The hands are one of the body areas most exposed to skin aging. Unlike the face, which often benefits from a careful skincare routine, the backs of the hands are frequently neglected, even though they are exposed daily to the effects of the sun, cold, household products, and repeated washing. Over time, the skin wrinkles, thins, loses density, and reveals underlying structures such as tendons and veins.
Among effective medical solutions to restore a youthful and harmonious appearance to the hands, hyaluronic acid injections hold a prominent place. This non-surgical, quick, safe, and adjustable treatment provides visible and natural results.
Hand aging results from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Biologically, there is a progressive decrease in collagen, elastin, and natural hyaluronic acid fibers, along with a loss of subcutaneous fat. This loss of deep support makes the skin thinner, drier, and accentuates the visibility of veins, tendons, and even bones.
Additionally, external aggravating factors contribute : chronic UV exposure (photoaging), frequent washing with irritating products, lack of sun protection and hydration, oxidative stress, smoking, and pollution.
The resulting signs are characteristic : wrinkled, lax skin, hollowness on the backs of the hands, pigment spots (lentigines), and loss of contour and suppleness.
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally present in the skin. It acts like a true water sponge, capable of holding up to a thousand times its weight in water. Its main function is to hydrate, plump, and structure the skin tissues.
In aesthetic medicine, stabilized and cross-linked forms of hyaluronic acid are used, designed to last several months once injected into the tissues. When injected into the backs of the hands, hyaluronic acid restores the dermal padding lost with age, fills the hollows between tendons and veins, smooths skin irregularities, and gives the skin a full, supple, and even appearance.
This treatment is not limited to a volumizing effect ; it also stimulates collagen production and improves the overall quality of the skin, making it softer and more elastic.
The treatment is performed in a medical office following a prior consultation. The procedure is quick (about 30 minutes), requiring neither general anesthesia nor surgery. A very fine, flexible cannula is inserted under the skin, allowing an even distribution of the product without traumatizing the tissues.
The physician performs a subcutaneous layering over the entire back of the hand, adjusting the injected volume according to the degree of fat loss. Usually, 1 to 2 syringes per hand are sufficient to restore a natural contour. The result is immediately visible, with further improvement over the following days.
The treatment is generally painless, especially with products containing a local anesthetic (lidocaine). Post-treatment effects are minimal : rare bruising or slight swelling may occur but disappear quickly.
The aesthetic improvement is both immediate and progressive : the hands appear younger, fuller, and better hydrated; the skin regains a denser, more even texture; bony, tendinous, and venous contours are softened; and signs of fatigue or laxity are diminished.
The results look natural. Hand mobility and sensitivity are fully preserved. The final effect is often perceived as subtle but noticeable : patients describe their hands as « refreshed », « less hollow », and more consistent with their actual age or facial appearance.
The duration of results varies between 12 and 18 months, depending on the type of product used, skin quality, and the patient’s lifestyle habits. Annual maintenance allows for a stable, long-lasting outcome.
Hyaluronic acid injections in the hands are suitable for both women and men, generally from the age of forty, when the first signs of fat loss appear. They are indicated for patients with hollow, wrinkled, or dehydrated hands, after prolonged sun exposure or in the context of manual professions, and for those who wish to harmonize the appearance of their hands with that of their face.
They are also relevant following an aesthetic facial treatment, in order to avoid the sometimes marked contrast between a visibly rejuvenated face and hands that have remained aged. This global approach thus helps restore a coherent and perfectly natural impression of youth.
As with any injection, certain contraindications must be respected : pregnancy and breastfeeding, local infection at the injection site, history of active autoimmune diseases, or severe allergic reactions.
The physician also ensures the absence of major circulatory disorders, healing impairments, or incompatible medications (notably anticoagulants).
Outside of these situations, the treatment is extremely well tolerated, and side effects are rare and transient. The key to a good result lies in the initial diagnosis, the selection of the appropriate product, and the precision of the medical procedure.
Hyaluronic acid injections correct deep wrinkles and hollowness, but do not have a direct effect on pigment spots (lentigines). To achieve a global rejuvenation of the backs of the hands, it is often combined with :
The combination of these approaches allows simultaneous action on the contour of the hands, skin density, and pigmentation, thus providing a comprehensive, harmonious, and lasting aesthetic treatment.
There are several types of hyaluronic acid, each with specific rheological properties (viscosity, elasticity, degree of cross-linking) suited to the treated area. The hyaluronic acid injected into the hands cannot be exactly the same as that used for areas where the skin is thin, such as under the eyes, or denser, like the cheekbones.
For the backs of the hands, soft but cohesive gels are preferred, capable of spreading evenly over large surfaces; they are minimally hydrophilic to avoid swelling or post-injection irregularities, with a high tissue integration capacity, ensuring a natural and invisible touch.
The goal is to recreate a uniform contour while respecting the thinness of the skin on the backs of the hands, which easily reveals anatomical structures. A gel that is too dense could create overcorrection or irregularities, while one that is too fluid would not last over time.
The choice of hyaluronic acid type is therefore fundamental and falls under the expertise of the physician, who selects the gel best suited to the skin thickness, degree of hollowness, and aesthetic expectations of the patient.
In many cases, hollow hands and wrinkles on the backs of the hands can be treated simultaneously during a single hyaluronic acid injection session. Indeed, subcutaneous volumetric filling allows both to restore hand contour and smooth wrinkles caused by fat loss.
However, some physicians adopt a two-step approach for both aesthetic and technical reasons : to avoid overcorrection in patients with thin skin, to observe the product’s evolution after 10 to 15 days, and to subtly adjust the volume to optimize the final result.
This gradual strategy allows the patient to visually adapt to the change and appreciate its comfort. It is particularly indicated for people with volume asymmetry between the two hands or for those with very precise expectations regarding natural results.
In all cases, the decision is made in agreement with the patient during the consultation, based on hand morphology, the degree of skin aging, and the patient’s aesthetic goals.
One of the most frequent questions concerns the feel of the hands after hyaluronic acid injection. Patients want to know if treated hands retain a natural sensation. The answer is clearly positive, provided the procedure is performed with precision and the product used is perfectly suited.
When the injection is made in the correct subcutaneous plane, using a soft gel that is well distributed and specifically formulated for this area, the hands feel perfectly natural. The product gradually integrates with the tissues, without creating nodules, palpable bumps, or irregularities under the skin.
The quality of the technical procedure is decisive here. A well-executed injection ensures a harmonious fusion between the gel and underlying structures, without any foreign body sensation. This requirement is particularly important for active patients whose hands are regularly used or visible in professional contexts.
Beyond the visual effect, the restoration of a natural touch greatly contributes to overall satisfaction. It confirms that, when used correctly, hyaluronic acid is a discreet, effective, and coherent solution for hand rejuvenation.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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