Researchers compared the effects of calcium-hydroxyapatite-filler and hyaluronic acid cosmetic injections to treat aging in hands.
Aging hands results in a loss of soft tissue volume, which makes the veins and tendons in the hand visible. This process is further worsened by the loss of elasticity and degeneration of the dermis in the hand. The look of the hands, face, and neck is an indicator of age. However, hand rejuvenation is not popular yet, despite the fact that hand cosmetic injections are simple, safe, and effective.
Volume restoration for treating aging hands
Volume restoration is recommended for patients whose hands have aged with visible veins and tendons. This procedure uses cosmetic injections to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other visible structures in the aging hands. Volume restoration using fillers in the dorsum of the hand is a simple and effective procedure. In a recent study, researchers compared the results of bolus cosmetic injections with calcium-hydroxyapatite (CaHA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) for hand rejuvenation. The findings of this study were published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
The researchers conducted a study in 20 patients who had soft tissue loss with visible veins and tendons in hands, for over 12 months of follow-up. In this study,1 cc of CaHA cosmetic injection or filler was injected into the left hand of the patients and 3 cc of HA filler was injected into the right hand of the patients because the cost of 3 cc of HA was similar to the cost of 1 cc of CaHA for patients.
The participants were not aware of which cosmetic injection was injected into which hand. The results were compared with a dermascope, biophysical parameters for dermal hydration, the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) and the author-modified Merz Hand Grading Scale (m-MHGS), with follow up at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.
Volume restoration with HA showed better results
The results of the study showed that GAIS score improved in both the hands and generally maintained throughout the course of the study. There was remarkably more bruising and swelling in the CaHA injected hands as compared to the hands injected with a cosmetic injection of HA. The skin roughness and appearance were observed to improve in both hands as seen on dermascope. There was a decrease in Trans-Epidermal-Water-Loss (TEWL) and an increase in average Stratum Corneum Hydration (SCH) in HA injected hands. The biopsy tests showed that HA particles lasted for nine months.
Thus, the results of the study showed that a single treatment with HA and CaHA cosmetic injections resulted in a significant improvement in the appearance of the hands. In addition, the hands that were injected with HA showed improvement in dermal hydration. Veins and tendons became less apparent and visible after these cosmetic injections.
Written by Pratibha Duggal
Reference: Kim, J. S. (2018). Detailed Sonographic Anatomy of Dorsal Hand Augmentation With Hyaluronidase and Calcium Hydroxyapatite Fillers. Aesthetic surgery journal.
