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sir
authors.affiliation: b Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , Izmir Education and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Melike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güngör
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011318:Prilocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012060:Rejuvenation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077442:Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination; D011318:Prilocaine; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: Laser resurfacing; microneedle application; topical anesthetic