Dermal fillers have recently gained popularity among beauty enthusiasts. But, while they are hailed for being safe and low-risk, the right dermal fillers injection techniques could be the difference between a successful procedure and an unsatisfactory one.
Are you considering dermal fillers for skin treatment? If so, this post is for you.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about dermal fillers injection techniques, including tips to help you select the best one for your skin.
What are Dermal Fillers
First, let’s get into what dermal fillers are and their unique characteristics.
Simply put, dermal fillers are substances injected under the skin to address various skin conditions, such as volume loss, sagging skin, and uneven texture.
They are mostly made of hyaluronic acid, a common natural ingredient that provides the skin with hydration and anti-aging properties.
Besides the cost of dermal fillers and their safety, dermal filler procedures must still be carried out with utmost care for safe outcomes.
That said, let’s now dive into the various dermal filler injection techniques.
6 Dermal Filler Injection Techniques You Should Know About
Before getting your dermal fillers, here are the most common techniques you should know about.
1. Linear Threading
Also known as tunneling, this dermal filler injection technique involves using a needle or cannula to inject dermal filler under the skin in limited amounts.
The aesthetician injects in a linear fashion to promote smooth skin texture and eliminate wrinkles.
There are two main types of linear threading,namely;
● Retrograde linear threads: It is the most popular, where an injector releases the filler slowly as they withdraw the needle along the areas most affected by the signs of aging.
● Anterograde linear threads: In this instance, your practitioner may opt to inject the filler ahead as the needle manoeuvres under the epidermis. The filler is evenly spread in the needle/cannula’s path so there’s little risk of asymmetrical results. This technique is crucial to avoiding filler danger zones by pushing blood vessels and nerve endings out of the way.
As one of the most precise dermal fillers injection techniques, tunneling has gained popularity among aestheticians for its efficiency,promoting long-term dermal filler effects.
2. Serial puncture
The serial puncture technique involves injecting small amounts of filler in multiple injection sites along the intended area. Instead of a single incision, your doctor will use a hypodermic needle to inject the skin around the region several times, gradually releasing the dermal filler each time.
This method had several benefits, including;
● Greater precision: As opposed to inserting a large amount of filler at a single location, serial puncture technique is more precise as you can inject the filler in the exact areas affected by wrinkles and other conditions.
● Even distribution: This technique is best for injecting filler evenly, especially when treating a large surface area.
The main application of serial puncture technique is in treating areas that require the filler to be deposited into the glabellar region to treat fine wrinkles.
3. Cross-hatching
Cross-hatching builds up on the linear threading method. But instead of injecting in one line, it involves injecting filler in a cross-like pattern. First, your doctor will inject a series of linear rows before shifting the needle angle and injecting another series in a 90-degree angle.
This technique is mostly employed in procedures where multiple entry points are required, such as the marionette region. Marionette filler before and after photos show that this technique enables effective dermal filler injection to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
However, the cross-hatching technique has lost its popularity to the more efficient cannula techniques which produce near-perfect results when injecting dermal fillers in different directions.
4. Fanning
Fanning is one of the best dermal fillers injection techniques for treating a wide area. It entails injecting the product in a fan-like pattern, mostly using a microcannula. Here’s an overview of how to inject using this technique;
● Step 1: Make the initial incision at a central point of the area you’re treating.
● Step 2: Remove the needle or cannula slowly while releasing the filler.
● Step 3: Instead of withdrawing the needle or cannula completely, reposition and to inject in another direction.
● Step 4: Repeat the process until you have covered the entire intended region.
This technique results in more natural looking results due to its precision.
Pro tip: Inject the filler gently and keep the delivery equipment in constant motion under the skin. This is why it’s advisable to use cannulas for this technique as they are safer and efficient for continuous filler injection.
5. Stretching
If you’re looking to address skin laxity, the stretching technique is perfect for you. During the procedure, your injector will stretch the skin around the treatment area to tighten it and make it easy to identify the exact sections that require filling.
By isolating the target regions, your doctor can insert the needle precisely. This enables them to effectively fill wrinkles around the treatment area.
Furthermore, gently stretching the skin also minimizes any discomfort during the procedure, making it almost painless. Your practitioner will also feel more confident as they have little to do when it comes to placing and distributing the filler.
6. Dual plane
The dual plane dermal filler technique stands out from the rest as the injector has to use two different fillers during the same procedure. As its name suggests, it involves injecting two different layers of the skin within the same treatment area.
The dermis and subdermal layers are the layers involved when using this technique and your injector can use a thin filler to address superficial wrinkling and a thicker one where there is deeper loss of volume.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of this technique;
● Ensure that you use two different fillers to prevent them from spreading and mixing.
● Avoid rubbing the filler in the deeper layer to prevent it from projecting.
● When using a cannula mark the midline and inject slowly to avoid damaging vessels under the skin.
● Choose the fillers carefully to address the intended concerns in the different layers.
How to Choose the Best Dermal Fillers Injection Techniques
There are three main factors that go into selecting the best injection technique for you when getting dermal fillers, that is, the treatment region, injection tool, and required depth. Understanding these factors is crucial for both you and your practitioner to ensure the treatment’s success.
