Needles
Needles have been used to deliver medicines to the skin and deeper for over 150 years. The first hypodermic needle was probably made by Francis Rynd in Dublin in 1844. (1)
Aesthetic Doctors probably have the highest use of needles of all medical practitioners and have developed particular skills in using these devices to optimum effect.
Needles have a sharp tip to penetrate the skin; improvement of the profile of needles, their size both internally and externally and fabrication have advanced the delivery of all types of medication over the years.
Aesthetic practitioners use needles with a central lumen for any procedure that requires a product to be delivered into or beneath the skin. In general needles are used for the administration of local anaesthetic, botulinum toxin, dermal fillers and volumisers together with the ever-expanding number of skin boosters and regenerative products such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, PRP, polynucleotides, cross-linked and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid.
Occasionally technology advances so that the very tools of our trade are upgraded overnight with dramatic effects.
Cannulae
The flexible metal cannula was introduced around 2005 for the administration of dermal fillers. I would suggest that this small simple device revolutionised the administration of fillers both in terms of safety and results and has permitted Aesthetic Doctors to reach virtually all areas of the face and achieve the most natural of results accordingly.
The flexible metal cannula differed from the IV cannula in being smaller and made of plastic. As an aside, the IV cannula was first created in the 16th Century for the transfusion of blood and the intravenous injection of a host of non-sterile non-compatible products such as egg white, milk and sugar, and made of quill.(2) Since the 1950’s IV cannulae have been available in a sterile presentation made from plastic and used for the infusion of medically registered compatible solutions.
Mesotherapy
I introduced Mesotherapy to the UK in 1993; a technique then used to address cellulite. Many small injections were made subdermally to improve local microcirculation, lymphatic drainage and reduce fat cell volume. Many devices appeared to assist Doctors in performing these micro-injections and to render the technique more tolerable to their patients. A host of “pistolets”; automatic injectors powered by battery or compressed air (my all-time favourite) were developed and remain available today. Needles were adapted to penetrate only 4mm deep, although their ability to bruise depends entirely on the skill and attention of the practitioner.
With the advances in skin science, nutrition, cell growth and repair many injectable products are available to Aesthetic Practitioners to improve skin quality, such as nutritional cocktails, nucleotides, cross-linked and non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid, amino acids, anti-oxidants such as glutathione and hyper-diluted botulinum toxin.
Are we to keep using ancient needle technology and alarming gun-like devices for these sophisticated treatments that require regular maintenance?
Silicon technology
Since 2018 the use of silicon crystal technology to create a pain-free injection technique has been perfected and the results launched on the world market. Silicon can be etched and drilled using plasma technology, familiar to many Practitioners who use plasma to resurface the skin. Such sophisticated technology creates a perfectly smooth, short micron-jet capable of being inserted into the skin without pain and delivering a perfect microdose of the product.
Since flow rate varies inversely to length, a short micron jet facilitates the flow of the product making injection very easy.
The Nanopass Micronjet 006 system
I have been trialling this revolutionary delivery technology over the last three years. The Nanopass Micronjets are now commercially available and permit the practitioner to perform all injections into the skin using any medical product licenced for use in the skin.
There are three tiny jets made from silicon crystal fixed firmly into the hub. These three jets are 6 microns long (short) and deliver the product into the skin, attaching onto a Luer-Lok syringe, ideally 3ml.
Each Nanopass Micronjet is packaged singly in a sterile presentation. One Nanopass Micronjet will serve for one full treatment since the silicon does not blunt during use.
The micronjet is inserted into the skin at 45 degrees, although for the scalp I find 90 degrees easier. Once in the skin the plunger can be depressed to administer a small bleb.
The micronjet has a blue guide line which must be facing upwards at every insertion. Having made one injection, the device is removed and replaced in the skin at about 1cm intervals.
The Micronjets are 0,6mm long and do not reach the capillaries in the papillary dermis. Thus bruising is impossible unless being particularly heavy handed on very fragile skin.
Because of their small size and ease of use injections around the periorbital area are easy and without the risk of bruising. All products and all viscosities can be used to reach the delicate eye area without fear of deeper injection.
Injections into the scalp are also easy, pain-free and bruise free in a highly vascular area.
The face is another pleasant area to treat; the tougher skin of the chin area and around the mouth needs a bit more pressure on the plunger to achieve a decent bleb.
Injectable skin quality treatments all over the body are easy, quick and pain free to perform with little wastage and no bruising. Cellulite treatment is also readily performed over the convex surface of the thighs.
Treatments assisted by the Nanopass Micronjet system
- Mesotherapy – face, hair, cellulite, skin quality
- Platelet rich Plasma
- Nucleotides
- Local Anaesthetic
- Mesobotox – fine lines, facial flushing.
- Axillary Hyperhidrosis
Benefits to the patient
- Minimal discomfort of procedure
- Quicker recovery
- Absence of bruises
Benefits to the Practitioner
- Ease of use once technique mastered
- No bruising
- Minimal discomfort
- Consistent and predictable depth of injection
- All skin areas amenable to treatment
- Variety of products can be injected all with benefits as above.
- Increased patient satisfaction
- Increased patient retention
Summary
The Nanopass delivery system revolutionizes all injections made into the skin and will become the gold standard
- Precision engineered using plasma energy technology.
- Three perfect silicon crystal “needles” remain sharp throughout the treatment and deliver the injection at 0,4mm - 0,6mm beneath the surface depending on the angle.
- Controlled injection level permits sustained release of active products thus achieving better results.
- Injection into a capillary is impossible owing to the unique design of the Nanopass tips avoiding bruises and rendering the procedure virtually painless.
- Each dose can be precisely adjusted.
- Minimal trauma to the patient ensures rapid recovery from the procedure and enhances the patient experience.
Training
Training is available. Email Medical Aesthetic Group for details.
Availability
Exclusive Distributor Medical Aesthetic Supplies Ltd
References
- https://medicine.uq.edu.au/blog/2018/12/history-syringes-and-needles
- Microcannula Utilization for Injectable Facial Fillers: Standard of Care?Kian Karimi, MD, FACS, Chester F. Griffiths, MD, FACS, […], and Dorna Pourang, BS+3View all authors and affiliations Volume 35, Issue 4