“We dedicate this work to everyone who was part of this journey, so meaningful and important to us; we hope to return the affection with dedication to our work. Especially to our professors and classmates.”
This is the dedication of Angela Andrade and Regiane de Campos, postgraduates in Aesthetic Pharmacy, and also of Fernanda Gorgone and Jéssica Galvão Lopes, postgraduates in Aesthetic Biomedicine.
The four Aesthetics specialists, each in her own field, completed the course in 2019 and produced their final course project (TCC) as a group. The study on “Lip filler using cannula vs. needles for rejuvenation effects” was approved by the examining committee, and in this Academic Highlight we will talk a little about it.
Lip Aesthetics Is Cultural
Today is the time when aesthetic procedures are most in demand, since the pursuit of “eternal youth,” at least physical, is a reality in the lives of many people.
Among the many options and methods for pursuing facial rejuvenation, the one that has become most popular is hyaluronic acid filler in certain areas of the face, more specifically the lips.
Lips vary according to ethnicity and particular inherited genetic characteristics, influencing color, width, and shape. Briefly going through the anatomical description of the lips that the postgraduates present in their project, they consist of five layers: cutaneous, subcutaneous tissue, muscular, submucosa, and mucosa.
But for those who want to change the shape of their lips or even improve their aesthetics, there are numerous methods available, such as chemical and physical peels, botulinum toxin, cosmetic surgery, and the use of fillers.
Beyond that, as mentioned above, the pursuit of “eternal youth” is the relevant factor in seeking aesthetic procedures for the lips.
“Over time, all of our skin ages in a natural process. This includes our lips, which become thinner and lose their shape and definition, leaving pronounced asymmetries, and the musculature overcomes the skin's resistance, intensifying perioral lines, which are the ones around the lips”, they explain in the study.
Lip Filler With Hyaluronic Acid
This is where dermatological treatments come into play, which can fill, enhance, and hydrate the area, even leaving a gloss effect. In addition, hyaluronic acid makes it possible to achieve fuller or subtly enhanced lips.
“The aesthetic result of lip augmentation with dermal fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, requires skill and the application of a proper technique. In addition, achieving aesthetic goals with minimal risk of adverse events requires knowledge of lip anatomy and function, clinical experience with various injection techniques, and an individualized treatment approach (LUTHRA, 2015).”
In addition, this substance has become the most widely used product for this type of procedure, since hyaluronic acid is a raw material of collagen and is easily recognized by the body, even when synthetic.
“It is a material compatible with our skin that is not aggressive and is quickly absorbed; moreover, the procedure can be performed in the dental office itself, with no need for hospitalization (CARASCO, 2016).”
The Use of Needles and Cannulas
The use of needles for facial procedures was common for years; however, with the arrival of the cannula, their use declined. This is because traditional needles have the disadvantage of breaking through barriers and causing injury to tissues and blood vessels in order to reach their target.
Their use can lead to complications during application, such as bruising, ischemia, necrosis, and even blindness. For that reason, given what was happening and the evolution of techniques, an attempt was made to eliminate or at least minimize the complications of the traditional hypodermic needle, and microcannulas were designed for injecting fillers.
“Microcannulas are similar to needles, but they have a blunt tip and a side opening near the tip, through which filler materials can be injected, such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, poly-L-lactic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite (CAHA), and others, as well as fat transfer (ANTONIO et al, 2015),” they explain.
The facial filler professional, and in the case of lips, needs to use a comfortable, refined instrument to do the work. This contributes to the safety of the aesthetic professional at the moment of applying the substances.
“The use of microcannulas represents an important alternative in the application technique for aesthetic fillers. It results in several advantages, such as greater safety and speed in filling deep planes, the ability to reach distant areas through a single entry point, less pain, physical and psychological trauma, edema, and bruising, as well as faster recovery”, the postgraduates conclude in the final remarks of the work.
Read the full work:
Academic HighlightsJosiele Batista
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
