Knowledge What is the clinical objective of lidocaine and prilocaine cream? Ensure Painless & Deep Ablative Laser Success
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Tech Team · Belislaser

Updated 2 days ago

What is the clinical objective of lidocaine and prilocaine cream? Ensure Painless & Deep Ablative Laser Success


The primary clinical objective is to induce deep dermal analgesia. By applying a composite cream of lidocaine and prilocaine—typically under occlusion for one hour—clinicians ensure the anesthetic agents effectively penetrate the skin barrier. This pre-treatment is essential for enabling patients to tolerate the intense thermal ablation associated with high-energy procedures, such as Fractional CO2 Laser therapy.

While the immediate goal is maximizing patient comfort, the strategic objective is ensuring procedural feasibility. Effective anesthesia removes pain as a limiting factor, allowing the clinician to utilize the specific high-energy settings required for optimal therapeutic results.

The Mechanism of Deep Analgesia

Penetrating the Skin Barrier

The combination of lidocaine and prilocaine is designed to breach the skin's natural defenses.

To achieve the necessary depth of anesthesia, the cream is typically applied under occlusion (covered with a dressing or wrap). This step drives the agents through the stratum corneum and into the dermis.

Blocking Pain Transmission

Once the agents penetrate the superficial and papillary dermis, they act on the nerve endings.

The compounds work by temporarily blocking sodium channels. This inhibits the transmission of pain signals caused by thermal damage, vaporization, or microchannel formation during the procedure.

Ensuring Clinical Efficacy

Preserving Optimal Energy Settings

The most critical link between anesthesia and clinical outcome is the ability to maintain high-energy parameters.

Without sufficient deep analgesia, patient pain often forces clinicians to reduce energy density or penetration depth. This compromise can render the treatment less effective, failing to reach the target depths (e.g., 1100 to 1400 micrometers) required for significant remodeling.

Facilitating Large-Area Treatments

Comprehensive anesthesia is vital for the smooth operation of large-area procedures, such as keloid treatments or full-face resurfacing.

A patient who is comfortable allows the operator to work efficiently and continuously. This reduces procedure time and ensures consistent energy application across the entire treatment area, which is difficult to achieve if the patient is flinching or requiring frequent pauses.

Understanding the Trade-offs

The Necessity of Time

Effective analgesia is not instantaneous; it requires strict adherence to preparation protocols.

Practitioners must account for a 60-minute application window prior to the procedure. Rushing this step often results in insufficient anesthetic depth, leading to patient discomfort and potential procedural interruptions.

The Requirement of Occlusion

Simply applying the cream is often insufficient for ablative procedures.

References indicate that occlusion is critical to increase penetration efficiency. Skipping the occlusive dressing may result in only superficial numbing, which is inadequate for deep-penetrating lasers like the Nd:YAG or Fractional CO2.

Making the Right Choice for Your Goal

To maximize the success of ablative laser procedures, consider the following regarding anesthetic application:

  • If your primary focus is Patient Tolerance: Ensure the cream is applied under occlusion for the full 60 minutes to guarantee the agents penetrate the deep dermal layers where nerve endings reside.
  • If your primary focus is Clinical Efficacy: Recognize that thorough anesthesia allows you to adhere to aggressive preset energy and depth parameters without being restricted by the patient's pain threshold.

Effective pain management is not just a courtesy; it is a prerequisite for high-performance laser medicine.

Summary Table:

Factor Protocol Requirement Clinical Objective
Application Method Under Occlusion (Dressing) Enhance penetration through the stratum corneum
Time Duration 60-Minute Pre-treatment Achieve deep dermal analgesia in nerve endings
Mechanism Sodium Channel Blockage Inhibit pain signals from thermal ablation
Resulting Benefit High-Energy Tolerance Optimal remodeling without reducing parameters

Elevate Your Clinic’s Standards with BELIS Technology

To achieve the best results in ablative skin resurfacing, professional-grade equipment must be paired with precise clinical protocols. At BELIS, we specialize in providing high-performance medical aesthetic systems designed exclusively for clinics and premium salons.

Our advanced portfolio includes CO2 Fractional Lasers, Nd:YAG, Pico Lasers, and Microneedle RF—all of which deliver superior outcomes when patient comfort is prioritized through deep analgesia. Whether you are expanding your services to include body sculpting (EMSlim, Cryolipolysis) or advanced skin care (Hydrafacial, Skin Testers), BELIS provides the reliability and training your practice needs.

Ready to upgrade your treatment precision? Contact us today to discover how BELIS equipment can enhance your clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction.

References

  1. M. Yulianto Listiawan, Putri Hendria Wardhani. Comparison between fractional Co2 laser-triamcinolone injection combination therapy and triamcinolone injection monotherapy for keloid. DOI: 10.4081/dr.2019.8032

This article is also based on technical information from Belislaser Knowledge Base .

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