Magic Needle®

Wrinkles are lines, creases, or ridges that develop on the skin. They are often more pronounced around certain active areas, such as the eyes, mouth, and neck, as well as on sun-exposed areas of the body. These wrinkles are a natural part of aging and can be linked to many causes, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, smoking, and repeated facial expressions. Happily, there are a variety of cosmetic treatments that can make wrinkles less noticeable and provide a more youthful, revitalized appearance.

Before discussing Magic Needle^® and its benefits for Dallas-area patients, it’s a good idea to look into wrinkle-smoothing options as a whole. There’s no denying the popularity of injectable dermal fillers such as Juvéderm^® and Restylane^®, made from naturally occurring chemicals that are found in your body. In addition to dermal fillers that have a hyaluronic acid base, there are biostimulatory fillers like Radiesse^® that encourage growth of the skin’s natural collagen. There are also other non-surgical approaches to facial rejuvenation. BOTOX^® is an injectable containing botulinum toxin type A, also known as a neuromodulator, that temporarily relaxes or weakens the facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles.

However popular these fillers and neurotoxins might be, however, it’s important for patients in Dallas and beyond to have as many treatment choices as possible. The options available via Magic Needle^® are worth considering.

A so-called “Platelet-Rich Plasma Facelift” is an alternative to hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers. This patented system utilizes a small sample of the patient’s blood to create an activated platelet-rich plasma that is then injected into the selected treatment area to help stimulate new cell tissue and dermal growth.

This is an ideal procedure for patients who prefer to achieve the effects of a facelift without surgery or the introduction of foreign materials or substances into their body. PRP has numerous benefits, including reducing wrinkles or deep creases, plumping the skin, lifting sagging areas, and enhancing the complexion.

Approved by the FDA in October 2011 and innovated by Needle Concept, the Magic Needle^® was designed to minimize trauma to subcutaneous tissue during the injection process, minimizing pain and further reducing recovery time from the procedure.

What is the best way to inject fillers? Is a needle or cannula better for fillers? Each of these options has its own unique advantages, so the most suitable approach depends on the patient.

One of the most common techniques used to administer facial fillers is needle injection. Most typically, a fine needle is used to introduce the filler under the skin’s surface, which is numbed with a local anesthetic.

A Magic Needle^® isn’t technically a needle, but is a device known as a cannula, which is more like a flexible tube with a rounded tip. This tip gentles the process of entering tissue, offers the injector greater depth control, and helps to prevent ecchymosis, which is a temporary skin discoloration caused by blood escaping into the tissue from ruptured blood vessels. The flexibility of a Magic Needle^® also enables the injector to utilize a sliding technique that results in reduced procedure times and a broader range of coverage for the treatment area. Cannulas, such as Magic Needle^®, are typically thought to be safer than needles because they lack a sharp point. Magic Needle^® may cause less pain and bruising as a result. That said, needles may sometimes offer more precision, making them better for contouring and fine touch-ups.

If you are a good candidate for a Plasma^® treatment, you should be a great candidate for a Plasma^® treatment utilizing the Magic Needle^®, because the primary difference is that the procedure will feel gentler and you’ll experience even less downtime afterward.

Candidates for Plasma^® treatment utilizing the Magic Needle^® are typically looking to resolve lines that have formed below and around the lower eyelid area. This delicate area under the eye would typically be all but impossible to fill, but with the Magic Needle^®, the cannula simply glides through the soft tissue, leaving no need for any recovery time.

Candidates interested in utilizing the Magic Needle^® for their Plasma^® treatment may also have some degree of fear or concern about needles, or may simply want the benefit of a reduced recovery time and less painful procedure.

Dr. Turner can lay claim to being the first cosmetic plasma injector in Dallas, using harvested plasma before various companies developed new user-friendly generations of the product. This gives her historic insight into the treatment and a true appreciation for the conveniences, including Magic Needle^®, available today.

Plasma^® treatments conducted in a clinical trial resulted in improvements to nasolabial folds within 14 days, and the positive results continued throughout the 12 weeks of the study.

Dallas-area patients who visit our office typically receive two to three treatments in the first six months to ensure that they are responsive to this treatment strategy. If patients are responsive to these Plasma^® treatments with Magic Needle^®, they may elect to return for additional treatments to enhance and prolong the positive effects.

Utilizing a Magic Needle^® when conducting these Plasma^® treatments won’t result in a drastically different outcome, but because the coverage area is enhanced due to the cannula’s flexibility, Magic Needle^® patients may experience a slightly enhanced outcome. The main improvement is in the experience of the procedure itself.

The entire purpose of the Magic Needle^® is to minimize pain and discomfort during the injection process. The Magic Needle^® cannula’s rounded tip eases entry and ensures that the tissue is not damaged by allowing for a sliding technique that does not traumatize the tissue. With a standard rigid hypodermic needle, the injector must follow a straight-line trajectory. However, the flexibility of the Magic Needle^® affords the injector a greater range of movement and control, resulting in a faster, more pleasant experience for the patient.

The Magic Needle^® cannula also results in significantly less bruising—and, in some cases, no bruising at all.

Costs for a platelet-rich plasma treatment utilizing the Magic Needle^® vary based on each patient’s unique treatment needs, but know that candidates for this treatment can use CareCredit to help finance the procedure. Ask our staff for additional information about CareCredit or apply online.

Needle-based skin treatments often provide quick and long-lasting results. Is your fear of needles preventing you from enjoying the benefits of fillers or other cosmetic treatments you’re interested in? Some people are able to push their anxiety aside using comforting injection strategies. Simply asking what to expect so that you know what the next steps will be helps to reduce some of the fear of the unknown. Having potent topical anesthetic applied and using deep breathing techniques can also help to reduce anxiety. Talk to Dr. Ellen Turner and her team about your options.

PRP injections with Magic Needle^® are highly effective for facial rejuvenation and enhancement, but there are also some needle-free cosmetic treatments to consider. Skin care treatments like chemical peels or lasers and lights can improve the tone and texture of the skin. BTL EMFACE^™ is a non-invasive contouring technology that can sculpt and improve the definition of facial contours without the need for incisions, injections, or sutures. Talk to us about what might work best for you!