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Hand Fat Grafting is a specialty of Dr. Lam’s. Hand fat grafting (fat transfer to the hands) provides balanced hand rejuvenation because when the face looks young, the hands can be the telltale sign that “gives away” one’s aging.
Hand Rejuvenation Technique
Hand rejuvenation requires a delicate sensibility in balancing the back of the hands, the sides that blend to the thumb and small fingers as well as the knuckles and into the fingers themselves. Many of his patients prefer to undergo combined face and hand fat transfer to provide the most comprehensive rejuvenation program. However, typically many individuals’ hands do not age as quickly as the face, and the majority of Dr. Lam’s patients would benefit from fat transfer into their hands only after their late forties.
Hand Fat Grafting vs. Injectable Fillers
There are two methods for filling the hands for rejuvenation. Hand fat grafting versus using injectable fillers. Both are reliable and excellent methods for volume restoration. Hand fat grafting provides the most global rejuvenation (filling the fingers, knuckles, back of the hand), the most durable, and the most aesthetically powerful result. However, for 2 to 3 weeks the hands can look overfilled and have a bronzed to reddish hue to them. Most individuals easily deal with this recovery time because hands are “under the radar”, i.e., most people don’t know about hand rejuvenation, so it is something that individuals have very little issue entering back into their social and professional life. Here is a chart of the pros and cons of fillers versus injectable fillers.
| Hand Fat Grafting | Hand Injectable Fillers | |
| Type of Anesthesia | General/Deep Sedation | Office Procedure |
| Material Injected | Fat from Belly and/or Thighs | Hyaluronic Acid (Restylane, Juvederm, etc.). Usually, Dr. Lam prefers Restylane |
| Longevity | Permanent minus further aging and some small degree of absorption over the first few weeks to months. Many of Dr. Lam’s patients many years later still look incredible. | Usually you lose about 20% or more after one year and require a touchup that may be the same as the initial cost or less. However, as you continue to build fillers, they can last longer and longer. |
| Average Cost | Approx. $6,000 (including anesthesia and facility charges but there is considerable discount when combined with other surgical procedures like a facelift where facility and anesthesia costs can be dramatically reduced) | $3,600 ($600 per syringe) allows Dr. Lam to use 3 syringes per side. He can also do about $3,000 and just use 2.5 syringes per side to save cost. It depends on your budget and also on your degree of volume loss in the hands. |
| Degree of Rejuvenation | Very Global: Covering the entire back of the hand much better than fillers (unless you are younger and you do not need that much), the knuckles, and proximal fingers (first half of the finger where the volume loss is the most significant) | More limited: just the back of the hand and the degree of filling depends on the extent of aging and the number of syringes filled that will help determine the degree of rejuvenation |
| Recovery | Typically, 2 to 3 weeks (swelling and reddish hue) but typically very little pain and no loss of functionality of the hand (you can work out, play the piano, or use your hands as you would like). As mentioned, most people should not notice the swelling and you should be able to go back to work in a week. | Typically, a few days to a week of swelling. If there is bruising then it could last a bit longer. Like hand fat grafting, there is no limitation to what you can do with your hands |
| Value | ++++ | ++ |
FAQs About Hand Fat Grafting
I can’t decide between hand fat grafting and fillers?
What should I do? During a consultation with Dr. Lam, he can explore these two options more in-depth with you. If you have very early signs of hand volume loss, then fillers may be all that you need. If you have more significant volume loss, then hand fat grafting usually wins in terms of value, degree of rejuvenation, and longevity. If you have a more limited initial budget, then fillers may be the better option. However, if you can finance hand fat grafting, then long term you can have much greater cost savings for what you pay. Dr. Lam has some patients who wait and wait for some free time to do hand fat grafting, and in these cases he just suggests to move forward with hand fillers, which only takes a few minutes and can make a remarkable difference in the way your hands look.
Do fillers hurt since they are done in the office?
Not very much at all. Dr. Lam has a technique of sequential hand block in the wrist that is barely uncomfortable. Dr. Lam’s method is very easy to tolerate. There should be very little discomfort during and after the procedure.
Do the fillers and fat change the way my skin looks?
Fat has a greater potential to make the skin look better over time by virtue of the stem cells within the fat. However, if you have moderate degree of wrinkles and sun damage, you will most likely need additional therapies. Dr. Lam uses a fractionated carbon-dioxide laser (Cortex) to improve the hand wrinkles combined with light photofacial treatments and brightening products to improve the quality of the skin of the hands. However, because strong lasers cannot be done on the hands, Dr. Lam needs a few rounds of treatments oftentimes to improve the quality of the skin.
Will all of the bones and veins be covered when I do a fat graft or a filler?
No, nothing is perfect. If you look at Dr. Lam’s before-and-after photos, you will see that there are still some visible bones and veins of the hands. However, the hands still look remarkably more rejuvenated. The goal is to improve the impression one has about the hands rather than a perfect change since no change is ever perfect.
If I do a fat graft, will I be able to wear my rings?
In general, yes. Dr. Lam cannot recall a patient who had to adjust his or her ring size but will always caution patients that they may have to do this. Typically, in the first 1 to 2 months, there is a chance that rings will not fit properly due to swelling. That should be expected.
Is it worth it to fill my hands?
Dr. Lam will help prioritize with you the pros and cons of filling hands. He will help you decide whether the degree of aging in your hands justifies some kind of intervention. He has a great aesthetic eye and will help you budget your goals in a way that will be the most cost effective and aesthetically beneficial for you on a social-professional basis.
Can I use my hands after fat grafting or fillers?
In short, yes. There should really be no major functional problems. Dr. Lam always cautions you to listen to your body and to be gentle as needed if your body is tired or your hands become sore. However, he does not like you to soak your hands under dirty water. You can shower 24 hours after a hand fat graft (or earlier if you have just fillers) but should not swim or soak your hands in a bathtub for 3 weeks at a minimum if at all possible.
Your Cosmetic Surgery Procedures will be performed by Dr. Lam's surgery center located in Dallas, Frisco and Plano, TX.
Always a great expierience. Dr Lam always explains everything. He suggests helpful things for the future and the results are above my expectations.
Hand Grafting Procedures
All hand fat grafting procedures are performed by Dr Lam himself, at his Cosmetic Surgery center in Dallas Texas. To schedule a hand fat transfer “grafting” consultation call 972.312.8105 or email us . The details of your hand fat grafting (both the limitations and the benefits in your particular situation) will be explained to you during your hand fat grafting consultation with Dr. Lam and his team.
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