Akintilo, Lisa and Green, Jeremy B. and Kaufman, Joely and Ghane-Motlagh, Bahar and Freytag, David L. and Frank, Konstantin and Alfertshofer, Michael and Cotofana, Sebastian (2025) When to change needles during neuromodulator injections-An electron-microscopy investigation into needle tip deformation. JOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, 24 (1). ISSN 1473-2130, 1473-2165
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Background Neuromodulator injections are minimally invasive procedures performed across the globe. Despite their ubiquity, there is a dearth of information on whether and how needle tips used for neuromodulator procedures are deformed after repeated injections. Objective We investigated the magnitude of needle tip deformation following sequential injection passes (3x, 5x, and 10x) during facial neuromodulator injections with three commonly used needle sizes (30G, 31G, and 32G). Methods Neuromodulator was administered for four different aesthetic indications. Each collected needle was mounted and imaged in a Philips XL-30 Scanning electron microscope. Images were processed using ImageJ photo analysis software. Results Forty-five needle tips were investigated. When comparing the facial regions of interest, a statistically significant difference in deformation percentage was found when injecting 10x (p = 0.044) with greatest damage after injecting the glabella (38.4%), followed by lateral canthus (27.9%), forehead (27.5%), and midface (23.1%). Independent of facial region targeted, the mean percentage of needle deformation at 3x was 14.8%, at 5x 19.6%, and at 10x 29.2% with p < 0.001. Smaller needle size corresponded to smaller percentage of damage. Conclusion Exchanging needles after more than five injection passes will minimize needle deformation and likely increase injection precision.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ; botulinum toxin; electron microscopy; needle injections; needle tip deformation; neuromodulator |
| Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Zentrum für Plastische-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Mar 2026 05:34 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2026 05:34 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/65010 |
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