Addressing volume loss in hand rejuvenation: A report of clinical experience

Background: Current options for treating the aging hand include microdermabrasion, fractional thermolysis, chemical peeling, intense light sources and laser therapy (such as pigment lasers and ablative resurfacing), as well as injectable fillers and volumizers to correct soft tissue atrophy. Objective: This article reviews the latest technologies in hand rejuvenation and provides data from three clinical practices using injectable poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) for soft tissue augmentation. Methods: Patient data from three clinical practices were retrospectively collected and tabulated. This included baseline patient data, the number of injections and vials of product used, and adverse events. Results: PLLA was used to improve volume loss in the hand to the satisfaction of a majority of patients. The most commonly reported adverse events, such as bruising, swelling and pain, were injection-related and resolved within a few days of treatment. No papules or nodules were reported in any patients and there were no serious adverse events. Conclusion: The overall results from the three clinics presented here show that patients were very satisfied with the results of PLLA treatment for the hands, and experienced only minor and short-term injection-related adverse events.