The hands are one of the most visible parts of the body, second only to the face.  Prominent veins and tendons are readily recognizable signs of aging. Studies report that people are able to guess the age of a person by looking at the back of the hands! Day after day, year after year, your hands are actively subjected to multiple harsh conditions like the sun, wind, hot water, work and chemicals that strip the skin of natural oils. With age, subcutaneous fat is lost exposing underlying tendons, bulging veins and bony lumps and bumps. Sun damage causes thin, crepey, age spots and liver spots and discolorations.

While we may admire a new ring or manicure, we neglect the damage until it becomes obvious.  Nonsurgical hand rejuvenation is safe and effective to restore lost volume and rejuvenate the skin. Often a combination of treatments is necessary to achieve the desired results.

What are the symptoms of aging hands?

Soft tissue atrophy is the hallmark of aging hands including volume loss, loss of skin elasticity, thinning skin, wrinkles and texture and pigment changes.

What causes soft tissue atrophy?

The number one cause of aging hands is photoaging. Chronic sun exposure leads to thinning skin, wrinkles, discolorations and deterioration of collagen and elastin, the skin’s supporting structures.

What is hand rejuvenation?

Hand rejuvenation involves a variety of nonsurgical and minimally-invasive treatments designed to improve the appearance of the hands. The skeletonization of the hands is best treated with fillers and fat transfer to restore lost volume and stimulate collagen production to smooth wrinkles. Lasers and chemical peels can improve pigmentation, and sclerotherapy can treat select bulging veins.

What are hand augmentation procedures?

Hand augmentation procedures include dermal fillers and fat transfer also called fat grafting.

• Dermal fillers are injected into the backs of the hands to restore the appearance of a smooth, youthful hand. Fillers can restore contours and improve the appearance of veins, bones and tendons. Results are temporary and require maintenance injections to preserve results.
  • Restylane® LYFT™ was the first filler approved by FDA for hand rejuvenation. Results last 6 months to a year.
  • Radiesse® fills for immediate fullness and stimulates production of collagen for longer lasting effects. Results last 12-18 months.
  • Juvederm® is a hyaluronic acid filler that provides instant improvements and lasts 6 months to a year.
• Autologous fat transfer has been demonstrated to be safe and effective to restore youthful fullness on the backs of the hands. It is a two-step procedure that begins with harvesting fat from the abdomen or thighs using liposuction. The fat is processed to remove impurities and injected into your hands to reduce the appearance of tendons, bulging veins and bony prominences. More than one treatment may be needed to achieve optimal results. Results are durable lasting for a few years and touchups can restore results. Patient satisfaction is high.

Which procedures can address sun damage, pigment and texture changes?

Photoaging can be improved with topical prescriptions creams containing retinol or retinoid acid. Topical hydroquinone is a bleaching agent that lightens skin discolorations.

New topical formulations are in development to repair photodamaged skin.

• Chemical peels use a chemical solution to noninvasively slough off damaged superficial skin layers and lighten dark spots to reveal more even skin tone and texture.
• Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive procedure to improve hyperpigmentation. It provides superficial exfoliation and increases skin elasticity with little or no downtime.
• Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a non-invasive treatment for photorejuvenation for a brighter, clearer complexion. It can treat fine line and wrinkles, superficial hyperpigmentation, and sun damage; and it stimulates collagen production.
• Laser skin resurfacing can treat hyperpigmentation and improve the appearance of skin atrophy.

What treats bulging veins in the hand?

Bulging veins can be treated with sclerotherapy, a series of tiny injections of a chemical agent that irritates the veins and causes them to collapse and disappear.  It is simple, safe and effective to shrink veins in the hand.

Many savvy patients understand that aging hands are a telltale sign of their age and recognize the importance of simultaneous face and hand rejuvenation. Contact Avant Dermatology to learn about the latest advances in hand rejuvenation.