Micro-gauge needles with low dead space injectors reduce pain and toxin waste

A split-face study of 42 patients at Baskent University Ankara Hospital, published on August 21, 2026, shows that using a 34-gauge needle with a low dead space injector (LDSI) for upper-face botulinum toxin injections significantly improves patient comfort and cuts product waste compared to a standard 30-gauge fixed-needle insulin syringe. For a busy injector, the clinical and financial differences are notable. On a 10-point visual analog scale, patients reported lower pain scores on the LDSI side across the forehead (3.90 versus 5.66), glabella (3.30 versus 5.07), and periorbital lines (2.00 versus 3.33). Additionally, the LDSI side saw zero bruising, while the control side experienced grade 1 to 2 bruising. On the business side, the LDSI system reduced toxin wastage 2.8-fold. The standard syringe wasted approximately 1.36 units (0.0539 grams) per injection, while the LDSI wasted only 0.48 units (0.0192 grams). This saves roughly 0.88 units of product per use. Adopting these micro-gauge low dead space systems in your practice is a highly practical way to preserve expensive product while delivering a more comfortable, bruise-free injection experience that patients will notice.

Source: Dermatology Times, https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/micro-gauge-needles-with-ldsi-improve-patient-comfort-and-reduce-botulinum-toxin-wastage