Ask three surgeons what size cannula they reach for and you may get three different units in the answer. One talks in gauge, one in millimetres, one simply says "the blue one". On a busy tray that mix is where confusion starts. This guide sets out how CLINIMED sizes its liposuction cannulas, what each hub colour means, and how diameter sits alongside the other two choices that shape a cannula: length and tip.
How cannula diameter is measured
Every CLINIMED cannula is specified by its outer diameter (OD), in millimetres. That's the measurement across the outside of the stainless steel tube, and it's the number you'll see after the Ø symbol on each product page, for example Ø2.5 mm.
Outer diameter is the figure that matters most at the tray. It's what you're passing through the incision and the tissue, and it's what determines which colour band a cannula belongs to.
If your current inventory list or an older catalogue describes cannulas by gauge, it's worth converting that list to millimetres OD before you reorder. Comparing millimetres with millimetres avoids ordering a size that's close but not quite what the team is used to.
Stocked diameters: Ø0.64 to Ø5.0 mm
CLINIMED stocks thirteen diameters, from very fine to bulk:
Ø0.64, 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 mm.
Not every tip style or hub is offered in every diameter, so the exact options are listed on each product page. The full range is in the cannulas collection.
Every diameter goes through the same process, from the finest Ø0.64 mm tube up to Ø5.0 mm: vents cut on specialty CNC laser machines, hand-buffing, electropolishing inside and out, ultrasonic cleaning and a borescope inspection of the lumen. You can read more in how our cannulas are made.
The colour-coded hub chart
Each CLINIMED hub is machined from 6061-T6 aluminium and anodized in a colour that tells you the cannula's outer diameter band. Six bands cover the stocked range:
| Band | Hub colour | Outer diameter range | Stocked diameters (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANO | Black | under 1.0 mm | Ø0.64, Ø0.9 |
| MICRO | Violet | 1.0–1.9 mm | Ø1.0, Ø1.2, Ø1.5, Ø1.8 |
| MINI | Blue | 2.0–2.9 mm | Ø2.0, Ø2.5 |
| MIDI | Green | 3.0–3.9 mm | Ø3.0, Ø3.5 |
| MAXI | Yellow | 4.0–4.9 mm | Ø4.0, Ø4.5 |
| MACRO | Red | 5.0–5.9 mm | Ø5.0 |
The colour gives you the band at a glance. The exact diameter within that band is on the product page.
Why colour-coding by diameter helps on a busy tray
Mid-case, a consistent colour per diameter band means the scrub team can find the right size quickly. If the surgeon asks for a MINI, they're looking for blue; the cannulas in that band are grouped by colour before anyone checks the exact size.
It also makes a misplaced cannula easier to spot. A green hub sitting in a row of violet ones stands out when the tray is set up, when instruments are counted, and when they're sorted after the case for cleaning. For practice managers, it gives the reprocessing team a simple visual check that each set has come back with the sizes it should have.
Colour shows diameter, not hub type
One point that catches people out: the hub colour tells you the cannula diameter, not which handle, syringe or system it connects to. CLINIMED cannulas come with a range of hub connections, including Secure Luer™, Toomey and ACME-threaded hubs, and a blue hub can be any of them. The connection type is shown in the SKU suffix and on the product page. If you need to check which hub fits which handle, syringe or handpiece, the Hub & Compatibility Guide sets it out.
Custom colours for OEM and private label
If you supply cannulas under your own brand and already use a different colour system, custom hub colours are available for OEM and private-label customers. That lets a distributor or group keep its own scheme consistent across its range.
Smaller vs larger diameters: general guidance
Choosing a diameter is a clinical decision, and the surgeon makes it. As a general pattern, though:
- Smaller diameters (the NANO, MICRO and lower MINI bands) are generally used for finer, more superficial and facial work, and for fat grafting.
- Larger diameters (the MIDI, MAXI and MACRO bands) are generally used for debulking deeper fat.
For fat-grafting work in particular, the aspiration and harvesting collection groups the harvesting tips that are commonly used in the smaller sizes.
The other two variables: length and tip
Diameter is only one part of the specification. Length is the second: it depends on the area being treated and on the surgeon's preference. Longer cannulas are where CLINIMED's 2-part design helps most. Because the cannula threads off its handle, a brush and rinse water can pass straight through the lumen, and the separated parts fit standard tabletop autoclaves. Always follow the manufacturer's IFU for reprocessing and sterilisation.
The tip is the third variable. The store carries 59 tip styles, from 90° linear vents that aspirate in one direction to 270° and 360° radial patterns that aspirate around more of the circumference, plus basket tips and fine multi-hole harvesters. As a rule of thumb, more and larger vents and a wider extraction angle make aspiration more aggressive at any given diameter.
Putting a selection together
The simplest way to build a set is to start with the diameters you use most, then choose tip and hub for each. The Mix & Match configurator lets you put those choices together in one place, and the hub colours will tell you at a glance which band each cannula belongs to once it's on the tray.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do liposuction cannulas come in?
CLINIMED stocks liposuction cannulas in thirteen outer diameters from Ø0.64 mm to Ø5.0 mm. Not every tip style and hub is offered in every diameter, so check each product page for the available sizes.
What do the colours on CLINIMED cannula hubs mean?
The hub colour shows the cannula's outer diameter band: black NANO (under 1.0 mm), violet MICRO, blue MINI, green MIDI, yellow MAXI and red MACRO. It does not indicate the hub connection type.
Is cannula size measured as inner or outer diameter?
CLINIMED specifies its cannulas by outer diameter (OD) in millimetres. That's the figure shown after the Ø symbol on each product page.
Is there a liposuction cannula gauge chart?
Yes. CLINIMED lists its cannulas in millimetres of outer diameter, and a Liposuction Cannula Gauge Chart is available to download on our Catalogs page, so you can convert a gauge-based inventory list to millimetres OD before ordering.
Can I order cannula hubs in custom colours?
Yes, custom hub colours are available for OEM and private-label customers who want to match their own colour scheme.