Hand Rejuvenation is an approach to restoring volume and improving the appearance of the back of the hands affected by volume loss, which can make tendons, blood vessels, and underlying structures more visible. The goal is to restore volume and improve the contours of the hands for a more balanced appearance.
At Dr. Gorn Aesthetique, physicians assess skin thickness, subcutaneous tissue volume, tendons, blood vessels, and the degree of volume loss before selecting an appropriate treatment method and amount of volume restoration for each individual.
What Is Hand Rejuvenation?
As we age, tissues on the back of the hands may undergo changes, including loss of subcutaneous fat, skin thinning, and changes in connective tissue. These changes can make underlying anatomical structures more visible.
Common characteristics include:
- Hollow-looking hands or reduced volume
- More prominent tendons on the back of the hands
- More visible veins on the back of the hands
- More prominent bones and knuckles
- Thin-looking skin on the back of the hands
- A noticeable difference in volume between the hands and face
Hand rejuvenation therefore focuses on restoring volume in appropriate areas while carefully considering the anatomy of the hands.
Why Do Hands Lose Volume with Age?
The back of the hands contains layers of tissue and fat that cover tendons, blood vessels, and other structures. When tissue volume decreases, these underlying structures may become more visible.
Contributing factors may include:
- Age-related changes in subcutaneous fat
- Skin thinning and reduced elasticity
- Changes in connective tissue
- Weight loss
- Individual anatomy and genetics
- Other age-related changes
Treatment planning should therefore consider both volume and skin quality, rather than focusing solely on visible veins or tendons.
Hand Rejuvenation with Autologous Fat Grafting
One approach to hand rejuvenation is Autologous Fat Grafting, which uses the patient's own fat to restore volume.
The physician harvests fat from a suitable area of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs. The collected fat is then processed before being transferred to the back of the hands.
The goal is to increase volume within appropriate tissue layers, helping improve hand contours and reduce the prominence of underlying structures.
What Can Hand Volume Restoration Improve?
Depending on individual anatomy and the degree of volume loss, treatment may help improve:
- Hollow-looking hands
- The prominence of tendons
- The visibility of certain veins associated with volume loss
- Contours between bones and tendons
- The smooth transition between tissues on the back of the hands
- Overall volume and appearance of the hands
However, volume restoration does not directly treat blood vessels or tendons. Instead, it increases the surrounding tissue volume to improve the appearance of the back of the hands.
Can Hand Rejuvenation Reduce the Appearance of Veins?
When veins become more prominent due to volume loss, restoring tissue volume on the back of the hands may make them less noticeable in some individuals.
However, volume restoration does not eliminate blood vessels. If the main concern is related to the characteristics of the veins themselves, other treatment approaches may need to be considered when appropriate.
The physician should therefore assess whether the concern is primarily caused by volume loss or other factors.
How Long Does Fat Grafting to the Hands Last?
After fat grafting, not all transferred fat survives. Some of the fat may be reabsorbed during recovery, while fat that establishes an adequate blood supply and survives may remain as tissue in the treated area.
The amount of fat retained varies between individuals and depends on fat quality, harvesting and injection techniques, tissue blood supply, and individual factors.
Therefore, hand volume may need to be reassessed once the treated tissues have stabilized.
How Is Hand Fat Grafting Different from Dermal Fillers?
Both fat grafting and dermal fillers may be used to restore volume to the back of the hands in selected cases, but their properties and procedures differ.
Fat grafting uses the patient's own tissue and requires a donor site for fat harvesting. Dermal fillers, on the other hand, are injectable products that do not require fat harvesting.
The appropriate choice depends on the volume required, anatomy, skin quality, and individual treatment goals.
Who May Be Suitable for Hand Rejuvenation?
Individuals may consider an assessment if they have concerns such as:
- Volume loss on the back of the hands
- Hollow-looking or thin hands
- Increasingly visible tendons
- More prominent veins due to tissue volume loss
- A desire to improve the contours of the hands
- Sufficient fat in another body area for autologous fat grafting, if this method is selected
- A desire to improve the overall appearance of the hands alongside skin quality treatments
Can Hand Rejuvenation Improve Wrinkles and Dark Spots?
The primary purpose of volume restoration is to address volume loss and improve contours.
If the main concerns are surface wrinkles, dark spots, uneven pigmentation, or sun damage, additional dermatological treatments may be required.
Hand rejuvenation may therefore be planned around two separate components: volume restoration and skin quality, depending on the individual's concerns.
How Long Is Recovery After Hand Volume Restoration?
Temporary swelling, bruising, tightness, or tenderness may occur on the back of the hands following treatment. The severity of these symptoms depends on the treatment method and amount of volume added.
If fat grafting is performed, the donor site will also require postoperative care.
Avoid pressing, massaging, or applying unnecessary pressure to the treated area unless instructed by your physician, and follow the recommended aftercare instructions.
