Overlooked Anti-Aging Procedures

Many fillers and injectables are marketed for the face and skin. According to the 2016 ASPS statistics, there were 2,600,000 procedures for dermal or soft tissue fillers alone. However, dermal fillers are also used for other purposes, like on the hand and neck.

Numbers are scarce regarding treatments for those areas, however some patients seek hand or neck rejuvenation, which are overlooked procedures.

There have been studies about using neck and hand rejuvenation, mostly showing promising results to the patients. Few studies have only shown complications about rejuvenation and resurfacing. Frequent modalities used in treating these areas are dermal fillers (used for off label use) and lasers or IPL.

In the official statistics provided by the ASPS, only hand surgery is listed as a surgical procedure and so far, hand and neck rejuvenation is not listed as a non-surgical procedure. It is probable that it is part of the filler statistics.

HAND REJUVENATION

Common injectables used for hand rejuvenation are Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid (HA), Calcium Hydroxlypatite (CaHA), and Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) (Kühne and Imhof, 2012). According to the authors, side effects of the fillers on the hands are swelling and bruising. In addition, they suggested that dermal fillers for better effectiveness is CaHA due to collagen stimulation. Furthermore, according to Butterwick and Sadick (2016), hand rejuvenation procedures are more effective when treated with multiple modalities such as IPL, RF, and CaHA and PLLA.

In Maruyama’s (2016) study, it focused on the hand rejuvenation for 128 Japanese patients. The researcher took into consideration some skin differences and side effects. The researcher used IPL by using two wavebands, one using 560nm and another 515nm.

Immediate downtime results for wrinkles showed that most of the patients were mostly unpleased, effects improved after two or more treatments. Meanwhile, many patients were satisfied by the results with the dorsal lentigines. One of the prominent side effects presented in the author’s study was erythema, followed by hyperpigmentation and itching.

Despite such, most patient satisfaction for hand rejuvenation is usually high and there is an expected patient return or retention for a treatment of hand rejuvenation (Rivkin, 2016).

After administering an injection related hand rejuvenation procedure, massaging is recommended as it helps in the longevity of the treatment on the hands.

NECK REJUVENATION

With surgery, come the complication and risks. Batniji (2014) enumerates the possible risks of surgical neck lifts, such as induration, neck injury, and skin contour irregularities. Despite such complications, neck lifts is slowly on the rise.

As an alternative, some cosmetic physicians offer non-surgical neck rejuvenation.

However, recent literature is still little for non-surgical neck rejuvenation.

de Oliviera et al.’s (2017) study presented a 100% improvement rate upon treatment. A combined RF and PEMF treatment shows significant positive results when used to treat the neck. Additionally, the researchers note that RF alone may not be as effective. It is suggested these combined treatment be used in observing shorter downtime and lesser complications.

Their main limitation was no follow-up was done after their initial study. Any observed complication was quickly resolved.

In another study, di Bernardo (2016) used two modalities for the neck: a laser and RF for different purposes. Their study focused on the procedure of using the modalities for the neck. The researchers marked the areas to laser and used tumescent anesthesia for this treatment. As for the RF treatment, they plotted the areas to treat the neck to avoid neuropraxia.

Finally, Oram and Akkaya (2014) uses CO2 as another option in treating the neck as it showed improvement with Skin Laxity, Jowling, Fat Disposition, and Horizontal Neck Lines. Their study, however, presented complications, however it was only short lived. Despite such results, most of the patients returned for further treatments in the long-term. Their main takeaway in the study was the skin tightening due to the bettering of the skin laxity and in turn causing good effects with the jowling and fat disposition.

These two procedures, while, not popular, are also sought by patients. These elective procedures are befitting

In another post, we discuss injection techniques for hand and neck rejuvenation.

Regenerative Aesthetics: A New Dimension to Anti-Aging

Guest post by Dr. Kavita Beri

Discussing regenerative technologies and procedures with your patients.

