Is Vibration Anesthesia Effective and Safe for Pain Reduction in Botulinum Toxin Injection? A Randomized Split-Face Controlled Trial and Cadaver Experiment

This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of vibration anesthesia for pain reduction during botulinum toxin injections for masseter reduction in 216 patients. Results showed that vibration anesthesia significantly reduced pain scores (2.97 ± 1.44) compared to the nonvibration side (4.72 ± 2.13) (P < .0001), with a higher proportion of mild pain reported. A history of injection, more injection points, and higher doses increased pain, while using a 2-mL syringe reduced it. Side effects occurred in 19 patients (7%) but were not linked to vibration. High satisfaction was noted, and a cadaver experiment confirmed that vibration did not affect the diffusion radius and depth of injection. The study concludes that vibration anesthesia is effective and safe, recommending its use along with larger syringe sizes and fewer injection points to enhance patient experience.