Beautiful hands. A youthful-looking neck. These can be areas where some of us see the effects of aging the most. Unless we are committed to gloves and turtlenecks all year around, finding ways to enhance the look of hands and neck can do wonders for self-esteem. Winter can be a great time to consider some options to treat these areas, as they are often covered and protected. From topicals to surgery, there are specific options to consider when looking at what may the right choice for you.

There are a few things involved with the look of aging on both the hands and the neck. Skin aging, volume loss, and thickening of the muscles in the neck, are all possible factors in the look of aging in these areas. Starting with an assessment of what bothers you the most is a helpful start to deciding what to do about it. Is it the look of the skin? Are brown spots and crepiness the main issues in these areas? Maybe it is visible veins in the hands. The neck might be showing signs of what is described often as a “turkey neck”. Identifying what you would like to improve is a start to creating a treatment plan that will deliver the best outcome.

Prevention and Protection

Those brown spots that show up are a result of sun exposure over time. The skin has some amazing ways to protect itself. One of those ways is to increase the production of melanin over areas that have more UV damage. Prevention starts with protection. Hands can be a difficult area to protect because of how much they are exposed to the environment and the fact we wash our hands throughout the day. Still, an SPF 30 or higher – reapplied throughout the day - makes a difference. A good one to try is VanguardMD Active SPF 50. Full of antioxidants and water-resistant for 80 minutes, this sunscreen is good for both body and face.

Topical Options and Treatments

Using a topical at night that has retinol and a skin brightener is an option to fade the brown spots. Our clara Medical Skincare line offers two options, RejuvaNeck and Bright Complex. Either of these creams can be used on the hands. RejuvaNeck is formulated for the delicate skin on the neck and décolletage. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is also an option for some to treat brown spots on the hands and chest. Vanguard Aesthetics offers a series of three treatments of IPL to combat these brown spots and redness in both areas.

Minimally Invasive Options

If volume loss in the hands has created more obvious veins and tendon visibility, then adding a dermal filler that has been FDA approved for this purpose is a good option. Mandy, RN at Vanguard Aesthetics, has been using Radiesse® since it was approved for this use. "Bringing back the volume on the back of the hands, diminshes the look of veins and tendons. This results in a more youthful look," says Mandy. If fat deposits under your chin are bothersome, she also offers Kybella® injections to diminish the amount of fat cells in this area.

Surgical Options

A neck lift is a surgical option to treat a double chin, wrinkles, and muscle banding. At Vanguard Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, Dr. Banich offers consultations that are both informative and specific to your needs. “My goal in the surgical consultation is to assess the patient’s desire for improvement and tolerance for downtime. Sutures are in for a week, typically. There will be swelling and bruising for approximately 7 – 10 days. A relatively stable result in about 4 weeks is also typical. Pain is usually not limiting, it is the bruising and swelling which creates the downtime,” says Dr. Banich.

If you are not sure where to start, schedule a complimentary consultation at clara and Vanguard Aesthetics by calling 719-579-5555. clara and Vanguard Aesthetics are located at Vanguard Skin Specialists on 9348 Grand Cordera Parkway in Colorado Springs. Dr. Banich offers cosmetic surgical consultations at both Vanguard Skin Specialists locations in Colorado Springs. There is a $75 consultation fee, and this is applied towards surgical costs. You can schedule with Dr. Banich by calling 719-355-3861.