Cannulas are used in cosmetology for subcutaneous administration of drugs. The flexible cannula expands and bypasses even small vessels, nerve and muscle fibers without injuring them.
However, it is impossible to replace needles with cannulas - a certain number of skin punctures must be made to administer the product.
- The difference between cannulas and regular needles
- Advantages of the filler injection method
- Classification and marking of cannulas
- Review of manufacturers
- When is it better to use regular needles?
- Contraindications
Advantages of the filler injection method
The cannula for introducing fillers has a design that makes rejuvenation and tightening procedures atraumatic; after the session there are no bruises, lumpiness or other side effects. The advantages of this device for cosmetic procedures:
- The soft body of the needle adapts to bends and does not deform. The risks of needle breakage are reduced, the procedure itself does not cause pain or discomfort, since soft materials do not touch the nerve endings.
- The risk of bruising and swelling after a microinjection session is reduced by 90%.
- Minimum number of cuts. For example, when enlarging the lips, one puncture is made in the corners to insert a cannula, and to lift one cheek, one puncture is made in the temple area and one at the bottom of the face.
- Can be used in different areas - in the area of the lower and upper eyelids, around the lips. Needles with a sharp tip when performing a procedure in these areas cause pain, swelling and bruising, and sometimes lead to rupture of the vessel.
- The use of cannulas shortens the rehabilitation period and procedure time, and allows simultaneous treatment of large areas of the face in a short time. From one puncture, using a flexible needle, 4–7 areas are immediately penetrated.
To use the cannula technique, the specialist who will perform the procedure must first undergo training. It is necessary to know about the location of arteries, veins, nerve fibers and anatomically dangerous points at the treatment site. In addition, you need to correctly select the drug with the appropriate degree of viscosity, correctly determine the injected volume and mark the puncture points with a regular needle.
What are cannulas for contouring?
A cannula is an elastic, elastic needle with a rounded tip. There is no sharp cutting edge. The hole for introducing the drug into the dermis is located on the side. Thanks to its design features, the device allows for an atraumatic procedure - the tissues are not cut, but moved apart.
This is a kind of hollow tube that penetrates deep into the dermis. It does not damage nerves, blood vessels or ligaments along the way, because, resting against obstacles, it pushes them apart, goes around them, and does not pierce them. The procedure is painless, because the instrument does not affect pain receptors.
Soft needles do not deform and easily adapt to bends and creases during injections. After the session, microhematomas do not appear. Contour plastic surgery with cannulas is a new technique, but tested and proven to work well. The procedure is also called “softlifting”, from the English word “soft” - soft, gentle, smooth.
Features of use
Thanks to the flexibility of the instrument, a contouring session takes place with the least number of punctures. Experts say that the new product cannot completely replace needles, because the blunt tip is not capable of making a puncture in the dermis. But when you need to inject with a stroke close to the surface of the skin, this option is optimal.
Using a flexible hollow device, you can improve the shape of your face, moisturize your skin, and remove signs of chronoaging. During contouring sessions, rounded tubes are used to get rid of sagging of the face, décolleté and neck. They correct and increase volumes, smooth out folds and creases.
Cannulas began to be used relatively recently, but cosmetologists claim that facial contours after working with a flexible needle turn out to be more uniform and natural.
Classification and marking of cannulas
Medical cannulas are ophthalmic, intravenous, with an injection port, infusion, and tracheotomy. The following types of soft needles are used in cosmetology:
| Classification | Description, injection area |
| 21G | Allows the introduction of substances with a high degree of viscosity in the form of a gel. Designed to treat the lower third of the face, tighten the oval, correct deep age wrinkles and congenital defects of the skin. |
| 22G | They also allow the administration of fairly viscous medications and are used to correct nasolabial folds, chin, and cheeks. |
| 25G | Used for introducing medium-viscosity and liquid products under the skin. Used to treat the décolleté and neck area. |
| 27G | The viscosity level of the drug is medium or low. Suitable for treating sensitive areas of the skin around the lips, on the hands, under the eyes. These cannulas are also used to administer medications into the nasolacrimal groove. |
| 30G | The thinnest cannulas that allow only liquid medications to be administered subcutaneously. Used to treat the bridge of the nose, temples and forehead. |
They also differ in length, diameter of the needle body, and degree of elasticity.
