Hand Rejuvenation

One of the first places on our body that begins to show signs of aging is our hands!  It makes sense given the daily beatings our hands take – from constant handwashing, to sun exposure, to simply being in motion nearly 24/7 – it’s no wonder why the skin on our hands would break down first.  Hands are frequently neglected and often underestimated area of the body when it comes to aging and beauty.  A classic tale among dermatologists is if you want to guess someone’s age at a cocktail party, all you have to do is look at their hands.

What is hand rejuvenation?

It’s not just one thing.  Instead, it refers to a collection of procedures designed to improve the appearance of the hands.  It can include an array or combination of treatments ranging from laser resurfacing to injectable fillers to diminish the aging appearance of the tops of hands.

What are the benefits of hand rejuvenation?

As with any intervention, the benefits depend upon the patient’s primary concern as well as their comfort level with differing treatments.  For instance, some patients may be comfortable with lasers, but not quite there yet with fillers.

Fillers are best to restore lost volume and stimulate collagen to decrease wrinkled skin.  Lasers, like Erbium, IPL/BBL, or chemical peels, are best for pigmentation.

Am I a candidate?

If your hands are beginning to show signs of aging, like crepiness, boniness, hyperpigmentation or an overall frail appearance that makes them appear older – and these factors are bothering you – then you’re a prospective candidate for a hand rejuvenation procedure, and a board-certified dermatologist can outline your options during your initial consultation.

What are my treatment options?

Procedures that smooth and enhance the hands range from noninvasive to surgical, so there is a treatment designed for every concern and patient comfort threshold.

Filler injections

Beginning with the most accessible course of treatment, temporary dermal fillers can be injected into many areas aside from the face that have also experienced a loss of volume, including the hands.  There are several fillers that work well for hand rejuvenation.  Some popular ones being Restylane Lyft, Voluma, Sculptra, and Radiesse.  Sculptra and Radiesse have an added benefit of contributing to increased collagen stimulation, compared to some of the other fillers.  And just like facial fillers, both the appointment and the recovery are quick and will need to be maintained with additional injections over time.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels can work wonders to lighten dark spots on the hands by using a chemical solution to slough off the top superficial layers of skin to allow new, fresher and more evenly toned skin to surface.  One downside to peels is that they don’t address prominent veins or volume loss.

Laser skin resurfacing

Erbium laser resurfacing is an amazing treatment for hyperpigmentation, sun damage and irregularity of texture.  Specifically designed to reduce or remove superficial to moderately deep wrinkles on the face, hands, neck and chest, the Erbium laser is a narrower and more targeted procedure, resulting in fewer side effects and a faster recovery than the more traditional CO2 laser resurfacing.  BBL/IPL are also very effective for pigmentation.