For aesthetic practitioners, the most popular technique used to treat patients with dermal filler is typically a traditional sharp needle that is injected underneath the skin to create the desired result. However, as the industry continues to grow and training opportunities expand, new and innovative aesthetic instruments are cropping up to aid in achieving perfect results and to assist the aesthetician in precision and targeting specific areas of the face and neck.
One such tool is the cannula needle, which is quickly becoming the preferred injection method for many practitioners across the country. Thanks to its innovative design, this needle boasts several advantages over its traditional counterpart. If you’re an injector interested in using the cannula for lip filler and other cosmetic treatments within your aesthetics practice to treat patients, read on to find out the best technique for using this instrument and how it can help take your injectable procedures to the next level. Plus, find out more about how you can book aesthetics training courses close to you.
What is a cannula?
A cannula needle is a rounded, blunt-tipped instrument that is used by injectors to administer filler treatments. While a standard needle is sharp and directly pierces the skin in the targeted area, it is not possible to penetrate with a cannula. It is necessary to make a small hole with a needle to puncture the skin before proceeding to administer the treatment with the cannula. This critical difference between the two instruments is the main advantage of using the cannula and why it’s the preferred tool for so many medical professionals.
Best practice for cannula insertion
The first and most crucial step of the filler process is conducting a full assessment of the patient’s face and analyzing the problem area, including the overall volume loss. By establishing concerns and desired results right from the start, you will be able to work with your client to create realistic expectations for their dermal filler treatment.
Once you have determined that a cannula needle is the best tool to use for the facial area you will be treating, you should follow these steps to safely and effectively administer the injection:
- Choose the correct size of cannula needle for the procedure. This will depend on the part of the face or neck being treated and the fragility of the skin in this area.
- Use a small introducer needle to make a small piercing in the skin on the targeted area and create an entry point that will allow the cannula to be inserted.
- Insert the cannula needle into the entry point and maneuver it along the skin tissue. By doing this, you will create a large enough area to allow the dermal filler to be effectively administered.
- You will now be able to use the cannula to insert the filler into the desired area of the face safely and precisely using this entry point.
Advantages of using a cannula
There are a number of advantages of using a cannula over a traditional sharp needle, most based upon the blunt nature of the instrument.
Less trauma
The cannula benefits from generally being a lot longer than a standard sharp needle, meaning that it is also far more flexible. Because of this additional length, you can make an initial entry point and then use the cannula to target a larger area than you would be with a standard needle, eliminating the need for the skin to be pierced multiple times. Since there is only one point of entry into the skin, far less trauma is caused to the skin tissue, which means that the patient will typically experience less bruising and swelling post-treatment. This is particularly effective for fragile and sensitive areas of the face, such as the undereye area, as delicate skin is especially prone to side effects from injectable procedures.
Better results
The length and flexibility of the cannula needle mean that you can use sweeping strokes when administering injections — this helps create a softer look and more subtle results. This makes the cannula perfect for those clients seeking a natural look that isn’t ‘overdone.’ A flexible needle is also a valuable tool for practitioners, as the flexibility allows you to be more creative and artistic with the treatment and create a tailored look that suits your client’s aesthetic goals.
Lower risk
With traditional needles, there is always the potential for unintentionally piercing through more than just the top layer of the skin. The risk of complications during treatment is significantly reduced with a cannula, as its blunt tip means that you can move around arteries and veins without damaging them.
The bottom line
Similar to the different types of filler options available on the market, the choice to use a traditional needle or a cannula is ultimately down to which most comfortable with and assists you in achieving exceptional results for your patients. However, it is worth taking the time to learn how to properly use this innovative tool and try it out as you undergo filler training, as you may be pleasantly surprised by the natural effect you can create.
Training with Acquisition Aesthetics
We’re proud to work with medical professionals, including doctors, dentists and nurses, providing gold-standard aesthetics training in the UK. Whether you’re an aspiring aesthetician eager to kickstart your career, or a current practitioner seeking advanced aesthetics courses, we’d love to hear from you and discuss your options in further detail.
To find out more about the courses available at Acquisition Aesthetics, email us at contact@acquisitionaesthetics.co.uk or call 0203 514 8757 to speak to a member of our team.
