The Difference Between a Blunt Tip Cannula and a Needle

What is The Difference Between a Blunt Tip Cannula and a Needle?

There are many different techniques utilized by injectors in medical aesthetics. Depending on the treatment area, the product you are using and the desired result, the type of needle utilized for an injection varies. Often times new injectors wonder – do I use a cannula or needle? In the filler course, we teach both needle and cannula and help learners develop a decision-making process for when to use both.

Using Needles

With a sharp needle, filler can be injected precisely and easily. The risk is if that sharp needle accidentally punctures an artery or vein, causing a blockage. This would cause an occlusion and tissue ischemia, which can lead to skin breakdown and complications. When we are teaching a needle technique, we ensure all injectors aspirate prior to pushing on the plunger. By aspirating, we can ensure there is no flash of blood in the needle and inject with confidence, knowing the likelihood of being in a vessel is low.

Using a Blunt-Tip Cannula

If you are injecting in a higher-risk area with lots of vascular structures, we recommend utilizing a blunt-tip cannula. This can limit the chance of puncturing a vessel and helps with safety. It can feel a bit more challenging to manipulate the needle as the injector must ensure they are in the correct tissue plane. At the filler course, our instructors always help guide the cannulas so that our medical professionals have a great feel for the depth and resistance they should expect with different injections.

Making the Decision

In the filler course, participants learn how to utilize a cannula and needle technique in the cheeks, tear troughs, jawline, lips and chin! We want the experience to be the most comprehensive for all medical professionals and take great pride in offering the most hands-on training available today.