Hand Rejuvenation
Hand Rejuvenation
Hand Rejuvenation
Also known as hand enhancement
Our hands can reveal our true age. Volume loss and sun damage are common issues client wish to resolve. Volume loss becomes associated with looking older as the veins and tendons on the back of the hand become more and more visible. And long term sun exposure can lead to age spots.
Dr. Grishkevich has been successfully offering Hand Rejuvenation for several years. Stop by today and talk to our friendly staff today!
When to Consider Hand Rejuvenation
- If your hands have prominent veins and tendons because of volume loss.
- If your hands are wrinkled and thin.
- If your hands have age spots.
- If your hands would benefit from improved skin tone and color.
When 60 is the new 50, hand rejuvenation is the finishing touch
First there was the facelift, buttock lift, eye lift and breast lift. Now, there is the “hand lift.” In a New York Times article this month on hand rejuvenation, a Mount Kisco, New York plastic surgeon states, “As you get older, your hands lose volume, fat and elasticity. The fatty layer of the hand disappears, so the skin is more translucent and shriveled, and you see underlying structures like bones, tendons and veins.”
Sixty-seven year-old RL Peters tells the news source that she’s way younger in spirit than her age, but her hands don’t match her body, lifestyle or face. The old saying, “If you want to know a woman’s age, look at her hands,” is still operational. But now, there are new and increasingly popular procedures that can protect you from being “outed” in such a manner.
A Redondo Beach plastic surgeon offers a “hand lift” that is accomplished in five to ten minutes for about $1,200 in which he injects synthetic fillers like Radiesse, Juvederm or Perlane under the first layer of skin to plump it. Alternately, he may use a combination of fillers, intense pulsed light and CO2 laser resurfacing to remove sun spots. Effects of these procedures persist for roughly a year.
A New York plastic surgeon uses many different methods such as the Fraxel laser to remove wrinkling or discoloration; Thermage for skin tightening; sclerotherapy, which involves injecting a solution directly into the veins; the Q-switched laser, which fires very rapid pulses and blasts away pigment spots, and fat injections to plump up the hands.
The news source interviewed another doctor who strongly favors reinjecting fat from the derriere or thighs into the tops of the hands over all over methods. He doesn’t use Radiesse or Sculptra because, according to him, they are expensive and not as long- lasting as fat, which has less chance of being rejected. None of the doctors interviewed remove excess skin surgically from the hands. In terms of surgical removal, one plastic surgeon states, “You’d have to literally take a scissor and separate the tissue, and you might interfere with some of the tendons.”
As far as complications with filler, a Manhattan dermatologist advises, “The most common reactions are local bruising and swelling. If you’re having your hands injected, like your face, do it with a very experienced injector.”
If you’re interested in hand rejuvenation, consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. To prevent the appearance of aging hands, sunscreen is your best option.
from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Detailed info
How is a hand rejuvenation procedure performed?
Whether you require volume replacement, correction of sun damage or erasure of lines and wrinkles, your surgeon has numerous treatment options to choose from. Most procedures are minimally invasive, but in the case of very loose, wrinkled skin, your plastic surgeon may also recommend surgery to remove excess skin.
Volume replacement to treat protruding bones, tendons or veins:
Injectables
- The filler is injected into the hand at multiple locations.
- It is placed in layers at multiple levels to reshape and augment the hands.
Fat injections (fat transfer or autologous fat grafting)
- Liposuction with suction tubes (cannulas) is used to remove fatty tissue from areas of your body with excess tissue, such as the abdomen, hips, back or thighs.
- The fat is then processed for fat transfer and re-injected into your hands.
- The fat is grafted in layers at multiple levels to ensure that a smooth, linear deposit of fatty tissue is left to reshape and augment the hands.
- The liposuction incisions are closed with sutures.
- Tape is placed on the skin of the infiltrated areas and left in place for 3 or 4 days as a protective barrier.
If you have poor circulation from vascular disease, diabetes, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS or smoking you may not get as much of the graft volume to take as other patients.
Sclerotherapy
- Sclerotherapy is effective for medium-sized blood vessels (greater than 3 mm in diameter).
- A solution is injected into the vein with a micro-needle.
- The vein turns white (blanches) and gradually disappears.
- There is little if any discomfort when undergoing treatment and there is no downtime.
Laser vein treatment
- Laser treatment is typically used to treat small to medium-sized blood vessels (1-3 mm in diameter).
