While injectable fillers are highly popular and one of the top non-surgical aesthetic treatments, it does involve the use of a needle and is not pain-free. Placing injectable fillers is more difficult and can be more uncomfortable than a ‘simpler’ Botox injection session. The use of sharp needles for placing injectable fillers has been improved upon by the use of blunt microcannulas.
Made now by several different manufacturers, a blunt microcannula has a rounded tip with a side port for the extrusion of the injectable material. While requiring a needle stick for passing the microcannula under the skin, the blunt tip allows it to be slide around under the skin without discomfort. Since the blunt tip does not cut tissues, there is no discomfort and no risk to create bleeding and bruising.
My patient experience with the microcannula technique for injectable fillers has been exceedingly positive. Any patient that has had filler injections in the past with needles becomes their biggest advocate. They consistently comment on how much more pleasant it is to receive the injections without any topical anesthetics or nerve blocks even in the very sensitive lips. No patient has experienced any bruising.
This raises the question of why is not the microcannula the standard method that everyone uses for injectable fillers? Incredibly its extra added cost of $5 per treatment is likely the limited issue. But the peace of mind to the patient is well worth the cost of using the microcannula. There is also the unfamiliarity of how to use the microcannula and the need for a needle entrance site.
Besides avoiding discomfort and bruising, microcannulas have the advantage of being to be maintained in place as the filler in injected and moving back and forth as necessary. This is different than when using needles, trying to get the needle out as soon as possible and then trying to massage the material into place. The only real limitation of the microcannula is that it can not be used to inject intradermally when treating superficial wrinkles, but this is a minor drawback and one can still use conventional sharp needles to treat them.
Dr. Barry Eppley