L’injection esthétique est bien plus qu’un simple geste technique : il s’agit d’un acte médical codifié, basé sur une parfaite connaissance de l’anatomie du visage, de la rhéologie des produits injectables et des objectifs esthétiques recherchés. Pour répondre à la diversité des indications – comblement des rides, restauration des volumes, hydratation cutanée, relâchement modéré – différentes techniques d’injection ont été développées et perfectionnées au fil des années.
Le choix de la technique dépend de plusieurs facteurs :
The needle is the traditional reference tool for performing injections. Fine, hollow, and rigid, it allows very precise injection into well-defined areas, with excellent control over depth and administered volume. The needle is particularly indicated for superficial wrinkles (perioral fine lines, crow’s feet), precise anchoring points (localized depressions, punctual asymmetry, bolus of product in a specific spot).
It also allows the product to be deposited in small amounts, at multiple points or in a line, depending on aesthetic needs.
The needle offers the advantage of maximum precision. It is particularly suitable for superficial and localized injections and can be used with all types of products. However, its use can be slightly more painful than the cannula, carries an increased risk of bruising if a capillary is hit, and often requires multiple puncture points.
What is a cannula ? The cannula is a flexible instrument with a rounded (non-sharp) tip, which allows it to glide through tissue layers while avoiding vessels and nerves. It does not pierce the tissues, which significantly reduces the risk of hematomas, bruising, and vascular complications.
It is used for the cheekbones, tear trough, under-eye circles, forehead, nose, and sometimes the lips, depending on the physician’s preference.
The cannula has several advantages : it is less traumatic to the tissues, generally less painful, and requires fewer entry points — sometimes a single point is enough to treat a large area. It also reduces the risk of intravascular injection. On the other hand, it is less suitable for superficial injections and lacks precision for very targeted corrections. Its use also requires good technical mastery to achieve optimal results.
This is a widely used injection technique, whether with a needle or a cannula. The principle is simple : the instrument is inserted to the desired plane, and the product is slowly injected while withdrawing. This method allows the product to be deposited in a linear and homogeneous manner, making it particularly suitable for treating nasolabial folds, marionette lines, tear troughs, and the jawline. It also provides precise control over the injected volume and promotes harmonious integration of the product.
Le bolus consiste à injecter une quantité définie de produit en un point fixe, souvent en profondeur (jusqu’au périoste). Cette méthode est utilisée pour créer du volume (pommettes, menton, tempes), projeter un élément précis du visage, soutenir mécaniquement un plan cutané affaissé.
Le bolus nécessite un choix rigoureux du produit, généralement très réticulé, et une maîtrise anatomique parfaite pour éviter les corrections excessives ou les asymétries.
This technique is often used with a cannula. It consists of depositing the product in a fan shape from a single entry point, making several passes in different directions while injecting gradually.
It is ideal for hollow cheeks, large areas, and treatments for diffuse sagging in the lower face.
The desired effect is global : a subtle, natural result, evenly distributed.
The micro-bolus is a variant of the bolus, adapted to very mobile areas or where the skin is thin. It consists of depositing very small amounts of product at regular intervals, often in the superficial dermis.
Used for perioral wrinkles (code-bar), cheek wrinkles, the tail of the eyebrow (subtle lifting), or during Skinbooster injections, to hydrate without modifying volumes.
This technique requires great precision and a very fluid product, in order to avoid irregularities.
The « blanching » (or whitening) technique consists of injecting the product in a very superficial way, almost intradermally, until a slight whitening of the skin appears. This phenomenon reflects a tensioning of the dermis, which gradually smooths out over the following days.
This method is particularly indicated for the treatment of fine lines, especially around the mouth and eyes, as well as for thin, crepey skin or certain dynamic wrinkles that have become static. However, it is not always feasible, as it carries a risk of the Tyndall effect, meaning the appearance of a bluish reflection under the skin.
Although they are not intended to restore volume, Skinbooster or mesotherapy cocktail injections require a specific technique : fanning or micro-papules. The physician then performs a series of superficial micro-injections, which finely grid the area to be treated.
This method is applied to the face to restore radiance and hydration, to the neck and décolleté to correct thin and lax skin, as well as to the backs of the hands to stimulate skin regeneration. It is well tolerated and primarily aims to improve tissue quality, without modifying volume.
An essential classification of techniques is based on the plane in which the product is injected. This parameter affects the aesthetic result, the longevity of the treatment, and safety.
An experienced physician will choose the appropriate plane according to the area and indication, thus avoiding side effects such as the Tyndall effect, product migration, or an artificial result.
In a single session, the physician can alternate several injection techniques, depending on the areas treated and the products used. This is referred to as a combined strategy or full face approach. For example, using a cannula with the retrograde technique for the cheekbones, performing small boluses with a needle for medical lifting techniques, injecting superficial micro-boluses to correct perioral wrinkles, and finishing the session with mesotherapy in a fanning technique to improve skin quality.
This customized approach requires perfect mastery of each technique and the ability to anticipate the interaction between different injection planes. It provides a more harmonious and long-lasting result than a single isolated injection.
Botulinum toxin injection is based on a completely different principle : inhibiting the contraction of muscles responsible for expression wrinkles. The technique consists of precisely identifying the relevant muscles, injecting very small volumes at several specific points, and adjusting the dose according to muscle strength and the goal (wrinkle elimination, balance, prevention).
The procedure is precise, quick, and almost painless.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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