Did you know your hands may show signs of visible aging before other areas of your body, including your face? In particular, volume loss on the back of the hands can make your hands appear much older and more fragile than they are. From showing the bones in your hands to the bulge of veins, thinning skin on the back of the hands can make many people feel self-conscious. Fortunately, the experts at Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre in Columbus, OH know that Radiesse for hands can easily turn back the clock.
But why do the back of your hands age more quickly than other skin on your body? Most experts suggest that unprotected sun exposure is mostly to blame. After all, while your arms may be covered from the sun and you can wear a hat to protect your face, it’s not always comfortable or practical to wear gloves to protect the skin of your hands. And because of handwashing, the skin of the hands is especially prone to dryness, which can also make hands appear older.
How Long Will My Radiesse Hand Treatment Results Last?
In general, your Radiesse hand treatment should last for about 18 to 24 months on average. Most patients can expect over one year of long-lasting results because of the way this dermal filler works to stimulate natural collagen production in the sub-dermal layers of the skin. Even those who have severe skin laxity on the back of the hands can expect results to last for a year or longer.
Why Does This Treatment Last So Long?
Radiesse is formulated with calcium hydroxyapatite, a substance that interacts with your body to produce natural collagen in the deeper tissues of the skin. When the collagen in your skin increases, the structural support, firmness, and plumpness of your skin will also increase.
As a rule of thumb, the most visible signs of aging occur when natural collagen production drops off at around age 30. Dermal fillers like this work to help your body create its own collagen at higher levels, which eventually works to rejuvenate the youthful appearance of your skin. Even when this filler is used on other areas of the body, particularly the mid-face, you can expect the results to last for well over a year.
What Are the Other Benefits of This Dermal Filler?
There are several benefits that patients find exciting about this dermal filler. For example, this filler is generally well-tolerated by most patients. The only people who aren’t qualified to use this filler include those who have certain drug allergies, bleeding disorders, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or certain medical skin diseases or infections. Some of the best benefits of this filler include:
Fast Results
One of the great things about a dermal filler like Radiesee is that you will be able to see the results of your treatment very soon – in fact, much of the time, the results of this treatment are immediate. Patients will be able to see the volume return to their skin during their treatment, and these results will continue to improve as the filler settles into your skin.
The main reason why this filler produces instant results is because of the gel-like consistency of the product. Over the first few days after your treatment, the gel and microspheres of the filler formula will be absorbed by the skin; from there, your body will respond to the filler by producing natural collagen. Your results will improve as the collagen in your skin matures, which can take two to four weeks. Most people will see the final results of this treatment within a few short weeks.
Painless Treatment
This filler is formulated with lidocaine, a local numbing agent that will make the treatment comfortable during and after the filler is injected into the skin. A painless treatment is particularly important for many people considering how sensitive the back of the hands are. Additionally, many patients prefer dermal filler treatments to plastic surgery because of the comfortable treatment.
Versatile Treatment
Radiesse can be used on other areas of the face other than the hands. In fact, this dermal filler is formulated to correct moderate areas of concern on the body as well as the hands. Some common areas of concern include acne scarring, nasolabial folds, and other fine lines. This filler is particularly useful for correcting deeper wrinkles on the face, as well as skin laxity caused by volume loss related to aging.
This filler is also durable enough to be used for facial contouring. For example, reshaping the nose, the cheeks, or the jawline can easily be completed without plastic surgery when this dermal filler is used. With a single filler treatment, you can address age-related concerns on the hands and face, as well as aesthetic goals with injections to contour your appearance.
Natural Results
The results of this filler will also appear natural. While plastic surgery tightens skin tissues in a way that may appear unnatural, a dermal filler like Radiesse increases skin volume to soften the visible signs of aging. With this method, your results will appear natural because you will be restoring the youthful plumpness of your skin.
What Is This Treatment Like?
You can generally complete this dermal filler treatment in as little as 30 minutes. Many people schedule this treatment on a lunch break or during other parts of the day and immediately return to work. This treatment will be customized to the aesthetic goals you identified during your consultation appointment.
You will not need to make many preparations for this treatment other than temporarily discontinuing blood-thinning medications and other pre-treatment instructions we give to you. After your treatment, you will be able to resume most normal activities except for strenuous exercise, excessive sweating, direct sunlight exposure, using hot water, and rubbing or touching your face for at least 24 hours.
How Frequently Should You Have Treatment?
Because this treatment lasts for over a year, most patients will not need to schedule another appointment for at least 12 months. In fact, many patients won’t schedule a touch-up appointment until they notice the results of their current treatment fading, which can be anywhere from one to two years. When you notice your skin is starting to lose volume, it’s time for another appointment.
Can You Make Your Results Last Longer?
Although the results of this treatment already last a bit longer than many other dermal fillers, there are some things you can do to make your results last longer. For example, avoiding direct unprotected sunlight will protect your skin from UV rays that may break down the new collagen in your skin. Stopping or moderating certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can also help your results last longer.
There are some factors that may make your results fade more quickly. For example, people who exercise extensively or who have higher metabolisms may burn off the collagen in their skin more quickly. Stress, a poor diet, and a lack of hydration may also cause your results to fade faster.
Why Your Skincare Products Matter
One of the best things you can do to help your results last longer is to use quality skincare products. Your skincare products are the backbone of your skin health. By using the right skincare products, you can support all of your skin goals, from acne control to anti-aging. Please ask about skincare recommendations during your treatment so you can reinforce the results of your dermal filler.
Can You Combine This Treatment With Others?
Like any other dermal filler, you can easily combine Radiesse with other treatments. It’s common for this treatment to be combined with Botox or other neurotoxins that will treat dynamic wrinkles on the upper face. Aesthetic treatments such as facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and dermaplaning can also be used in conjunction with this treatment. Please speak with our skin experts to explore all of your treatment options to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Refresh Your Hands
Your hands may be one of the areas of your body that betrays your age first, but luckily for you, there is a treatment that can refresh the appearance of your hands. Radiesse for the hands can produce results that last well over a year for most people. If you think this long-lasting, versatile treatment is the right choice for your aesthetic needs, contact Columbus Facial Plastics at The Sullivan Centre in Columbus, OH to schedule your first appointment today.