Syringes and the needles used to pierce the skin for injections have existed for hundreds of years (as early as the late 1600s) to help provide medicine and draw blood. Drs. Alexander Wood and Charles Gabriel Pravaz developed the syringe in 1853 to help administer morphine. However, the evolution of the hypodermic syringe is often given to Wood specifically as he pushed the idea that it could be used for injecting a variety of medications. Indeed, needles are used in applying vastly different types of drugs in the veins to offer several treatments, including cosmetic use.
Cosmetic injectables are the common term for different materials placed in your body with needles to provide skin with fewer wrinkles and a smoother and fuller appearance. Because syringes are used, appropriate care needs to be taken. Let’s explore why cosmetic injectables need proper safety by looking at what they are, the dangers of bad injections, and the guidelines that should be followed.
If you live in the Arlington, Virginia, area and want injectables or other cosmetic treatments, Drs. Talal Munasifi and James Economides and their dedicated staff at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center can help.
Defining injectables
There are two classes of materials used for doing cosmetic injectables:
Botox®
This form of injection uses a controlled dose of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces the Botulinum toxin. This neurotoxin disrupts nerve signaling that is responsible for contracting muscles. It can be applied to wrinkles by relaxing the muscles that cause them, making them look smoother.
Dermal Fillers
This is the general term for several chemicals that are injected to help with deep wrinkles and creases and contour your face. We use two types of dermal filler, Juvederm®, and Radiesse®, which are forms of hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA), respectively.
Things that can go wrong
Injections are incredibly common, whether they’re done by people drawing blood for testing (called phlebotomists) or for administering drugs into your bloodstream, and both have potential dangers to your veins, skin, and other parts of the body:
- Skin popping: this happens when you inject drugs into the muscle under the skin as opposed to directly into the veins and leaves lumps of tissue or scars
- Bruising: this can be caused by blood leaking out of the vein during injection and happens when using the same vein repeatedly
- Venous injury: using the same vein can also lead to it collapsing and injuring veins, but they can be damaged by blunt needles as well
- Spreading disease: substance abusers are at higher risks of hepatitis C and HIV when reusing needles or using unclean ones
- Puffy hand syndrome: longtime substance abusers are also at higher risk of getting nonpitting edema in their hands, making them puffy
Guidelines for injection safety
Regardless of why something is being injected into your skin, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has vital guidelines to prevent harming you and provide as little risk as possible of complications:
- The injection area should always be properly sterilized beforehand
- Always use a sterilized syringe and needle for performing injections
- Never reuse needles; all injections should be followed by the needle and syringe being safely discarded in the appropriate containers
- Do not use a vial, bag, bottle, or any substance for multiple patients
- Always wear a facemask when performing injections
- Limit the use of multi-dose vials, and if they’re necessary, use them on a single patient to prevent contamination
Regardless of your treatment, safety is the first concern, and we care about your safety when working to help you look your best. If you’re ready for safe, high-quality cosmetic care, make an appointment with Drs. Munasifi, Economides, and the team at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center today.
