When considering anti-aging treatments, generally people prioritize the face over body areas. However, there are multiple injectable and non-injectable options for treating areas like the neck, decolletage, hands and even earlobes. Here are some options for treating non-facial areas:
Filler for Horizontal Neck Bands
The neck and the décolletage area are particularly prone to premature aging because these are areas of increased sun exposure, resulting in degenerative changes such as loss of collagen and elastin. And while many of us might put sunscreen on our faces daily, the neck and décolletage get neglected more often, resulting in lines forming faster than in other areas.
Belotero and some Restylane fillers work very well on the thin skin of the neck. Injections of dermal filler in the neck are shallow so only a few fillers will integrate well here. Belotero and Restylane Kysse work well to fill superficial creases, erasing the appearance of the horizontal bands and creating smoother skin.
Sculptra hyper-diluted Radiesse are also options for treating this area. They work differently than hyaluronic acid fillers, by stimulating your own collagen, for firmer, smoother skin over time.
Neurotoxin for Crepey Neck Skin
We are seeing spectacular results with micro injections of Xeomin/Botox/Dysport in the neck. Micro ‘tox can be used to create a lifting effect, improving laxity and crepiness. Micro injections are placed more shallowly than the traditional injections that go into the muscle.
Forever Young BBL for Non-Facial Areas (Neck, Decolletage, Arms, Hands)
I think we talk enough about BBL that I don’t need to go into too much detail, but in brief, BBL (Broadband Light) is a treatment that targets various shades of pigment, resulting in better skin clarity and quality. Forever Young BBL also stimulates collagen and has been proven to actually reverse the aging process of the skin. There is a study from Stanford University that proves that having Forever Young BBL treatments at least two times per year can alter genes to cause skin cells to behave younger: producing more collagen and elastin. You can read the study here.
The neck, décolletage and hand areas show so much sun damage because the skin here is thinner, less moisturized, has little to no fat, generally has a lot of exposure to the sun (while also being neglected for sunscreen application), and thus has less elasticity than other areas of the body. Consequently, this area is more likely to show signs of aging, like dryness, hyper-pigmentation and age spots. Forever Young BBL can treat any area of the body and targets:
- Vascular lesions (spider veins and redness)
- Pigmented lesions (freckles, age spots, generalized hyperpigmentation)
- Collagen stimulation for firmer smoother skin
Filler for the Earlobes
WHO KNEW?!?
If you’ve stretched out you earlobes from big earrings, or, if like me, you got your ears pierced by a 17-year-old in the mall in 1984, and one hole is lower than the other, you may be interested in fixing this issue. Ear lobes also lose volume when we age just like everything else.
Dermal filler adds volume to the ear lobe for a more youthful appearance, filling in any small wrinkles or creases. Fillers in the ear lobe can last longer than in any other area of the face due to the lack of any muscle movement on the treated area.
Filler for the Hands
I remember my grandmother’s hands. She would always wear this gorgeous diamond ring and I remember how it contrasted with her thin skin: you could see all the veins and tendons on the back of her hand. I realized this was how my hand would look eventually. While age does play a part in the breakdown of collagen and the resulting thinner, sagging skin, sun damage helps further this process along, and I know I don’t wear sunscreen on my hands everyday. So, it’s inevitable. My hands will be see through one day!
Fortunately we can fix this quickly and easily. Dermal fillers like Radiesse and Lyft can be injected into the back of the hand. It not only fills in the wrinkles and creases, but creates a layer between the skin and underlying veins and muscle, providing volume and structure and diminishing the appearance of protruding veins and tendons.
Laser Resurfacing for the Hands
Laser resurfacing targets skin texture and can also help with pigmentation and crepiness. The treatment is brief and has little discomfort. Results will take several weeks to see though, as non-facial areas take longer to heal than facial areas. Hands a re an easy add-on treatment if you’re already in the office for a facial laser or BBL treatment.
