When to change needles during neuromodulator injections-An electron-microscopy investigation into needle tip deformation.

[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 (3×, 5×, and 10×) 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 10× (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 3× was 14.8%, at 5× 19.6%, and at 10× 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.