cannula of dermal fillers comprises a flexible tube that is blunt at the tip, used to deliver the fillers underneath the skin. This cannula causes minimum trauma since it only pushes the tissues without puncturing, so bruising and swelling are minimal. The practitioner will create a small entry point and then insert the cannula in a desired, appropriate manner to distribute the filler material.
What Is Cannula
The use of a cannula in the administration of cosmetic treatments, including , involves a thin, flexible tube rather than a sharp, traditional needle that is designed to pierce through tissues. A cannula has a blunt tip and slides underneath the skin, thereby causing minimal trauma. The cannula provides a way of delivering the dermal fillers in a more accurate and safer manner. Its main purpose is to avoid blood vessel damage and reduce bruising, swelling, and general discomfort associated with the use of sharper needles. This technique may be less painful for the patient receiving dermal fillers and can reduce the healing time.
Cannula sizes and lengths exist and must correspond with the area being treated and the type of filler used. Usually, the cannulas applied for the purpose of dermal fillers span in diameter from 22 to 27 gauge. The gauge refers to the thickness of the cannula, and as can be expected, with higher numbers comes a thinner instrument. An example would be that the cannula with 22-gauge is thicker compared to 27-gauge; it might be selected for areas of deeper injections. On the other hand, finer cannulas are used for more delicate areas, such as the lips or under the eyes.
Why Use Cannula
The primary reason practitioners would prefer a cannula over a needle for a treatment involving dermal fillers is safety. Traditional needles are sharp and more likely to puncture blood vessels, nerves, or other sensitive tissues, which may cause such complications as bruising, swelling, or even vascular occlusion. This is a rare but serious condition when a certain filler blocks a vessel of blood circulation, leading to tissue damage.
These risks are lessened with the use of a cannula because the blunt tip is designed to push vessels aside instead of puncturing them. In fact, several studies show that the cannula can reduce bruising by up to 90% compared to needles. This makes quite a difference for those patients seeking a non-eventful and comfortable experience. Large areas, like the cheeks or jawline, are way better treated with cannulas because it’s much easier to control and distribute the filler.
Cannula Benefits
In general, there are a few big advantages of a cannula compared to a traditional needle for dermal fillers. The first advantage of the cannula is that it tends to lessen bruising and swelling because its blunt tip is less likely to rupture blood vessels or traumatize adjacent tissue. For the patient desiring the least amount of postoperative downtime and quicker recovery, this is a huge advantage.
Another big plus is that larger areas can be done with fewer entry points-meaning a needle, for instance, might have to perform several injections, whereas the cannula may need only one entry point to introduce filler to a whole area. This allows for a quicker treatment with less discomfort for the patient. For instance, the cannula allows treatment of the mid-face or the cheeks with only one or two points of entry, thus reducing the number of needlesticks and subsequently the discomfort.
The cannula technique gives much smoother application of fillers. Since the cannula glides underneath the skin, it deposits the filler in a more even manner and provides more natural-looking results. For practitioners, it translates into finer detail and accuracy in sculpting specific areas, for instance, lips, cheeks, or jawline. For the patients, it means fewer touch-ups and also more even results.
The cannula treats hard-to-reach areas safely, such as around the eyes, and in very sensitive areas of the lips. These parts contain more blood vessels, hence any kind of treatment around these areas has much higher risks involved when done with a traditional needle. A cannula reduces the chances of complications such as vascular occlusion and over-injection significantly.
Cannula vs Needle
The critical difference between a cannula and a needle concerns the design of its tip: a needle is sharp and intended to pierce through the skin and deeper structures. Of course, this provides for a very effective, very precise, and very directly administered dose, but it also provides the risk of hitting vessels, nerves, or muscles. Every time a blood vessel is punctured by a needle, it may lead to some bruising or swelling, which is among the most frequently encountered adverse effects after cosmetic dermal filler treatments.
On the other hand, a cannula has a blunt tip and is therefore way much safer while undertaking operations in highly vascularized areas. When a cannula is inserted into the body, it never cuts through the tissue but rather works to push the tissue aside, thus causing minimal trauma. For example, several studies have proved that the application of a cannula can reduce the possibility of vascular complications such as bruising and occlusion by a significant percentage. In one study published in Dermatologic Surgery, the cannula reduced bruising and swelling by 80% compared to needle injections.
While needles offer precision to a pinpoint in small, localized areas, they often require multiple injection points in treating larger areas. Cannulas can treat broader areas with fewer entry points since the bluntness of its tip allows it to move through the tissue more smoothly and may be useful for areas needing volumizing, such as the cheeks, or sensitive areas under the eyes.
That being said, there are areas where needles may be more suitable-for example, superficial fine lines or very small, pinpoint injections. Some would even use a cannula and a needle in one treatment session, depending on the condition of the patient and the area being treated.
How It Works
A cannula for dermal fillers typically starts with a traditional needle making a small entry point through the skin. Many times, this is done with a very fine needle to cause minimal discomfort. The cannula is then inserted through that entry point, where the practitioner can then maneuver it under the skin and deposit the filler as needed in areas the cannula can be maneuvered to.
The cannula’s blunt tip creates its path through the tissue in a controlled methodical manner, not intruding on the blood vessels, therefore minimizing trauma. This is why bruising and swelling are relatively less when injecting with cannulas compared to the use of conventional needles. With the cannula in place, the practitioner then injects the filler slowly, pulling backward with the cannula to distribute it homogeneously. This allows for a more even application and smoother result.
It usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes in total. This can be for much shorter periods than if one wanted to deliver the same treatment with the aid of a needle. One can also immediately see results without needing much recovery time.
Since larger areas, like the cheeks, jawline, or temples, are generally more demanding in terms of filler amount, cannulas will certainly help. Under the eyes or around the mouth, it will provide the much-needed precision and safety in sensitive areas.
Is It Safe
The use of a cannula for dermal fillers is generally regarded as very safe. Many consider it less hazardous than a traditional needle injection due to the fact that the cannula’s blunt tip minimizes the risk of complications such as bruising, swelling, and vascular occlusion that occur when a needle has punctured a blood vessel.
Indeed, research proved that when using a cannula, there is significantly less chance of vascular occlusion. This is because it is designed to glide past the blood vessels instead of puncturing them. While the incidence of vascular complications with cannulas is about 0.006% according to research, it was at 0.2% for needles. This makes the cannula an extremely favorable option for both practitioners and patients looking for safer and more comfortable treatments.
However, as with all medical treatments, some risk remains. Less frequently, infection, reactions, and other issues of the product can occur. It’s just important to find an experienced and qualified practitioner to minimize these risks. A variety of trained practitioners offer the knowledge in both needle and cannula techniques and are better capable when a complication arises during the treatment.
Choosing Provider
With dermal fillers using a cannula, the provider’s experience with this approach is of crucial importance. Not all practitioners are equal when it comes to handling cannulas, and this constitutes an altogether different approach from the traditional injection of material with a needle. Ask your provider about their cannula experience and how often they use them in their practice.
A good provider will take the time to assess your needs and explain the procedure in detail. They can also advise you on what to expect with results by showing you before-and-after photos of patients who have had similar treatments. It’s completely fine to ask about qualifications
