Hand Rejuvenation

Just like other areas of the body, the hands are subject to the effects of sun damage, aging, life stressors, and work duties. In fact, one of the first places that many people start to show visible signs of aging is in the hands. Some of the most common signs of aging include: darkened spots (age spots), wrinkled and uneven skin, and prominent venous structures. A loss of fatty tissue between the bones of the hands and soft tissue thinning occurs with age, making the hands appear bony and aged. Ennis Plastic Surgery provides a variety of hand rejuvenation treatments.

Many individuals feel that they are prematurely aged due to the hands appearance. Some individuals are embarrassed by the look of their hands and wish there was something that could be done to reverse the signs of aging.

Hand rejuvenation treatments can help to restore the hands to a more youthful appearance. There are various treatment options available to improve the look of the hands, so one treatment or a combination of treatments may appropriate, depending on a patient’s condition and desired results.

Stem cell hand rejuvenation is achieved through autologous fat transfer. Over the last two decades, the molecular and cellular understanding of adipose (fat) derived progenitor cells and tissue transplantation has evolved significantly. We are now able to clearly identify stem cells within adipose tissue and have been able to document regeneration of surrounding cellular structures after autologous fat transfer.

Research has confirmed that progenitor cells within fat grafts stimulate the remodeling and cellular proliferation of surrounding tissues. This yields improved skin quality, softened wrinkles, more even skin pigmentation, and restoration of a more youthful appearance. The fat transfer works functionally as a filler as well, giving volume to the hands and reducing the bony appearance.

Utilizing stem cell fat transfer moves beyond cosmetic medicine into true regenerative medicine. The injected adipose tissue is ideal because it is a soft filler that can last forever. In addition, because the fat comes from the patient’s own body, there is no risk for allergic reactions or rejection. Fat grafting is a safe and natural approach to hand rejuvenation.

During this procedure, fat tissue is harvested from the patient (typically from the abdomen or flanks) through liposuction. Then, the fat is processed in a special centrifuge and prepared for injection into the hands. The fat cells are injected under the skin with a small cannula, which is a narrow tube through which the fat is transferred.

This procedure is done under local anesthesia and has a minimal recovery period. Results from the fat injection can be seen immediately, as increased volume is noted in the hands. However, the full results of the stem cell rejuvenation will take up to one year.

Chemical skin peels are most often thought of for the face, but they can be utilized on the hands as well. A chemical peel utilizes acids to “peel” away surface layers of skin, removing dull, dead, and aged skin with it. This forces cellular turnover, revealing new skin cells that look refreshed and have improved tone and texture. After receiving a chemical peel, fine lines, wrinkles and age spots can appear less noticeable and the skin has a more youthful glow.

Laser skin resurfacing is another option that can improve the tone, texture and appearance of the hands. Lasers use light to bore microscopic holes in the skin, triggering the body’s natural healing process.  The laser is designed to remove* the upper layer of the skin epidermis and stimulate collagen production at the dermis layer. This process erases fine lines and wrinkles, corrects for sun damage and strengthens the dermis for a brighter, tighter appearance.

By utilizing light technology, your skin’s own collagen is rebuilt, resulting in smoother and more even skin.  Side effects of treatment include tenderness, redness, and swelling.  Redness and tenderness can last several weeks, while new skin grows over the area where damaged skin was removed*.

When the skin has too much melanin (a naturally occurring pigment) in one area, it results in a brown patch on the skin. Brown spots (or age spots) are not limited to the face and neck. Oftentimes, brown spots develop over the skin of the hands, wrists and arms. Laser treatments and Intense Pulsed Light treatments are excellent options for greatly reducing or removing* these unwanted age spots.

Laser therapy utilizes precise light energy to remove* the upper lay of the skin’s epidermis, removing age spots and improving skin tone. During the laser treatment, the light is passed over the pigmented skin to shatter the brown pigment into tiny particles. The body’s natural healing processes will remove* these broken pigments from the skin. Some brown spots can be removed* in only one session.

Intense pulsed light treatment, uses a beam of laser light to break up pigmented brown spots. The intense pulsed light is positioned over the brown spots, delivering a broad range of light wavelengths at the same time. After the brown spots are treated, they will darken, fade and then flake off.
When brown spots are removed*, the hands will appear much more even toned and youthful.

There are several options of injectable materials that can be used to increase the volume of the hands. When hands age, the bones become more prominent, as the fat tissue is wasted away and the soft tissues thin. Just as injectables are used to increase the volume in the lips, they can also be used to plump the skin in the hands. This reduces the prominence of the bones, making the hands appear softer and younger.

Today, the most commonly used fillers are those containing substances similar to hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, which means there is a very low risk for allergic reaction. The injectable fillers can last for several months, but are not a permanent solution.

Your journey will begin with an individualized consultation with our clinical staff, where you will share your concerns and ultimate goals. Depending on your needs, you may benefit from utilizing one or several of the hand rejuvenation treatments offered at Ennis Plastic Surgery. Our clinical team will help you to decide which option best suites your needs.

At Ennis Plastic Surgery, we are proud to offer the latest technology and techniques when it comes to hand rejuvenation and energy based treatments. We pride ourselves in offering advanced regenerative medicine in the form of stem cell therapy for hand rejuvenation. Our own research and the research being done in the field of cosmetic and regenerative medicine shows positive and promising outcomes for this modern medical procedure. In addition, we are proud to offer Syneron-Candela’s technology for reliable and consistent outcomes for our energy based treatments. Please contact us to set up a consultation so that you may restore your hands to a more youthful state.