Melanie, I had mine in the deltoid (upper arm). They can numb the skin but not the muscle. There is skin, then fat, then muscle. They have to cut through the first two layers before they even get to the muscle. I can't compare to the thigh biopsy but I can tell you that my biopsy was very painful. They did lots of cutting and took more samples than what these guys had taken. It was pretty awful.

Afterwards, I put a cold pack on it and took Tylenol for a couple days. It ached pretty bad. It's doable but just be prepared for pain. And ask the doctor who is doing it to tell you when he is going to cut. It helps to know when the pain is going to happen!

Annie