Do Your Hands Give Away Your Age? Turn Back the Hands of Time

Frequently the focus of cosmetic improvement is the face. Yet, one of the most age–telling body features is our hands. Because the skin on the back of the hands is extremely thin, the loss of fat padding on any level shows quickly. Take away that cushion and all the structures in the hand show up — the tendons, bones and the veins. Sun damage plays a big part in the "aging hand" syndrome too. Given that your hands are nearly always routinely ignored when it comes to sunscreen – and they spend a lot of time in the "driver's seat" wrapped around a steering wheel — it's no wonder they start showing their age earlier than the rest of our body.

 The natural fat cushion that we're born with begins to lessen in our late twenties and early 30's. By the time most of us hit 50, we have hands that tell the truth about our age — and often they can actually make us seem older than we are!

Sun exposure over the decades sets up a prolonged cascade of liver spots and brown patches that can keep popping up long after we've learned to stay out of the sun. Add that to the color changes brought about by the darkness of veins and your hands can sometimes look as if they've been bruised and battered in addition to looking more skeletal.

Combating the aging hand syndrome takes more than hand cream (though that simple step does make a difference). The latest technology has given us a set of procedures that will have similar effects as those we have been able to accomplish for the face.

Radiesse as a Fat Replacement

One of Dr. Tanne's patients

Replacing the volume loss with a dermal filler is not a "new" thing. Fat transfers have been used to treat volume loss for many years. The staying power of fat is debatable, and it requires a source — that means some type of surgical removal from some other part of your body. It's expensive and time consuming.

Radiesse is a dense easy–to–mold filler made of Calcium–based microspheres. This is the same type of product that has been used in orthopedics for quite some time. With an established longevity of 12 to 24 months, Radiesse wears well in the hands and provides an instant cushion replacement. The depressions between the tendons and veins are refilled so both the bony appearance and the vein prominences (and the dark color of the veins) are reduced, giving your hands a softer, fuller appearance that signifies youth.

Radiesse is safe, effective and extremely popular both for its immediate effectiveness and long duration. The malleability and staying power of Radiesse have turned it into something of an injectable implant. It can be injected into the cheek and chin area to provide a nonsurgical implant that's completely natural looking. Radiesse is also considered "the" material when used for reshaping in the instance of asymmetry of the nose and as a nasal bridge builder for those with flat nose bridges.

Radiesse Rejuvenation Injection Procedure for the Hands – Requires 2 Syringes

This is a fast, super simple procedure that literally converts older–looking hands to younger looking hands in minutes. Injections in the back of the hands might be assumed to be painful, but in reality the procedure is virtually painless. It generally takes less than 20 minutes to inject both hands.

The Radiesse is mixed with Lidocaine prior to use so that the nerve endings in the skin are anesthetized. A "bolus" or "ball" of Radiesse is injected and then massaged into the volume–deficient areas. Because the product is thicker than hyaluronic fillers (such as Juvederm and Restylane), it is easily massaged into place, and remains in those areas so the skin is smooth and even. Radiesse maintains a soft, natural feel and takes on the characteristics of the surrounding skin tissue. Once integrated into the skin, the presence of the Radiesse microspheres promotes new elastin and collagen production. Part of the long–lasting effect is your own new collagen.

Radiesse Hand Rejuvenation requires 2 syringes of Radiesse, however our procedure pricing makes this an extremely affordable option and the results can easily last 18 months or longer.

Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery Red Carpet Secrets Revealed

With the Oscars a distant memory, the only question that now remains is – how do the celebrities get themselves so PERFECT before they walk the red carpet?

After all, millions of eyes and flashbulbs capturing every move on the red carpet, and with it, any flaw that dares to bulge, spot or wrinkle on the world's most glamorous stage.

“Though we did not treat any Oscar-hopefuls this year, we have certainly seen our share of Broadway, television and movie personalities here at Cosmetic Laser MD,” says Susan Stevens Tanne MD.

“There are a variety of nonsurgical 'quick fixes' that have little or downtime that I can choose from to make them look good. Celebrities have always been at the forefront of using these kinds of treatments, because of the pressure to constantly look good for public appearances," Tanne adds.

Ideally, patients come in a few weeks before their big day to assess their concerns, and put together an action plan of what is often a variety of touch-up procedures to tighten skin and give it a glow.
So what kind of fixes are celebs clamoring for? Here’s a list of the top most requested pick-me-ups.

FAT SHRINKAGE
When you've got to slip into a sexy body-baring gown, Spanx can only work so many miracles. In addition to supportive undergarments, celebs turn to the VelaShape contouring system to trim a few more inches of fat.

“VelaShape is the most effective non-invasive body contouring system out there, and I’ve used them all,” Tanne notes. “We used to have Zerona, but it was not giving us the result we wanted. Our patients are thrilled with VelaShape. It’s what the Kardashians use to stay in camera-ready cellulite-free shape.

Patients often combine the VelaShape with their already aggressive pre-Oscars routine combination of a light diet and exercise for best results.

CHEST EXPRESS
Strapless and low-cut gowns may look simply stunning on the red carpet, but they also put a laser focus on areas where many women feel self-conscious about the pull of gravity: décolleté. Years of sun worshipping sometimes takes its toll on the upper chest, which is spotlighted when wearing a strapless gown.

A few sessions with our FotoMatrix laser treatment eradicates sun damage, reduces fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. It’s like an eraser for the delicate upper chest area, and a real age re-winder.

BROWN SPOTS
Pigmentation changes are one of the most common aging concerns, and celebs aren't immune. Most say they're especially self-conscious about spots on the face, cleavage and back of the hands.

Entirely eliminating brown spots takes multiple treatments or more invasive procedures like deep chemical peels that require downtime, and can't be done merely days before a big event. Powerful lasers may zap problematic spots into oblivion, but they form a scab that must naturally flake off on its own, or else risk scarring.

However, a variety of noninvasive treatments like microdermabrasion and non-ablative lasers can be combined like a cocktail to significantly lighten spots in as little time as a week before the big day.

For maintenance, a regular patient may first go through the regimen of four to six sessions to undo sun damage on the skin, and then maintain with follow-up sessions once every season.

FILLERS AND BOTOX
Botox is often used before an event to eliminate crow’s feet, forehead lines, and other fine lines and wrinkles. It is easily our best “quick fix” and our patients are thrilled with the lineless, youthful results they can achieve.

Fillers like Juvederm and Restylane are most often shot into the lips for a fuller look, or to erase aging marionette lines. Radiesse is a firmer filler, and is often used in the cheeks for more support. While typical fillers last a few months, firmer versions like Radiesse can often stay in place for up to a year.

Sold by the syringe, most patients require two syringes of filler for an area like deep laugh lines, or one syringe for the lips. Prices can vary dramatically depending on volume needed.

When it comes to Botox and fillers, you have to be careful to treat at least a week before an event, just in case there’s any surface bruising. It is difficult to anticipate whether or not a person will bruise, but eliminating blood thinners like aspirin helps.

We encourage our patients to consult with us at least six weeks before their red-carpet moments so that we can put together a customized treatment plan. As always, our professional make-up artist can also get you "Photo Perfect" and completely erase any flaws before your event.

Ah, yes -- that's the magic of Hollywood.