Hand Rejuvenation

Very commonly I will hear from patients how they believe they look and feel great but, “My hands give away my age”. This is a complaint and concern of many patients and one that I understand and can very well see. It is also something where there exists many options to make it better and I will help you with this.

Features typical to aging hands are several-fold, and present to different degrees, and can all be addressed. Most commonly patients do not like the wasted look of very visible tendons and veins. Also, there are concerns with age spots, pigmentation, loose skin, and prominent thick veins. The anatomy that gives rise to the core of these features basically involves loss of subcutaneous fat and loose skin. I will coordinate the features of your anatomy with your expectations, formulate a plan with you, and guide you through this. There are very specific techniques for addressing each one of these which I will review with you. Surgery involves a light general anesthetic, performed where I do surgery, which is in a hospital setting. The surgery is safe and predictable. There is a mild to moderate degree of swelling after surgery. All the stitches are small and removed in 4-7 days with return to work in as little as 2-3 days, and to some physical exercise in the second week. My practice of rejuvenation of the hands centers around these different categories, not necessarily in this sequence:

• Topical. Skin treatments, peels, or laser to fade out pigment spots.
• Fat Grafting. This is the gold standard and what makes the biggest difference. It fills in the top of the hand from the wrist to the mid fingers. It is permanent. Please review the section on Fat Grafting Body for more details.
• Skin Excess Correction. The excess skin of the top hand can be taken up through some small incisions, or by the skin shrinking capacity of the Thermage machine, which I use frequently for this.
• Vein Removal. This is done by laser or injection into the veins to shrink and obliterate them.

The key to success in hand rejuvenation is to decide what anatomic features contribute to the aging look, decide which of the four possible interventions are needed and in what sequence, and have a plan for this. I spend a great deal of time with you discussing your anatomy, listening to your expectations, and interpreting for you what your anatomy and tissues will allow me to do in a safe and predictable way. In addition, I consider your body as a whole and I build a system into all hand rejuvenation surgeries that, initially, allows you to recover much quicker and, secondly, it serves to preserve your surgical results. This system includes a special diet, special attention to blood clotting, vitamins, supplements, special garments, skin products, physical training and knowing what to avoid. Together, all of this allows me to create results that are consistently very beautiful, quick to heal, exceptionally natural, and with minimal incisions. I am delighted to surgically provide you with such profound yet natural body image changes, and ones that have consistently so pleased my patients and changed their lives.

Please also read my article on Fat Grafting FAQ's and others in the Articles Section of the website.

Please also view my video filmed by The Discovery Channel on Hand Rejuvenation in my video section.

For before and after images of this procedure click here

Please call or contact the office for any further information or to schedule an appointment.