Aesthetic medicine is constantly evolving with new techniques, products and innovations being brought to the fore. With emerging evidence highlighting the benefits of cannulas for enhanced safety and results, it may be time to delve into the world of cannulas. Mrs Sabrina Shah-Desai from Perfect Eyes Ltd in London, trains aesthetic practitioners on how to use cannulas under ultrasound guidance. Here, she details her top tips for cannula use…
Tip 1: Choose an ultra-thin-walled blunt tip cannula
An ultra-thin-walled cannula creates a larger inner lumen diameter, facilitating an increase in bolus size and therefore reducing the injection forces required to inject into the skin. Using a cannula with a blunt tip reduces the friction on the skin and helps the cannula to glide through the dermal tissue. As the cannula is blunt, the risk of causing a vascular occlusion is reduced, but not impossible. However, the blunt tip causes less trauma when it is ‘fanned’ under the skin. Whether you are using a needle or cannula, it is still pivotal to remain cautious and practise techniques to reduce the risk of any complications arising.
Tip 2: Use a cannula with an indicator
By having a porthole position indicator on the hub, practitioners can orientate the port of the cannula to deliver the product correctly. This ensures that practitioners are dispersing the filler product into the correct treatment area, leading to beautiful aesthetic outcomes.
Tip 3: Consider the size of the porthole
Some cannulas have larger portholes, which can help facilitate an increase in bolus size. Make sure the location of the port is in the same position relative to the tip, making it smooth, with no sharp edges which could compromise your procedure.
Tip 4: Change the cannula
When navigating through fibrotic tissue, and to help reduce acne scarring, the Grooved Tipped Injection (GTI) cannula from the Silkann range allows for the microsubcision of fibrous strands. This cannula is designed to treat surface defects and small scars. The cannula removes the need for the use of sharp instruments and provides a highly successful and safe treatment. For that reason, it is important to change your cannula based on the area you are treating, as some cannulas are better suited to different areas of the body or for helping aid different aesthetic concerns.
Tip 5: Buy your cannulas from a recognised company
There are many poorly made and uncertified cannulas being sold on the internet. Practitioners should be certain that they are using CE or UKCA-marked products, which will replace the CE marking in December. This ensures that it has been manufactured to the highest-quality standards of the UK and EU market. Some fake and counterfeit products can even pretend they have the relevant approvals, which can put your patients at risk and could potentially lead to poor aesthetic outcomes. Therefore, it is important to buy your cannulas from a recognised vendor/distributor.
Creating high-quality medical devices for 30+ years
With more than 30 years’ experience of designing single-use surgical products, Sterimedix is now a world leader in the development of ophthalmic and aesthetic cannulas and handpieces. In the last 10 years, the company has made more than 100 million devices, which have been designed and manufactured in the UK in line with strict European and global quality standards.
