The FDA issued a safety communication on October 8, 2021 to avoid the use of needle-free devices for injection of dermal fillers. Keep reading to learn more.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are products that have been traditionally injected into the skin and are used to restore lost volume in various areas on the face and body. Some of the most popular dermal fillers include Voluma, Vollure, and Volbella. The active ingredient in these fillers is a sugar called hyaluronic acid, which works by bringing water into the skin. This fills hollows and folds. dermal fillers are also used to volumize specific areas such as the cheeks and lips. Until recently, the only way to place dermal fillers in the skin was using either a needle or a cannula, which is a long and thin item that looks like a needle, but doesn’t have a sharp tip.
What are needle-free devices?
Needle-free devices include items such as pens and other instruments that are designed to place dermal fillers into the skin without using a needle. These devices have been designed because one of the biggest fears people have about injectable treatments such as dermal fillers and Botox are the injections from the needles. The devices use high pressure to push tiny amounts of a dermal filler into your skin. This way, there’s no pain from the needle. Another major reason for the development of these devices is that the costs of dermal fillers and other injectable treatments have increased. It’s hard to save enough money for some of these treatments since they can be as much as a mortgage payment. On the other hand, you can get some of these devices online for less than $100.
What are the problems with needle-free devices?
One of the biggest concerns with these needle-free devices is that they are generally sold to the public so anyone can get one and use it on themselves. The issue here is that placing dermal fillers into your skin is not the same as something like applying lipstick. Professionals that inject dermal fillers and Botox into your skin have years of training. This training is required because these treatments are medical procedures that have risks. The injector is trained to know how to inject, where to inject, how to identify problems, how to treat such problems, etc. Common side effects from doing these treatments at home can include pain, bleeding, bruising, lumps, and infection. More serious side effects can include allergic reactions, swelling, or damage to your eyes from the pressure. The most severe side effects occur when the dermal filler unintentionally goes into a blood vessel. This can lead to discoloration, scarring, skin death, stroke, or permanent blindness. Needless to say, these are all serious and that’s why we have trained professionals.
The bottom line is to trust professional injectors to do treatments such as dermal fillers and Botox. Don’t try to cut corners or save money by using at-home devices since there are serious risks.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.