Aesthetics and Anti-aging is an exciting field in modern medicine. New technologies, procedural devices and cosmeceuticals make it an ever changing and expanding specialty.  As physicians, we are challenged to stay on top of what is new and what your patients hear and see on the media. As important as it maybe to stay in touch with the latest trends that surface the cosmetic and aesthetic world, having a strong foundation in Anti-aging physiology will help us make better choices in terms of what we would like to offer to our patients.

Regenerative aesthetics adds a new dimension to anti-aging skin care.  Our body has an innate ability to heal and regenerate.  Aging slows down cellular processes, but can we make treatments focused on maintaining the machinery that the skin is already equipped, with instead of just bandaging the surface.  Making aesthetics and anti-aging a holistic entity with services that help mind body and spirit stay in- tune with healthy skin will offer a wide array of options and services to your clients.  This will not only help clients be satisfied with the treatment they are getting for the skin but also have a “feel good” component that is longer lasting. The most interesting component of regenerative aesthetics is looking at aging skin as an ongoing chronic inflammatory process that is occurring over the years. Targeting this chronic inflammation by the various factors that influence it, will include a nutritional approach, lifestyle approach and anti-stress approach to helping the skin regenerate to its best.  To heal from any ailment, eating a healthy balanced diet, avoiding stress, having mechanisms coping with stress and of course having the mind be in tune with healing, helps the process tremendously.  Having information on lifestyle, healthy nutrition will give you clients more confidence in the care they will get from you. My experience has been, an honest approach to patients seem to get them to understand their own expectations and then can channel them to what they are looking to change about themselves. I make sure to tell my patients that it is so important to visualize themselves with healthy skin, having a mind focused in a positive image will help the anti-aging aesthetics be more effective. Personally, with my clients, they have LOVED this idea, and have made beautiful progress not only in having healthy skin as they are aging but also to understand their expectations and be more content with themselves.

I never forget to mention to my patient in the initial consultation: that there is nothing out there that will make the clock-” stop” from ticking…..and so starting  with the Truth….we will be able set our goals more realistically and bring light to a beautiful and dynamic field of regenerative aesthetics.

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Antiaging

Anti-Aging Medicine: An Overview is a general article about anti-aging medicine that includes a bibliography.

Is human aging still mysterious enough to be left only to scientists? [unknown]

Scientific Legitimacy of the Term "Anti-Aging" is a letter to the editor of the Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Ethics of Anti-Aging Medicine Questioned [by Professor David J. Demko, Phd]

Anti-Aging Case Study # 011102 is a typical case study of a well-executed and comprehensive anti-aging program.

Anti-Aging Nutrition Secrets [CNN.com]

Articles about Caloric Restriction with Adequate Nutrition (CRAN)

Calorie Restriction Eat Less, Eat Better, Live Longer [by Roy L. Walford, M.D.]

Deprenyl: A Universal Anti-Aging Strategy? [Smart Drug News]

Dietary Restriction and Aging in Rhesus Monkeys [Life Extension Magazine]

The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity - The first online Anti-Aging book from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Research. You are welcome to browse through the various synopses available.

Graying baby boomers fuel new 'anti-aging' market [Post-Gazette]

Hormone Replacement Therapy [by Elmer M. Cranton, M.D.]

Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old [The New England Journal of Medicine]

Lifespan Project Launched [by Richard Weindruch and Stephen R. Spindler]

MIT researchers uncover new information about anti-ageing gene [MIT News]

News and Views from the library of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Research.

Anti-Aging Research Brief [American Academy of Anti-Aging Research]

Science Edges Closer to Fountain of Youth [Chicago Tribune]

The Serious Search for an Anti-Aging Pill [Scientific American Magazine]

Top Ten Life Extension Drugs [Life Extension Foundation]

Longevity Report has a host of articles.

From the excellent anti-aging blog of Cambridge biogerontologist Dr. Aubrey de Grey