Hand Rejuvenation in Dubai

For years we have invested in the face: expensive creams, sunscreen, treatments for lines and for lost volume. The hands are usually left out of the equation. Yet they are exposed to the same sun, every single day, and they work harder than any other part of the body.

The result is a mismatch I see often in consultation: a fresh, well-cared-for face, and hands that look ten years older. Thin skin, visible veins and tendons, brown spots, fine crepey lines. The good news is that the back of the hand responds very well to treatment, and in many patients we can do it in one visit.

Why hands age faster than we expect

Sun damage, every day

Hands are in the sun whenever we drive, walk or sit by a window, and in Dubai that means strong light all year. Most of us apply sunscreen to the face and forget the hands, and the little we do apply is washed off the next time we wash them. Over the years this shows as brown spots (solar lentigines), uneven tone, thinner skin and fine lines.

Volume loss, often sooner than in the face

The back of the hand has very little padding to begin with: three thin layers of fat lie between the skin and the tendons.¹ As we age, these layers thin, along with the skin and the small muscles between the bones of the hand. Veins, tendons and knuckles then show through.^2,3

In my practice, I often notice more visible signs of ageing in people who use their hands intensively, including pianists, typists and people who work with tools. Repetitive hand use has been discussed as a contributor to hand ageing alongside genetics, sun exposure and smoking.³ Age-related loss of dorsal hand fat is well described, but whether intensive use independently accelerates local fat loss is not established. It is one more reason to assess both the skin and the soft tissue beneath it.

The Hand–Face Age Gap

Our faces often receive years of attention while our hands are overlooked. When the face looks fresh but the hands look older, I assess two distinct components:

Volume loss

Visible veins, tendons and knuckles may reflect reduced padding beneath the skin. Options include Renuva for hands or selected fillers.

Skin ageing

Brown spots, uneven tone and fine crepey lines may need skin-directed treatment, such as appropriate laser or skin boosters.

My approach: assess the cause first, then plan a combination only when both components need treatment. Ultrasound may help clarify anatomy and previous injectable deposits.

Hand fillers and hand rejuvenation in Dubai: what can be done

Hand rejuvenation usually addresses two things: volume (the padding under the skin) and skin quality (spots, tone and fine lines). Most patients need a little of both. Across published studies of fillers, fat and laser for the hands, most report good results and high satisfaction, with mostly mild side effects.⁵

1. Renuva: my first choice for volume

Renuva is a natural adipose (fat) matrix, processed from donated human tissue. Once injected, it acts as a scaffold that encourages your own body to rebuild a layer of fat over the following weeks.⁴ For hands, I like it because it restores padding gradually and looks natural, without the heavy, overfilled look hands can get with too much product.

Results develop over about six weeks and continue to improve for three to four months. In my experience, at a stable weight, the result lasts for years. Published evidence on Renuva in the hands is still limited to small case series, so I set expectations honestly at consultation.⁴

2. Fillers: immediate volume

Hyaluronic acid or calcium hydroxylapatite fillers give an immediate result. In the United States, two fillers are specifically approved for the back of the hand: a calcium hydroxylapatite filler since 2015 and a hyaluronic acid filler since 2018. I use UAE-registered products and choose the filler for your skin thickness and the result you want. Fillers suit patients who want to see the change straight away, or who are not candidates for Renuva. Read more on my body fillers page.

3. Collagen stimulators: when we treat neck and hands together

Sculptra and Lanluma are collagen stimulators. Rather than adding volume straight away, they encourage your skin to produce new collagen over several weeks, so the skin itself becomes thicker and firmer. I sometimes use them when a patient wants to treat the neck and the hands together, as one product can be planned across both areas.

4. Laser: for spots, sun damage and fine lines

Laser treats what volume alone cannot: brown spots, uneven tone and fine lines on the surface. Laser has outperformed chemical peeling for sun spots on the back of the hands in a randomised split-hand study.⁶ Because the skin on the back of the hand is thinner than on the face, I use more conservative settings, and I am even more careful in darker skin types to reduce the risk of temporary darkening. The number of sessions depends on how much pigment there is.

