A Woman’s Hands Are as Important as her Face and Neck

Carlos Farias, MD
Jan 7, 2017
3 min read

“My hands look very old. I’ve used my hands so much over my lifetime that they’re really worn out. My hands embarrass me.” That’s what one nice lady who came to see me recently said. I can understand that. Karen, a 50-year old patient of ours, said the words you see in the title: A woman’s hands are as important as her face and neck. They’re one of the first things people see…You’re not always in front of a mirror, but your hands are always in front of your face. Karen came to see us because the thin skin on her hands revealed raised tendons, making them look old. Barbara, mentioned at the outset said, I want my hands to match the way the rest of me looks and the way I feel. That’s a very worthwhile – and achievable – goal. If your hands are starting to make you look older than you feel, what can you do? What causes old-looking hands? The skin on the back of your hands is not particularly thick. When you’re young, fat deposits under the skin hide your bones, tendons and, to some extent, your veins. As you get older, fat deposits as well as the collagen that supports your skin break down and are not adequately replaced. Hands that once looked young, plump and healthy start to appear bony and old. Veins and tendons stick out. If, like Karen, thin skin runs in your family, the effect can be even more pronounced. Hand Rejuvenation Procedures There are several ways to restore volume – and a more youthful, healthy appearance - to the hands. You need something to take the place of the fat and collagen lost over time. The most common rejuvenation methods are filler injections and fat transfer. • Filler Injections: Your doctor will inject substances under your skin that will plump your hands and restore lost volume. These fillers are often fluids that your body naturally produces, like hyaluronic acid. Although doctors use a number of different ones, the filler the FDA authorizes for hand rejuvenation procedures is Radiesse. Fillers have the advantage of providing immediate results. They are generally well-tolerated by the body. Since your body readily absorbs them, any unwanted effects will disappear, either through a corrective procedure by your doctor or your body absorbing the fluid. However, since the body absorbs these fillers, you will need shots about every 12 months to maintain your younger look. • Fat Transfer: With this method, your own fat cells are removed from a place where you don’t want them and transferred to a place you do – your hands. Nothing could be more natural than your own cells. Most patients tolerate fat transfer quite well. Fat transfer can last much longer than filler injections. Unfortunately, not all your fat cells will like their new home. Depending on your doctor’s methods, acceptance or “take rates” can run as low as 50% or as high as 90% or more. For this reason, doctors will often inject more fat cells into your hands than you’ll ultimately need, knowing that a percentage of them are going to be lost and recycled by your body. This can result in temporary swelling and discomfort that can last a few days to a week or more. We transferred fat from her hip area to the back of her hands. Afterwards, she had swelling that subsided after about 3 months. She said: I am very satisfied – thrilled! I gesture a lot, so my hands are quite visible. Seeing how much better my hands look really makes me feel better about myself. Are your hands making you feel self-conscious? A qualified plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist can make a real difference. Not every doctor, though, has a high level of experience and good results with hand rejuvenation. Choose your physician wisely, and you can soon have hands that look as young as you feel.