Plug the needle hub during subcision for a bloodless field.

BACKGROUND

Subcision is a simple such procedure with considerable efficacy especially in the management of the rolling type of atrophic post-acne scars. Since its introduction in 1995, the technique has undergone several modifications to enhance its results as well as to improve the ergonomics. However, 'gushing' of blood through the hub of the needle smears the surgeon's gloves and the treatment field, which is not desirable both aesthetically and hygienically.

AIM: To describe a simple technique to avoid blood spillage to the treatment field while doing subcision.

METHOD: While doing subcision, the open hub of the needle used was plugged with a button of sterile cotton and cyanoacrylate glue. The new technique was demonstrated on a patient with atrophic post-acne scars.

RESULTS

There was no blood spillage through the hub of the needle.

CONCLUSION

This simple modification of subcision helps to attain a bloodless treatment area which also has an added advantage of better assessment of the targeted endpoints at the treatment site.