Hand Rejuvenation

Have you ever heard the expression “You can tell a woman’s age by the appearance of her hands”? That may have once been the case, but notanymore. Thanks to some amazing advances, the appearance of the hands can be made to look much younger.

Aging and the Hands

As you age, loss of collagen, elastin and fat on the backs of the hands naturally occurs. Exposure to sun also affects the skin. These can lead to the appearance of:

  • Prominent veins
  • Noticeable tendons
  • Wrinkly skin
  • Age spots

Sclerotherapy of Hand Veins

Perhaps the most common complaint patients have when they look at their hands is the appearance of prominent veins. These are almost always normal veins that have just enlarged over time or perhaps have become more noticeable as the surrounding skin has thinned. In many instances,these veins are treatable by sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy involves injection of the veins with a medication that causes them to disappear.
The procedure is best performed on small to medium size veins. Sometimes veins in the forearm can also be treated in this way.

What is a Hand Vein Sclerotherapy treatment like?

The procedure is easy to undergo. After the hands are cleansed, a tiny needle is gently inserted into a vein on the back of the hand. The vein is then injected with a sclerosing medication. In a similar manner, multiple veins may be injected on both hands in the same session. A compression wrap is then placed on the hands for a couple of days.

What to Expect After Sclerotherapy of Hand Veins

The hands are typically wrapped from the lower forearms to the base of the fingers for a short time after treatment. The wrap is then removed. It is common to have some swelling of the hands and fingers when the bandages are on and for a few days after this treatment. The duration is variable, but usually only lasts a few days.

As the hands heal, the treated veins are expected to clot, so initially they may become hard and slightly tender. This goes away with time. Over time the veins disappear. It is common to see some residual veins that require additional injections. Two to three treatments are often needed to get the best results.

Microphlebectomies of Hand Veins

Large veins on the backs of the hands are often best treated with microphlebectomies.
This simple outpatient procedure involves removing the veins through tiny incisions.

What to Expect During Hand Vein Microphlebectomies?

This is actually an easy procedure to undergo. First your hands are cleansed. Numbing medicine is then placed on the backs of the hands. Then, through tiny incisions, the bulging veins are removed. Afterwards tiny adhesive steri-strips are placed over the removal sites and the hands are wrapped in a bandage.

What to Expect After Hand Vein Microphlebectomies

Your hands will be wrapped in a bandage for a couple of days. Some swelling after treatment normally occurs, but this typically resolves within a short period of time. After removal of the bandages, you will notice immediate and typically dramatic results, as the veins at the treatment sites will be gone.

Typically dramatic improvement is seen after the initial treatment but oftenadditional treatments are necessary to achieve the best results, either with microphlebectomies or sclerotherapy to treat the residual veins.

Dermal Fillers for Hand Rejuvenation

One of the more popular methods of hand rejuvenation is the injection of dermal fillers. This treatment can address multiple issues simultaneously, as volume is provided to the backs of the hands to restore fullness, mask the appearance of veins and tendons, and make the skin look less wrinkled.

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are products which are injected into the dermis of the skin to provide fullness and/or stimulate collagen formation. These products help to minimize or erase the signs of aging by adding volume, softening lines and wrinkles, and restoring normal contours of the skin. Dermal fillers are commonly used on the face as well as the hands.

What dermal fillers are used for Hand Rejuvenation?

There are several products which are used for hand rejuvenation. These include:

  • Radiesse
  • Restylane Lyft
  • Juvederm Voluma
  • Juvederm Ultra Plus

To know which product is best for you it is best to consult with an expert in hand rejuvenation.

Advantages of Dermal Fillers for Hand Rejuvenation:

  • Quick and easy procedure
  • Great for restoring volume
  • Instant results
  • No bandage necessary
  • Preservation of hand veins

Disadvantage of Dermal Fillers for Hand Rejuvenation:

  • Results not permanent
  • To maintain optimal resultstouchuptreatments are necessary
  • Veins may not totally disappear
  • More expensive over time

What is a Dermal Filler hand treatment like?

First your hands will be cleansed. Then, using a small needle or cannula, the filler is injected into the backs of the hands. Typically the hands are then massaged to evenly distribute the filler. That’s it. You are then free toleave the office and go about your day.

What to Expect After Dermal Fillers on the Hands

After treatment your hands will immediately look fuller. There may be some mild tenderness, swelling, or bruising but this typically resolves in a short period of time. There are no restrictions after treatment, so you can resume all of your normal activities.

How long do Dermal Fillers on the hands last?

The length of time that dermal fillers last depends on the product that is used as well as when you feel like you would want a touchup or another treatment. In general however, dermal fillers last 1-2 years on the backs of the hands

IPL for Unwanted Pigment on the Hands

One of the most common signs of aging of the hands is the appearance of skin discolorations such as age spots, sun spots or freckles. These blemishes are often easily addressed with a treatment know as IPL.

What is IPL and how does it work?

IPL is a light based energy treatment that is used to get rid of unwanted pigment. It involves administration of light to the skin through a small hand piece. The light is absorbed by the cells that make the pigment, causing the cells to slough off. This effectively diminishes or eliminates skin discolorations like age spots. Commonly used for photofacial rejuvenation, it is also an excellent treatment for unwanted blemishes on the hands.

What to Expect During IPL?

The procedure is fast and easy to undergo. After cool gel is applied to your skin, a hand piece is moved over the backs of your hands asbursts of light energy are delivered. The treatment feels like a snapping sensation against your skin. The procedure is easily tolerated and takes about ten to fifteen minutes.

What to Expect After IPL

After treatment sunscreen should be applied to the treatment area. Your skin may feel warm like a mild sunburn, but this goes away within a short period of time. Other than avoiding prolonged sun exposure during the week after treatment, there is no restriction on activities.

In the days following IPL you may notice that the treated spots may turn dark like coffee grounds. They will then slough off, leaving younger looking skin.

Several IPL treatments are often required to get the best results, with treatments spaced approximately one month apart.

Am I a good candidate for Hand Rejuvenation?

If you have hands that look older than you feel, you are most likely a good candidate for hand rejuvenation. As far as which treatment is best for you, that depends on a variety of factors.
Sometimes there is clearly one treatment which is best, whereas in other circumstances there are several options, used individually or in combination, which might help you get the best results. To learn more about which treatment is best for you, a formal consultation is necessary.

 

Next Step

To learn more about hand rejuvenation and what treatment would be recommended for you, make an appointment at Beach Aesthetics today. Dr. Rayman loves to do hands and gets some amazing results!

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