Knowledge of underlaying anatomy is crucial to the safe and successful use of fillers, according to Joel L. Cohen, M.D., who earlier this year presented his findings at MauiDerm 2012: Advances in Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology.

Dermal filler complications rarely occur, but they can happen.

Dr. Cohen said,

“When injecting very superficially, Dr. Cohen says he uses a 32-gauge needle, which he says can sometimes be a bit unwieldy, so he tries to protect the globe. In these cases, he often uses anesthetic eye drops and inserts a Jaeger retractor covered with an eye lubricant below the area he is working on in the lower eyelid.

“The 32-gauge needle is important because I believe it slows us down,” he says, adding that this helps to inject very small aliquots; overinjecting with a larger needle in the periorbital area can create visible bumps of linear threading.”

How to inject including the gauge of the needles and the depth of the skin makes a lot of difference in the patient’s results. Different areas require different types of injections, and it means doctors must become familiar with how this will affect the filler and the health of the patient. That is where a strong knowledge of anatomy comes in.

It also remains a big reason why people should never undergo plastic surgery procedures from someone at a party or through a non-professional. If you don’t have the money to hire someone who understands anatomy and needles, don’t do the procedure.