By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-07-22 23:54:27 | Updated at 2026-07-28 15:17:11
5 days ago
Forget about a facelift - there's a new cosmetic procedure that's filling up operating rooms around the country, but some doctors are urging caution.
Both men and women with aging, wrinkly hands are attempting to turn back the clock by injecting filler and using other tightening treatments to make their hands smooth once again.
The new phenomenon comes as the demand for plastic surgery continues to grow, and celebrities are becoming more transparent than ever about what they've had done.
Hands have become a major focus this year as patients are finally realizing that the skin on their hands can age just as much as the skin on their face.
'People are paying attention to areas beyond the face now,' Melanie Speed, a celebrity injector, told the Daily Mail.
'They're noticing their hands in pictures holding a coffee cup, showing off a manicure, wearing an engagement ring, or just scrolling on their phone. We're constantly looking at our own hands in ways we probably weren't ten years ago,' Speed said.
'A lot of patients come in after treating their face and say their hands are now the one thing bothering them. They just want everything to match,' she added.
Some of the most popular treatments for aging hands include Restylane Lyft, a hyaluronic dermal filler, and regenerative injectables like Renuva or Radiesse, according to Speed.
Both men and women with aging, wrinkly hands are attempting to turn back the clock by injecting filler and using other tightening treatments to make their hands smooth once again
Patients also opt to pair injections with laser treatments, microneedling, or medical-grade skincare products, the doctor said.
'It's really about treating everything that's contributing to aging instead of chasing one problem,' Speed said.
However, there are some risks that are involved.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Frank Agullo told the Daily Mail about the potential dangers that can come from hand filler.
'Hands are safe to treat in experienced hands, but anatomy is everything and unforgiving!' Dr Agullo told the Daily Mail.
'The skin is thin, tendons are visible, veins are superficial which means poor technique is shown immediately. The common issues are swelling, bruising and some temporary stiffness which is uncomfortable to grip with for a few days,' he said.
The Texas-based plastic surgeon added that 'lumps and nodules' can occur in the hands if the filler is not massaged correctly.
However, there is one 'remote' risk that could result in circulation being cut off.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Frank Agullo told the Daily Mail about the potential dangers that can come from hand filler (stock image)
'The most serious risk, however remote, is that of injecting or compressing a blood vessel and cutting off the circulation,' Dr Agullo said.
'That is why I am choosing to inject with cannulas as opposed to needles in the hands (also why the use of ultrasound is a vital safety tool gaining popularity).'
Laser treatments for aging hands can be effective but they also involve certain warnings and considerations.
'Laser & Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for sunspots carries a risk of burns and pigment changes (especially in darker skin types),' Dr Agullo told the Daily Mail.
However, he noted that since plastic surgeons are trained in hand surgery and anatomy, they are very comfortable treating the area.
Not everyone is a candidate for hand treatments either.
'People with active skin infections, uncontrolled autoimmune or connective tissue disease, a history of severe filler reactions and anyone on blood thinners that cannot pause it will not be injected,' Dr Agullo explained.
'I also turn away patients that are really bothered by the look of their prominent joints or bones simply because no filler can fix them, being honest to patients is so much more valuable than getting more sale cases for me,' he said.
However, he noted that since plastic surgeons are trained in hand surgery and anatomy, they are very comfortable treating the area. Pictured: Before (top) and after (bottom)
However, the majority of patients will respond well to the treatment, according to Dr Speed.
And it's something that will only continue to see even more popularity, she said.
'I honestly don't think it's just a trend,' Speed told the Daily Mail.
'People are taking a more complete approach to aging now. They don't just want a younger-looking face. They want their neck, chest and hands to look like they belong to the same person,' the nurse practitioner said.
'The biggest compliment I can get is when someone tells a patient they look great, but they can't figure out what changed. That's always the goal. Natural, refreshed and never overdone,' she said.
Dr Agullo has also seen a rise in popularity in hand treatments in his own practice.
He said it's especially prominent due to the rise in video calls that people are using for work.
'Video conference calls and the ubiquitous presence of smartphones during day-to-day activities place one's hands under constant scrutiny,' Dr Agullo said.
'Those already having undergone cosmetic procedures for the face, neck, and other areas of the body have noticed that their hands have begun to lag cosmetically.'
He explained that the treatment can be a good one as long as patients maintain 'reasonable expectations.'
'The hands are among the few locations where subtle, effective, thought-out treatment dramatically influences aging while tending not to appear too obviously treated,' Dr Agullo said.
'Patients must see an actual board-certified plastic surgeon or an experienced, knowledgeable injector who knows hand anatomy, because a bad outcome for hand rejuvenation is potentially as visible as one on the face,' he shared.
