What is the Risk of Disease Transmission when Sharing a Syringe but Switching Needle?

Hello,


  There is no “discount” worth risking transmission of disease.  To be honest, the primary concerns in reusing needles / syringes / anything that isn’t properly sterilized are Hepatitis C and HIV.  Neither of which have a cure.  Regardless of the risk of reusing someone else’s syringe, why take the chance?     


Hope this helps.

 

Sharing a syringe (even with changing the needle) is never recommended. Even if the risk of transmitting diseases is small, the risk is still present and not worth it. As other physicians have mentioned, there are half syringes that can be purchased as opposed to using the same syringe for two different people. This is not a safe practice whatsoever.

I agree with all of the other physicians who answered this question, never share a syringe with another person, even if the needle is changed.  Although the risk of disease transmission is low when you know the other person is healthy, it's not worth taking the chance.  I would like to clarify a comment by Dr. Schulman.  All of the major filler manufacturers, Juvederm, Restylane and Radiesse, do make "half size" syringes.  It is also common for physicians to sterially split syringes using a luer lock connector.  There is therefore no reason someone should need to share a syringe.  In my Laguna Niguel Dermatology practice, when patients only need or desire a small amount of product, they can purchase a smaller syringe which is more cost effective for them.