Review of manufacturers
When choosing a cannula, not only its length, diameter and other parameters are taken into account, but also the manufacturer:
| Apexmed . In the line of this manufacturer you can find a variety of cannulas - special medical ones and for use in cosmetology. A wide selection of needle sizes and diameters is offered. Manufactured using “soft filling” technology. For each selected treatment area, the cannula will match the needle diameter and the required insertion depth. Flexible, highly durable, made of hypoallergenic material. | |
| Attica . The manufacturer produces medical and cosmetology cannulas for biorevitalization and face lifting. The assortment includes soft needles of different diameters, lengths and purposes. | |
| Vasofix offers a selection of flexible needles and other high quality medical products. The products are made from safe medical material that meets all quality standards. The cannulas have a rounded end and do not damage soft tissue, as well as blood vessels, nerve endings and ligaments. Safe for use in any area with proper selection of the diameter and length of the cannula. | |
| Softfil . The company from France has been producing medical products for 10 years, including cannulas for cosmetic purposes. It produces microcannulas with different diameters. They ensure careful advancement in soft tissues and adapt to the features of the oval. Products are regularly improved and certified. The needle itself consists of surgical steel. | |
| TSK Laboratory . Manufacturer of medical accessories and consumables for cosmetologists from Japan. Special alloys are used, the needle itself is perfectly smooth, the tip gently pushes apart the soft tissue when inserted under the skin, so the risk of bruising and rupture of the walls of blood vessels is reduced. The cannulas are so easy to use that they allow the specialist to perform the procedure several times faster and reduce its pain. | |
| Merz Aesthetics . One of the most popular manufacturers of cosmetic consumables. All cannulas are made from high-quality materials, flexible, well tolerated by the skin, and hypoallergenic. |
Almost all companies that produce consumables for medical purposes manufacture needles suitable for injecting fillers.
What to choose for introducing fillers: a cannula or a needle?
There is no clear answer to the question of what is better to use for filler injection – a cannula or a needle. A number of clinical studies and practical observations of aesthetic doctors are devoted to two main aspects of filler injection - the ability to be controlled by a doctor and patient comfort, most of which indicate that a cannula with a blunt tip greatly simplifies the process of introducing fillers.
Blunt tip cannulas were originally designed to minimize the risk of complications associated with the use of traditional hypodermic needles. The blunt tip with an insertion hole located on the side, as well as the length and flexibility of the cannula, provide its main advantages over needles. The length and flexibility allow the cannula to cover a larger target area, reducing the number of insertion points required to obtain optimal results. Such cannulas also pass more gently and smoothly through the subcutaneous layer, without tearing tissue and blood vessels, like a traditional pointed needle.
Minimum damage and maximum maneuverability are the main reasons why filler injections with blunt cannulas are faster and less painful than with traditional needles.
Minimum damage and maximum maneuverability are the main reasons why filler injections with blunt cannulas are faster and less painful than with traditional needles. Despite this, a cannula is not always the best choice, since it cannot be used for intradermal injections.
Rice. 1 (A) before, (B) after lifting the upper lateral part of the cheeks with HA filler (Perfectha Subskin, total 1.5 ml).
Cannulas for injection of fillers:
- Main characteristics;
- correction of the upper lateral cheek area;
- lip correction
When is it better to use regular needles?
The scope of application of soft flexible cannulas is the introduction of special substances. In contour plastic surgery, standard subcutaneous injections with metal needles are mainly used. These two methods have a significant difference:
- using a flexible instrument, you can make a linear, uniform introduction of the medicinal composition over a large area;
- Using a regular needle, thin pinhole punctures are made to a skin depth of 1–2 mm, and small areas are treated in one procedure.
Lip correction is often done using standard needles . They allow you to create a neat volume and give a clear contour by treating small areas of the skin, and evaluate the result as the procedure is completed. A needle is also used to fill scars, unevenness, and wrinkles with fillers - there is no point in damaging areas of the skin by introducing a long cannula to remove small imperfections.
Needles are also chosen if the patient wants to save money. The use of cannulas increases the consumption of substances used by 15–20%, and such drugs have a high price. The cost of correction increases 2–3 times depending on the treatment area. Not all cosmetologists have cannula technology, so this technique is not used in small cosmetic centers.
Advantages and disadvantages of using cannulas for contouring
Cannulas in aesthetic medicine have been known for quite a long time: for many years they have been used by plastic surgeons to perform liposuction. In recent years, specialists have begun to use smaller cannulas, called microcannulas, to administer intradermal fillers.
A cannula is a thin, flexible, hollow tube that has a blunt tip and a small opening on the side to remove the filler.
The use of cannulas for contouring has a number of advantages, but they also have some disadvantages. Read about them in detail in this article.
Cannulas for contour plastic surgery:
- features of the use of cannulas for contour plastic surgery;
- the main advantages of cannulas for contouring;
- disadvantages of using cannulas for contouring.
