We are all so good at taking care of our faces, but our necks and hands give away our histories of sun exposure and birthdays. For a couple of years now, we have been addressing necks with Sculptra, with fantastic results and occasionally using Radiesse in hands; but it is only recently that the FDA has given official approval for the use of Restylane Lyft in the hands to reduce the signs of aging that are caused by the loss of fat and connective tissue.
Ten years ago, I used to look at the veins on the back of my hands and think, “Hey, I look fit!”. Earlier this year, I looked down and thought, “Who stuck my mom’s hands on the ends of my arms?!?!” So, I was thrilled when Galderma announced recently the “indication”[1] of using Lyft in the backs of the hands.
The product should last 9-12 months in the hands, although this will, of course, vary with how active someone is using their hands and their general metabolic rate. Check out this before and after picture and a short video of me injecting a client using a cannula (reduces risk of bruising.)
Before After
[1] “Indication” is the medical jargon for what a drug is approved to be used to treat. Ironically, there are a ton, if not most, of drugs and medical devices that are more commonly used “off-label” than for their FDA-approved “indication”. Neurontin, AKA gabapentin, is a classic in this regard – it’s FDA Indication is for epilepsy and for postherpetic pain, but its most common use is for back pain, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy. I have a whole lot of thoughts about off-label uses of drugs and medical devices that I will share in another blog later…