Dr. Doft informed me during the appointment that the brand she was using on my lips (Volbella) also included some lidocaine, a numbing agent, to further diffuse any discomfort. As far as pain went, I felt every puncture of the needle. This, I suspect, is because I drooled and licked a lot of the numbing cream off my lips initially. Even still, the pain was worth it and only momentary. In fact, I'd describe the similar pinching sensation to that of getting an extraction from an esthetician during a facial.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Samantha Sasso.