Aesculapian Aesthetic Anti-Aging Institute

Recently, my staff and partner approached me with a specific request to discuss pain patterns and degree (or absence thereof) associated with our aesthetic procedures.

I suspected perhaps, that like many people, certain staff was considering receiving the beauty enhancement treatments and I welcomed the request.

First, I divide pain into three broad categories which consist of somatic pain, psychological pain, and neuropathic pain. As the last refers to nerve pain not associated with inflammation or direct nerve damage, and therefore, does not relate to the pain of aesthetic procedures, I will focus primarily on the first two types.

Somatic pain is associated with pain from body injury, such as direct trauma, surgery, or even a needle stick. We approach this type of pain with anesthetic management, using a variety of approaches to block the pain during a procedure. As a rule, I favor topical anesthesia with advanced mixtures and techniques to increase skin absorption of the anesthetic agents. This approach works very well with several isolated exceptions. The lips are extremely sensitive and frequently require dental blocks which are performed in the office immediately prior to the procedure. Laser hair removal can also be uncomfortable so the laser fields are limited to render the pain tolerable.

On the other hand, we have developed advanced methods of anesthesia for Botox administration, filler infusion and most laser techniques that render any associated pain minimal to mild at most.

At Aesculapian Aesthetic Anti-Aging Institute, we focus on pain control and our pain control procedures have been quite successful. Patients have asked me the reason we offer non-essential, mildly painful procedures. My response is the same I would give to a woman considering pregnancy—the result is worth the inconvenience. As for “essential” I would ask “Essential to whom?”. “Essential”, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The same is true, to some extent, for pain.

Beauty has been a valued commodity since antiquity as documented by artifacts, identified in archeological digs. There is no pain more severe or more enduring than the pain experienced by a person who does not perceive themselves as attractive. This psychological pain combines with the pain of rejection, isolation, disappointment, and worst of all, lack of dignity and self-esteem.

I am most grateful that we now have the means at hand to assist with the preservation of beauty, allowing the release of inner beauty and greater external expression.

At Aesculapian Aesthetic Anti-Aging Institute, we truly believe in our goal that you should maximize yourself.

By James M. Holbert, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.(2), MBA, ABAAM, ABCMT, ABM, FACP, FACCP, FSCCM, FASCP, FASCO, FASH, FCAP, FRSH