Air-NOX: Comfortable Non-Sedation Care That Reduces Pain

Hello.

This is Mutoel Plastic Surgery.

These days, regardless of age or gender, many people have likely experienced a variety of skin care procedures.

One concern that always accompanies these skin care treatments is pain.

Using sleep anesthesia feels burdensome, but the truth is that going through the procedure without it can be quite painful.

Because of this, many patients often ask, “Can’t it be done without anesthesia and without pain?”

In cases like these, Air-NOX provides a completely new alternative.

Because it works by directly inhaling a gas mixture of nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen (O2), it is a “non-sedation relaxation system” that can reduce pain and anxiety while keeping the patient conscious.

It is widely used in short skin procedures such as fillers, laser treatments, and lifting, as well as in dental treatments where full sleep anesthesia is not necessary.

Today, I’ll organize how this device works, what the procedure process is like, and an explanation of the system in one post.

What is Air-NOX?

Air-NOX is a system that precisely mixes and delivers oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas to reduce pain experienced by patients in various medical settings.

In fact, nitrous oxide (N2O) was discovered by British scientist Joseph Priestley in the 1700s, and it began to be used for respiratory relaxation in the 1800s. Mixed with oxygen, it has a long history of use in various maternity centers and dental clinics for decades, so its safety has been sufficiently verified.

It is still being used in hospitals in many advanced countries, including the United States. Air-NOX is a device that adds precise technology to a safe system.

How does it work?

The principle is very simple yet stable. By precisely mixing nitrous oxide (N2O) and oxygen (O2) in an appropriate ratio, it temporarily calms the central nervous system within a safe range, reducing sensitivity to pain and easing psychological anxiety.

Because it is not full sleep anesthesia and the patient remains conscious, communication with the medical staff is possible, and the level of relaxation can be adequately adjusted and controlled through interaction between the patient and the medical team.

Also, after the procedure is finished, the patient quickly returns from the relaxed state and comes back without any special side effects, making it possible to return to daily life immediately without a separate recovery period.

In other words, it is a procedure where you are awake but comfortable.

How is it carried out?

First, before Air-NOX is used, the person receiving it is carefully checked in detail for body build, breathing volume, sensitivity, and more.

After that, breathing practice and an adaptation process at a low concentration begin for normal stability.

During this process, the optimal combination ratio and dosage of Air-NOX needed for each patient are determined before the actual procedure begins.

After the procedure ends, a recovery process of about 1 to 2 minutes is carried out by supplying 100% oxygen.

What are the benefits?

The biggest advantage is that because pain sensitivity can be controlled while the patient remains conscious, the procedure can be carried out without anxiety.

During this process, the patient can communicate their feelings directly to adjust the depth of relaxation, which reduces pain while allowing a stable procedure and improving the treatment effect.

In other words, the stress that occurs during the procedure can be reduced much more effectively.

Because the relaxation effect comes through breathing, there is no need for special preparation such as fasting, and after a short recovery of about 1 to 2 minutes, it is possible to return quickly to daily life.

Unlike sleep anesthesia, the medical staff and patient can communicate sufficiently even during relaxation, which allows the concentration to be adjusted in real time by feeding back the sensitivity to pain.

How is it different from sleep anesthesia or sedatives?

Compared with sleep anesthesia, the greatest feature of Air-NOX is that it has a “light relaxation” effect that reduces pain and anxiety while keeping consciousness intact.

Propofol intravenous injection produces a state of amnesia along with sedation, so it is used when a more surgical approach is needed.

In addition, because sleep anesthesia is so powerful, real-time monitoring of breathing and circulation is necessary, and you need to rest in the recovery room and wait a certain amount of time before returning to daily life.

By contrast, Air-NOX has a fast recovery and relatively simple equipment operation, but it is not suitable for complex surgeries that require deep relaxation or airway management.

Therefore, it is most important to choose the most appropriate relaxation method for yourself according to the target depth of relaxation.

Air-NOX is also sometimes compared to “laughing gas.”

The laughing gas used in dental treatment has a different concentration of nitrous oxide and a different method of use.

In dentistry, it is briefly used before local anesthesia with dental lidocaine for young children who refuse treatment, and a high concentration of 70% nitrous oxide is administered through the nose and mouth with the mouth open.

However, Air-NOX mainly uses nitrous oxide at a concentration of around 40 to 50%, and it is finely adjusted according to the patient’s condition to help the patient breathe on their own.

What features does it have?

Unlike anesthesia that causes loss of consciousness during sleep, you can receive the procedure comfortably in a state where pain feels distant, like feeling slightly dazed or as if you had a moderate amount of alcohol.

In addition, an experienced medical team carefully checks the patient’s body build, breathing volume, and sensitivity in advance, then controls the sensitivity to pain and relaxation through customized treatment.

The advantage of the mixed gas of nitrous oxide and oxygen is that it takes effect within seconds after inhalation, increasing comfort and reducing anxiety.

This effect continues while breathing, so after selecting an appropriate concentration that matches the individual’s characteristics, the dosage is adjusted while checking the breathing volume.

If it hurts during the procedure, taking a deep breath can definitely reduce the pain.

For safe use

Of course, indiscriminate use of the device is prohibited.

During the consultation process, a thorough evaluation of various factors such as respiratory and neurological history, medication use, and pregnancy status must be performed carefully.

An experienced medical team capable of responding immediately in an emergency must be on standby.

Relaxation through gas is not “complete pain relief.” It is an auxiliary method that reduces pain and anxiety, and depending on an individual’s sensitivity and pain threshold, some discomfort and pain may still be felt.

For example, some people may experience dizziness or nausea after inhaling the gas.

Safe use is only possible when you choose it after clearly understanding the advantages and disadvantages of such equipment.

In closing..

Air-NOX is being used very usefully as a tool that can partially replace sleep anesthesia when you want to “reduce anxiety and ease pain.”

However, you should not forget that safety is determined more by careful patient selection, monitoring, and emergency response methods than by the device itself.

Only when it is operated under the supervision of an experienced medical team after confirming the medical history through sufficient consultation before the procedure does it become a practical option.

This concludes today’s post from Yongsan Dermatology, and if you have any additional questions, please feel free to visit Mutoel and ask. We will always repay you with honest medical care.

This was Mutoel Plastic Surgery.

Thank you.