Why I Use A Cannula Needle When I Inject Restylane Lyft, A Hyaluronic Acid-Based Filler

As a dermatologist, my priority is the safety and comfort of my patients. That means I'm always on the lookout for new technologies and techniques that provide a more comfortable treatment experience. When it comes to injecting fillers, the process is generally not painful, but there can be swelling or bruising afterwards. To remedy this, I often use a cannula needle instead of a sharp needle in specific areas of the face, especially when injecting hyaluronic acid-based fillers.

What is a cannula needle?

A small blunt tip cannula is a thin, flexible tube with a small opening on the side. Just like a sharp needle, it injects fillers. The advantage, however, is that the use of a cannula has shown to cause less potential damage to blood vessels. What does that mean for you? Less bruising and swelling. With decreased post-procedure pain, patients have to deal with less downtime.

When do we use cannula needles?

Many aesthetic professionals use a cannula for certain areas of the face, such as the midface and lips. Of course, the choice of needle depends on the needs of the individual patient and their facial anatomy.

What do I inject with a cannula?

Restylane Lyft is a hyaluronic acid-based filler, and it recently became the only filler of its kind to be FDA-approved for the cheek and midface with the use of a cannula. (It's also FDA-approved for nasolabial folds and back of the hands, and Restylane Silk is approved for the lips via a cannula needle.) I like Restylane Lyft because of its ability fullness to your face, which tends to lose volume as we age. And because it's hyaluronic acid-based, results are natural-looking and dissolvable. The treatment acts like the body’s own naturally occurring hyaluronic acid. Now that this filler is approved for injection with a cannula, it's especially beneficial because of the decreased chance of swelling and bruising. I was a clinical trial investigator when Restylane Lyft was being studied for its use in the midface area with a cannula needle, and we found promising results. 98.3% of subjects showing aesthetic improvement 16 weeks after treatment. This means that after your next filler treatment, you just might deal with much less bruising and swelling.  

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