Aesthetics Needles FAQ

Aesthetics Needles FAQ

PUBLISHED ON 4/23/2021

Aesthetic Needles

Aesthetic needles are specially designed for toxin and dermal filler injections to offer a wide range of benefits, such as reduced pain and improved patient comfort. With so many needle sizes and types on the market, how do you select the right one for your medical practice?

Read on to learn more about the top 15 frequently asked questions about aesthetic needles.

Do Your Needles Fit Luer Lock or Luer Slip Syringes?

Our needles will fit any standard Luer lock or Luer slip syringe. Needle hubs and syringe tips fall under the International Standards Organization (ISO) guidelines, a globally recognized standardization that allows almost any needle to fit on virtually any syringe, regardless if they have a luer slip or luer lock tip.

There are some extremely rare instances where the fit may not be as “good” as expected because ISO offers a limited range for both the syringe and the needle specifications. In these rare instances, a syringe manufacturer may be at one extreme of the spectrum (but still within parameters) while the needle hub may be at the other end, but still within the specification.

What Is a Needle Gauge?

The gauge (abbreviated as “g”) of a needle refers to the size of the needle’s outer diameter. The higher the gauge, the smaller the diameter and the thinner it appears. Needles come in various gauges and lengths. You’ll find the length of a needle listed after the gauge number.

What Does Regular Wall/Thin Wall/Ultra-Thin Wall Mean?

These terms refer to how thick the needle wall is (based on its inner and outer diameter). A needle’s gauge only defines the thickness of the outside diameter of the needle. The thickness of the needle wall itself can vary (regular, thin, etc.), which correspondingly affects the size of the hole inside.

The smaller the lumen of the needle shaft (the lumen is the hollow bore that runs the length of the needle), the more difficult it is to pass viscous material through the needle. Some injectables cannot flow through extremely small lumen based on their consistency, so choosing the correct needle size is essential.

A thin wall needle’s inner diameter allows you to use a needle gauge that is smaller than that of a comparable regular-wall needle while benefiting from the same flow rate.

Long needles with a regular wall are less likely to flex than thin or ultra-thin wall needles due to the added thickness.

Why Are Some Needles More Expensive Than Others?

It often costs less to manufacture larger-sized needles, as they are simpler to produce. Very small needles and fine-tip needles require a more sophisticated production process, and are therefore more costly.

Companies that specialize in fine-tip microneedles focus on the quality of the raw materials used, needle sharpness, consistency of the cannula thickness, the type of hub, and many other important factors. All of these attributes can affect the cost of the needles.

What Is The Smallest Gauge Available?

The ISO Standard covering needles recognizes needles from 10g to 34g (34g being recognized as the smallest), but innovative companies continue to push the boundaries to develop smaller and smaller needles.

What Size Needle Do I Need For “XYZ” Procedure?

This can vary greatly depending on the specific material being injected (due to the material’s viscosity), location of the injection, and even the patient themselves.

If you need assistance in determining which needle you should buy for a specific application, give us a call at 1-800-231-7762 and our customer service team will work to find the best solution for you.

The Injectable Company Says To Use “30g”, Can I Use Something Smaller?

Possibly - It depends on the viscosity of the material being injected. Sometimes companies recommend a specific size based on regular wall needles. A smaller needle may have the same inner diameter (ID) if it has a thin wall or ultra-thin wall, which allows the same material to pass through the lumen.

How Important Is The Hub Material Or Design?

The type of hub can provide differing features for a needle. For a long time, all plastic needle hubs essentially had the same design and were constructed out of similar material. However, some innovative companies, such as TSK, have recently developed new hub technologies that provide a tighter fit for certain applications or even reduced dead space to save valuable material.

I Require A Needle Size (Or Shape) That Isn’t Available Anywhere—Is There A Way To Make A Custom Needle?

The short answer is yes. Air-Tite commonly handles custom projects. Our global network of suppliers means that we can typically find a manufacturer who can manufacture your desired needle size/design. However, the minimum order quantities and/or pricing of these custom solutions can be high.

Do You Have A Substitute Or Alternative To “XYZ” Needle?

“Standard” needles (18g - 30g) are available from a wide variety of manufacturers. We carry five different lines of needles that overlap for many sizes. Specialty needles smaller than 30g are only manufactured by a limited number of manufacturers, so there are fewer opportunities to substitute those needles.

Are There Any Other Products Or Supplies People Need When Purchasing Needles?

Needles will always require a syringe to perform injections. Your office also might need personal protective equipment, such as:

What Are The Most Common Procedures Your Needles Are Used For?

Our needles can be used in the following procedures:

  • Fillers
  • Botox injections
  • PRP
  • Vitamin injections
  • Sclerotherapy
  • Mesotherapy
  • Fluid draw up
  • And more

Why Do Many Plastic Surgeons & Med Spas Buy In Bulk?

Buying in bulk provides many benefits outside of the initial discounted pricing. Having several boxes of needles on a shelf will allow support staff and clinicians to get an idea of when supplies are dwindling and it’s time to re-order.

Full cases often come with 60 or 100 boxes, and for most items, we provide an opportunity for customers to receive a discount when purchasing at least 10 boxes.

What Are The Most Popular Aesthetic Needles You Sell?

What Other Industries/Specializations Can Benefit From Needles?

In addition to plastic surgeon offices and med spas, our needles can be used across a wide range of practices and disciplines, such as:

  • Laboratories
  • Veterinary Offices
  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Medical providers of all types
  • Medical examiners
  • Coroners
  • Forensic scientists

Aesthetic Needles For Your Practice

Aesthetic needles from Air-Tite come in a wide variety of unique sizes, configurations, and can significantly improve patient comfort. If you’d like to learn more about our aesthetic products or available needles, click the link below.

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