- A handpiece is passed over your skin and the laser light is absorbed by the blood, causing the vessels to coagulate and be absorbed by the body.
- There is little downtime.
Treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, or irregular pigmentation
Superficial chemical peels (see Chemical Peels)
- A chemical solution is applied to your hands with a sponge, cotton pad or swab, or brush.
- Your surgeon decides how long to leave the solution on your hands by carefully observing any changes in the appearance of your skin.
- With certain types of chemical peels, the solution may be "neutralized" after an appropriate amount of time has elapsed.
- No covering or after-peel ointment is necessary and you can expect little downtime.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) and photodynamic therapy (PDT)
- Your eyes will be covered for protection.
- The IPL hand piece is placed directly over the treatment area and light waves are emitted.
- After a series of treatments, the spots and discolorations on your hands will be begin to fade and disappear.
- PDT uses a solution on the skin before applying the IPL device which allows for more aggressive treatment.
- Recovery from IPL is similar to recovering from a mild sunburn.
Laser skin resurfacing
- Your eyes will be covered so that your corneas and retinas are protected from the laser.
- A wand is passed over your skin and the resurfacing laser emits a very brief pulse of high intensity light that damages the upper layers of your skin.
- As your skin heals, healthier, younger looking tissue emerges.
Treatment for very loose and wrinkled skin
Skin excision
- You will either have general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.
- Your surgeon will generally make an incision on the top of the hand by the wrist and remove loose skin, then suture back together.
- Some swelling and pain is to be expected afterwards and can be managed by medication.
Limitations And Risks
Fortunately, significant complications from hand rejuvenation are infrequent. Your specific risks for hand rejuvenation will be discussed during your consultation.
All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are:
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Hematoma or seroma (an accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin that may require removal)
- Infection and bleeding
- Changes in sensation
- Scarring
- Allergic reactions
- Damage to underlying structures
- Unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures
Other risks specific to hand rejuvenation are outlined below:
- Slow healing due to tension or excess stretching
- Abnormal healing and/or unanticipated color changes or skin blotchiness from chemical peels
- Fat reabsorption
You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your board-certified plastic surgeon, both before and after your hand rejuvenation surgery.
from Smart Beauty Guaide
FAQ
What are my options?
Some of the available options for hand rejuvenation are outlined below. These can be used alone or in combination to enhance the overall results. Your surgeon will recommend an approach based upon your treatment needs and aesthetic goals.
- Autologous fat grafting (also known as fat transfer) re-injects your own natural fatty tissue into your hands to add volume, cover underlying vessels and tendons, and improve the quality of your skin over time. It is important to note that if you have poor circulation from vascular disease, diabetes, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS and smoking you may not get as much of the graft volume to take as other patients.
- Fillers, such as polyactic acid or hyaluronic acid, can be used to add volume to your hands and fill in around protruding bones and veins.
- Chemical peels, intense pulsed light (IPL), or laser skin resurfacing may be used to treat fine wrinkles, skin discoloration, sun damage or age spots.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a solution with IPL for more aggressive treatment of irregular pigmentation or brown spots.
- Sclerotherapy or laser vein treatments can treat noticeable or protruding veins.
- Skin excision to remove loose, excess skin on the hands.
Many of these procedures require multiple treatments to give you the best result. You should allow time between treatments to permit swelling and bruising to dissipate.
What will my hand rejuvenation incisions and scars be like?
If you have fat injections, the liposuction incisions to obtain the fat are very small and just large enough to allow the suction tube, or cannula, to go under the skin and remove the fat. The incisions used for injecting the fat into the hand regions are equally small. If there was loose skin that was removed surgically, the scars are on the top of the wrist and can be hidden by a watch or bracelet.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Temporary fillers usually last from three months to one year. Fat grafts are usually long-lasting. Injections may be repeated when necessary. Results of skin tightening will depend on the type of treatment used. Patients with a history of impaired healing, such as diabetes, ongoing sun exposure, and smoking (or exposure to secondhand smoke) will see a less dramatic initial result and a shorter lasting result.
To help prolong your hand rejuvenation results it is important to avoid sun exposure and to take precautions such as wearing gloves and regularly applying moisturizer.
Maintain a relationship with your aesthetic plastic surgeon
For safety, as well as the most beautiful and healthy outcome, it's important to return to your plastic surgeon's office for follow-up evaluation at prescribed times and whenever you notice any changes in your hands. Do not hesitate to contact your surgeon when you have any questions or concerns.
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