Here’s an in-depth analysis of how these factors influence your decision.
1. Treatment Area
The area of treatment is a crucial factor to consider when injecting dermal fillers. Different parts of ths body have different spacing, anatomy, and thickness. Here’s how they affect your choice of treatment technique.
● Space
If you aim to treat skin in tight areas, such as the frontal region, and especially the nasolabial area, some techniques, such as fanning, may not be suitable due to inadequate space. However, your practitioner can consider linear threading or serial puncture for efficiency.
● Anatomy
The anatomy of a treatment area plays a major role when selecting the dermal fillers injection techniques. For instance, men and women tend to have different facial structures, with simpler techniques such as cross-hatching and linear threading being preferred for female clients. On the other hand, male skin anatomy calls for a combination of both simple and complex techniques.
● Skin Thickness
Thin-skinned regions such as tear troughs, lips, and eyelids require techniques such as stretching and serial puncture which may not require deep injections. Moreover, dermal fillers before and after results show that these techniques are effective in treating the thin skin. However, the dual plane technique is more ideal for thick areas, such as the cheeks, where you can get fillers to both the dermal and subdermal layers.
2. Injection Tool
Hypodermic needles are the oldest tool for dermal filler injection. However, with the emergence of the safer and more accurate cannulas, most aestheticians have downed the traditional tools. Nevertheless, some injection techniques, such as serial puncture, are more effective when performed using hypodermic needles, while the rest require cannulas for safer injection and precision under the skin.
3. Required Depth
The injection depth of dermal fillers is crucial when choosing the right techniques. For deeper injections, fanning, cross-hatching, and dual plane techniques are more effective as they require cannulas, which are safer in skin layers with a large presence of vascular structures like blood vessels.
On the other hand, serial injection and stretching are suitable for shallow dermal filler injection. Stretching, particularly, enables you to clearly identify blood vessels beneath the skin and avoid puncturing them when injecting.
Side Effects of Poor Dermal Fillers Injection Techniques
Your doctor’s dermal filler technique proficiency plays a major role in the success of your skin treatment. Otherwise, failure to choose and adhere to the right technique could lead to some unprecedented side effects, such as;
1. Bruising - After getting fillers, you may experience bruising around the treated area. This may be a result of punctured blood vessels due to improper techniques. To avoid this, choose a skilled injector and prefer methods that involve using cannulas instead of sharp hypodermic needles.
2. Asymmetry - Asymmetrical outcomes are a common side effect of choosing wrong injection techniques. For instance, incorrectly using the dual plane technique may result in the two types of filler mixing to cause lumps and unevenness.
3. Nerve damage - When applying techniques that require injecting filler into skin layers with a concentration of nerves, your doctor needs to be very careful not to pierce nerves. Furthermore, wrongly using these techniques could lead to nerve compression and the risks that come with it.
4. Infection - Apart from contaminated filler and deliverY equipment, poor techniques may also cause infection when injecting dermal fillers. Some signs of infection include fever, warmth, and swelling around the treated area.
Faqs
What are dermal filler techniques?
Dermal filler techniques are simply methods that medical aestheticians use to inject dermal fillers on the desired skin layers.
How do I choose the best technique for injecting dermal fillers?
The best technique for injecting dermal fillers under your skin vary according to the delivery equipment your doctor plans on using, the size and thickness of the treatment area, and the depth of injection.
Which is the best injection equipment for dermal fillers?
The best equipment for dermal filler injection is cannulas. This is because they can easily manoeuvre under the skin without rupturing tissue and injuring blood vessels. Moreover, they enhance the efficiency of dermal filler techniques.
What are the side effects of poor dermal fillers injection techniques?
When dermal filler injections are performed using the wrong techniques, there is risk of infection, uneven outcomes, nerve damage, and bleeding.
How do I select the best clinic offering the best techniques for injectable fillers near me?
To select the best clinic and doctor with the right dermal filler injection techniques, consider the skill and experience of the injectors to avoid falling victim to the risks that poor injection techniques pose.
Wrapping Up!
Dermal fillers are one of the most popular skin treatments, reaching a $7.01 billion market size in 2023, according to Precedence Research, but a lot of work goes into their success.
Injection techniques are crucial to the success of any dermal filler treatment. But do you need to memorize every technique out there before seeking injecting dermal fillers? Absolutely not!
The key to having a successful dermal filler procedure lies in choosing a skilled, certified, and experienced dermal fillers injector. When your doctor has these qualities, they are confident in their work, and you get effective results without the side effects of dermal fillers.
Improve the Quality of Your Dermal Filler Procedure with Diaminy
At Diaminy, we are focused on providing you and your injector with all the necessary tools to ensure the success of your dermal filler procedure.
From quality dermal filler injections to cannulas and dermal filler needles, our products are easy to use, improving precision and enhancing the efficiency of your injection techniques.
If you’re looking to treat your skin using dermal fillers, contact us for the latest tips and products. We are your ultimate partner for everything beauty and aesthetics!
