Hand fat grafting – The most effective treatment for aging hands

No doubt that one of the first and most obvious signs of aging are seen on our faces and necks. But not known to many, interestingly, our true age is also revealed by the appearance of our hands! Previously overlooked by many, hand fat grafting is getting popular as many become increasingly aware that anti-aging treatments should start from head to toe.

Unfortunately, there is only so much hand creams can help with anti-aging. So if you have neglected your hands and realized how aged they look now, it might be time for you to get some anti-aging treatments for your hands.

What is hand fat grafting?

As we age, we lose fats and volume in our faces and hands. Our faces tend to appear sunken while bulging veins, bones and tendons on your hands appear more obvious, and the skin on our hands become wrinkly. Typically, our faces age faster. But even if your face looks young and refreshed, your wrinkled, veiny and bony hands will not hide your real age!

Hand fat grafting, also known as hand rejuvenation, can help reduce wrinkles on your hands, and addresses a loss of volume by filling in the sunken appearance and hides those prominent bones and veins at the back of your hands. Hand rejuvenation treatment can help:

• Restore volume to bony hands
• Reduce wrinkles on hands
• Reduce visibility of blood vessels on veiny hands
• Improve texture of skin on hands
• Restore a young appearance to your hands

Fat grafting is more commonly used as an effective anti-aging treatment for faces and breast enhancement but its benefits and purposes don’t just stop there!

Hand fat grafting procedure

Hand fat grafting is a non-invasive and safe procedure as its uses one’s own excess fat so there is a low risk of complications. And very often than not, many opt to include PRP (platelet-rich plasmas) to their fat graft. Adding PRP not only improves fat engraft rate (meaning your fat grafting results will last longer), but also improves skin rejuvenation, giving you a healthier glow and better skin.

In a hand fat grafting procedure, the fats are first harvested from an area with excess fat, usually your thighs, abdomen and buttocks. The fats are then purified and injected into the back of your hands to restore and rejuvenate the appearance of wrinkled and bony hands.

Pros & cons of hand fat grafting

In reality, fat cells have a high re-absorption rate, meaning some of the volume gained will be lost as the body processes the re-injected fat. Typically, 50% of fat grafting is naturally absorbed back by your body over 2~3 months after your 1st session of fat grafting.

For long lasting results, its best to go for 2 sessions of fat grafting. Furthermore, it is recommended to do your 2nd session on the 3rd month after your 1st session. That is so your plastic surgeon can accurately gauge how much fats got absorbed back and how much more fats to inject.

What happens after effects of hand fat grafting is gone?

Results from hand fat grafting usually lasts 5~10 years (if you do 2 sessions and depending on your body’s absorption rate as well). In the best case scenario, it can even last forever, that is if your body does not easily absorb back the fats.

But what happens if your body does absorb back all the fats? Not to worry, your skin returns to its original state without any extra sagging.

How long does hand fat grafting take?

Hand fat grafting surgery in Korea usually lasts 30~60 mins and is performed under sedation anesthesia.

When can I see results from hand fat grafting surgery?

Instantaneous results, though a little bruising or swelling might last up to 1 week. There is no pain on your hands but you might feel sore at the areas where your fats were harvested from. There is generally no downtime nor loss of functionality in your hands so you may easily resume your daily activities after the procedure.

Actual recovery time vary among individuals, and is subjected to one’s health condition & healing response.

How long should I stay in Korea?

Hand fat grafting in Korea is a very minor surgery so hospitalization is not required. There are no stitches on your hands, but there is minimal stitching at where your fats are extracted. So stay until your stitches are removed and go shopping in the meantime!

Stitch removal

Stitches are removed 7~10 days after surgery.

Cautions on stitch removal

If you remove the stitches earlier then advised, your wound might reopen, causing an infection. And if you remove it too late, you risk further scarring and pigmentation.

Sometimes due to time constraints, you might opt to have your stitches removed at the local hospitals in your home country. Although that is possible (but not recommended), it depends on how well you have been healing, and is also subjected to doctor’s approval.

Alternatives to hand fat grafting

Another alternative to hand fat grafting is fillers but results are temporary, usually 6 months to a year. To be honest, its definitely more cost-effective to go with fat grafting, especially when you are looking for long term results.

What other surgery complements hand fat grafting?

1. Facial fat grafting

If you have excess fats left, consider facial fat grafting to restore a youthful appearance on your face.

2. SMAS face lift

If you are experiencing facial sagging, you might want to consider SMAS facelift to bring back the youth on your face.

3. Neck lift

The wrinkles and lines on your neck reveal your age as well! If you have loose neck skin or a double chin, do consider a neck lift as well.

4. Thread face lift

If you have mild facial sagging, thread face lift would be the best non-invasive procedure to go for.

Conclusion

You might not realize this but your hands can actually reveal a whole lot about your age! In fact, anti-aging treatments should not only involve your face but also areas such as the neck and hands.

Think about it – No incisions, restores volume, and contours your face and hands for a smoother and younger appearance. There really isn’t much side effects or disadvantages of fat grafting, to be honest! So, what’s stopping you?