Second only to the face, hands are the first body part to show significant signs of aging. In fact, many women (and men) who keep their faces looking young via skin treatments, fillers and surgical procedures like facelifts don’t realize that, all the while, their hands prove a telltale feature that belies true age.

Women are particularly prone to aging hands. That’s because menopause causes a drop in levels of estrogen, the hormone that’s key to plump, healthy skin. As estrogen levels diminish, skin on the hands can lose volume, which leads to wrinkling and prominent veins. But that’s not the only factor at play. Here are three additional reasons your hands may look older than you are.

• Dehydration: By adulthood, some 60 percent of our bodies are comprised of water. As we get older, however, our bodies begin to lose lean muscle tissue and the water that the muscle tissue holds. Stress also is a top cause of dehydration, no matter your age. To help alleviate the effects, be sure to drink plenty of water, get adequate rest and keep stress at bay.
• Sun exposure: Nothing saps the moisture from skin like overexposure to the sun’s harsh ultraviolet rays. Sun exposure is a top cause of premature wrinkling, thinning and drying of the skin o your hands, plus brown spots and prominent veins. Avoid being in the sun for extended periods of time and, when you do venture outside, cover up and slather on a high-quality, high-SPF sun screen.
• Second-thought skincare: When it comes to skincare, most people think only of their faces. But failing to give the skin on the rest of your body, especially your hands, can make even the best facial skincare all for naught. If you haven’t already, adopt a full-body skincare routine and pay particular attention to caring for your hands.

If you’re seeing the signs of aging in your once-beautiful hands, Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery can help. For more advanced aging, we offer hand rejuvenation via fat grafting. To prevent or keep early signs of aging at bay, we also offer injections of Radiesse, the only FDA-approved product designed to augment the hands, restoring volume loss. And, throughout March, we’re offering a $50-per-syringe special – a steep discount from the regular $650-per-1.5ml syringe cost. Plus, you’ll go home with a complimentary nail polish.

Stop by our Gate Parkway location or call 904-396-1186 to learn more.

If a smoother, firmer, younger look is on your list of resolutions and goals for 2016, Radiesse can help you achieve it. This minimally invasive treatment not only offers immediate results by plumping hollows and smoothing wrinkles, but it also provides long term results by boosting the body’s production of collagen, the structural protein that forms the connective tissue supporting the skin.

Radiesse is an injectable treatment made of tiny calcium-based microspheres suspended in a water-based gel. These calcium microspheres are very similar to minerals that your body produces naturally. The solution lends immediate plumping and smoothing of the skin and stimulates the production of new collagen. Over time, the microspheres and gel are absorbed into the body, giving way to the increased volume of natural collagen.

No other dermal filler currently on the market can boast these calcium-based microspheres or the ability to jumpstart collagen production. Most competing fillers, like Restylane and Juvederm, use hyaluronic acid. While all three are safe and effective, offering immediate results, clinical trials show that Radiesse patients generally were more satisfied with their results. Plus, the ongoing collagen production means that Radiesse results last longer – up to a year, compared to the six months of results enjoyed with hyaluronic acid-based fillers.

Radiesse is highly affective for filling and smoothing of:

• Smile lines: Also known as naolabial folds, these are the lines that run between the corners of the nose and mouth.
• Marionette lines: the lines that run downward from the corners of the mouth.
• Oral commissure: The corners of the mouth that, if naturally turned downward, can appear as as constant frowning.
• Pre-jowl fold: The area on either side of the chin, where loss of facial volume can cause skin to sag over time.
• Chin wrinkles: Horizontal lines that can form on your chin and distract from your smile.

Radiesse is safe for most patients, except those with certain allergies, illnesses, disabilities of the hand or bleeding disorders. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to hold off before opting for Radiesse treatments.

Find out if Radiesse is right for you by scheduling a consultation with Jacksonville’s Parkway Plastic Surgery. Call 904-396-1186 today.