What Aesthetic Treatments Require a Cannula?
Posted on: June 19, 2025
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What Aesthetic Treatments Require a Cannula?
In the world of aesthetic medicine, precision and patient comfort are key to achieving the best results. Cannulas, along with proper cannula training, have revolutionised injectable treatments by enhancing safety, reducing bruising, and improving precision for optimal outcomes.
Cannulas are widely used for injecting dermal fillers and are a preferable option recommended by many Aesthetic Practitioners, including Prof Khanna, especially in sensitive areas where bruising and vascular complications are a higher possibility.
Unlike traditional needles, a cannula is a blunt-tipped, flexible device that allows practitioners to deliver dermal fillers and other injectables with minimal trauma and bruising. But which aesthetic treatments does Prof Khanna recommend using a cannula for and why?
Why Invest in Cannula Training, in Aesthetic Medicine?
Cannulas are widely used for injecting dermal fillers and are a preferable option recommended by many Aesthetic Practitioners including Prof Khanna, especially in sensitive areas where bruising and vascular complications are a higher possibility.
As an aesthetic practitioner, choosing between a needle and a cannula is an important decision that impacts both patient safety and treatment outcomes. While needles do have their place in aesthetic medicine, a cannula can often be the preferred choice for specific treatments due to its unique advantages. Here’s why many practitioners, including Prof Khanna, opt for a cannula in certain circumstances:
Reduced Risk of Bruising and Swelling:
Unlike needles, which have a sharp tip that can easily puncture blood vessels, a cannula has a blunt, flexible tip. This minimizes trauma to the surrounding tissue and significantly lowers the chances of bruising and post-treatment swelling.
Lower Likelihood of Vascular Complications:
One of the most serious risks associated with dermal filler injections is vascular occlusion, which occurs when filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel. Because a cannula glides through tissue rather than piercing through it, the risk of injecting directly into a vessel is much lower compared to a needle.
More Control Over Product Placement:
The flexibility and length of a cannula allow for smoother, more even distribution of filler. Practitioners can often achieve more natural-looking results by layering the product precisely where it is needed, rather than depositing it in multiple smaller injections with a needle.
Fewer Entry Points for Enhanced Patient Comfort:
Since a cannula can distribute filler across a larger area from a single entry point, it reduces the number of injection sites needed. This not only improves patient comfort but also minimizes the risk of irritation and excessive trauma to the skin.
By understanding the benefits of using a cannula, practitioners can make more informed decisions when planning treatments, ensuring both safety and optimal aesthetic results for their patients.
Aesthetic Treatments That Benefit from a Cannula Delivery
It’s important to note that while many treatments can be performed using either a needle or a cannula, certain procedures can benefit significantly from the latter, or even a combination of both. Prof Khanna’s techniques, whilst employing cannula where appropriate, may also involve the use of needles too, so as to protect the anatomy and provide an artistic outcome.
Lip Augmentation
Though traditional lip fillers often use needles, a cannula can provide a more comfortable experience with less bruising and swelling, especially when defining the vermillion border or adding volume to the lips. The use of cannula minimises the number of entry points required, subsequently minimising trauma and reducing the risk of swelling, bruising or complications. Prof Khanna’s techniques for Lip Augmentation can involve a combination of both needle and cannula.
Other dermal filler treatments
Other common areas that benefit from cannula delivery include:
Cheeks: A cannula ensures smooth, even filler distribution with reduced risk of bruising.
Tear Troughs: The under-eye area is delicate, making cannula a much safer choice to avoid vessel damage. You are less likely to cause trauma in this delicate area with a blunt cannula, than you are with a sharp needle.
Jawline & Chin Augmentation: Prof Khanna uses a combination approach (needle and cannula) for most chin and jawline augmentations. The larger cannula sizes provide structural contouring while reducing swelling and discomfort.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty: The nose has a complex vascular network with critical arteries, such as the dorsal nasal artery and the angular artery, which connect to the ophthalmic artery. If filler is inadvertently injected into these vessels, it can lead to severe complications like vascular occlusion, skin necrosis, or even blindness. For this treatment, Prof Khanna uses a combination of both needle and cannula. By utilising the cannula in certain areas, you minimise vessel penetration and allow for more controlled filler placement, reducing the risk of complications.
Skin Rejuvenation: Skin boosters, such as hyaluronic acid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and exosome treatments, benefit from a cannula’s ability to deliver the product evenly across a larger area with minimal trauma.
Understanding the Different Sizes in Aesthetic Treatments
The choice of cannula sizes depends on the treatment area and the type of product being injected, however generally, you will be using 22G – 25G. Prof Khanna does not recommend the use of cannulas thinner than this, due to their thin diameter causing them to behave more like needles.
Why Invest in Cannula Training to Master Essential Techniques?
Using a cannula requires specific techniques that differ from needle injections. Proper aesthetic cannula training is essential for practitioners to:
- Learn correct insertion points for various treatments.
- Understand depth control to ensure optimal product placement.
- Reduce the risk of complications and enhance patient safety.
- Master different cannula sizes for various treatment areas.
To truly refine your technique and deliver superior results, mastering cannula-based procedures is key. Our Module 2 course offers in-depth training on proper cannula use, helping you enhance your skills and confidence in aesthetic treatments.
Take the next step in your professional journey—enroll today!
