oPinion | AESTHETIC MEdICInE |
considering novel concepts in
injection delivery
Z Paul Lorenc discusses the benefits that can be added to practice when using an assisted injection device
A
Z. PAUL LORENC, MD, FACS. is a board certified aesthetic plastic surgeon, New York, USA. He is Course Chairman of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery/ Anti Aging Medicine: The Next Generation Symposium
email:
Lorenc@lorenc.com 66 ❚
lAck of innovAtion with regard to dermal filler substances has contributed to an evolving spectrum of new techniques and
tools in aesthetic medicine. Experienced injectors are inventing new and unique methods of injecting the available dermal filler products and biologics, such as autologous fat and platelet rich plasma, to fill this void. the idea behind assisted injection systems is to address some of the limits when treating patients, such as the speed or method of injection and the acceleration of the injected product, as well as to control the quantity and accuracy of the injection. Previous injection-assisted devices had injections that were graded; for example, when the trigger is pulled, it would click and deliver a small bolus and stop until the next click. the introduction of the Artiste™ injection system, however, represents a quantum leap by allowing a continuous, fluid, uninterrupted deposition of material.
Changing trends The majority of currently available hyaluronic acid products and other fillers on the market, with the exception of Restylane SubQ (Q-Med/Galderma), Voluma (Allergan), Teosyal Ultimate
November/December 2011 |
prime-journal.com
(Teoxane), and Radiesse (Merz Aesthetics), come in a 1 cc syringe, and Radiesse also comes in a 1.5 cc. This is primarily because larger volumes would be extremely difficult to inject through the acceptable range of needle gauges. This may be because the pressure is too great for the human thumb to be able to push comfortably and consistently. The fundamental reason for the
development of the Artiste™ Assisted Injection System was in response to the well-documented trend in filler materials toward higher viscosities and greater G or lifting capacities. In addition, there has been an increase in particulate additions to standard dermal filler materials with the intent of achieving the longer-lasting correction of wrinkles. The physics of higher viscosity substances, however, results in some difficulty in the use of thumb-driven syringes, since the thumb force to deliver equal flow rates increases linearly with increased viscosity, and more than linearly with increasing needle gauge. While the thumb force required to inject
higher viscosity fillers is within the upper range of the force that can be applied with the human thumb, sustaining that force uniformly and over time is difficult, if not impossible. The system eliminates the need for the thumb to be used on the syringe plunger. It allows the user to grip
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