5. Skin boosters: gradual hydration

Skin boosters are injectable hydration treatments that improve the texture and glow of thin, dry skin. They work well on the hands, but they need a course and a little patience: the change is gradual rather than immediate. I usually offer them after volume has been restored, or for patients whose main concern is crepey skin rather than lost volume.

Combining laser and Renuva in one session

If you do not have time for two separate appointments or two recovery periods, we can combine treatments on the same day. In that case I do the laser first, then the Renuva. Treating the skin surface first and then placing the volume beneath it means you have one recovery period instead of two, and both parts of the problem are addressed at once.

Not everyone is suited to a combined session. If the skin is very sensitive or there is a lot of pigment, I may separate them. We decide together at the consultation.

Which treatment is right for you?

Why I look under the skin first

The veins and sensory nerves of the back of the hand run in the middle fat layer, while the most superficial layer is largely free of important structures, which is why it is the preferred plane for volume.^1,2 Before treatment I often use ultrasound to look at the thickness of the layers, the position of the veins and anything injected in the past. It helps me place the product where it belongs, evenly and safely.

On the day and afterwards

• Duration: usually 30 to 60 minutes, longer if laser and Renuva are combined.
• Comfort: numbing cream for laser; the injectables are given with local anaesthetic.
• Swelling: the hands swell more than the face after injections. Swelling, tenderness and some bruising are common for a few days, and some patients feel temporary stiffness when making a fist.
• Aftercare: keep the hands raised when you can for the first two days, and avoid heavy hand use (gym, tennis, yoga, carrying shopping) for 48 hours.
• After laser: sun protection on the hands is essential, and reapply it after washing your hands.

Who should wait

I postpone or adjust treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with an active skin infection or eczema flare on the hands, or with a history of severe allergic reaction. Renuva is not suitable if you are in a calorie deficit or losing weight, if you have had permanent filler in the area, or if you have a history of an eating disorder, because it relies on healthy fat to build.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best treatment for ageing hands?

It depends on what is causing the change. Thin hands with visible veins and tendons need volume, for which Renuva is my first choice and filler the faster option. Brown spots and fine lines need laser. Many patients benefit from both, and I can combine laser and Renuva in one session.

How long do hand treatments last?

Filler typically lasts many months, depending on the product. Renuva helps your body rebuild its own fat layer, and in my experience the result lasts for years at a stable weight. Sun spots treated with laser can return with sun exposure, so daily sun protection on the hands matters.

Is hand filler safe?

Hand filler can be appropriate for selected patients, but it is not risk-free. Swelling, bruising, tenderness, infection, nodules and vascular compromise are possible. Careful anatomical assessment, appropriate product selection and ultrasound when indicated can help manage risk but cannot eliminate it. Severe or increasing pain, skin colour changes, or unusual swelling require prompt medical assessment.

Can I have laser and Renuva on the same day?

Yes, in suitable patients. I do the laser first, then the Renuva, so you have one recovery period instead of two.

Will my hands look puffy or overfilled?

They should not. The aim is to restore the padding you have lost so veins and tendons are softened, not hidden under bulk. That is one reason I like Renuva for hands: it builds volume gradually.

Why do my hands look older than my face?

Because most of us protect the face and forget the hands. Hands get daily sun, sunscreen is washed off them constantly, and the back of the hand has very little fat to begin with, so volume loss shows early, especially if you use your hands intensively for work.

Do skin boosters work on hands?

Yes, they improve hydration and texture, but the change is gradual and needs a course of treatments. I usually combine them with volume treatment or laser rather than using them alone.

About the author. Dr Shiva Faramarzi, MD, is an aesthetic physician at Apogee Clinic, Address Beach Resort, JBR, Dubai, focused on aesthetic, regenerative and longevity medicine. She has trained doctors across the UAE for the past four years.

This page is for education and does not replace an individual medical consultation. Results vary between patients.

References