Aesthetic surgery of the aging hand

Preliminary considerations are made about the aesthetic surgery of the hands, stressing the fact that little interest has been devoted to this field. The senile changes of the hand are analyzed, mentioning the presence of sagging and wrinkling, the appearance of senile lentigos and senile keratoses, as well as dilatation of the dorsal veins.The etiology and histology of the senile changes are reviewed, including the effects of actinic rays and gravitational forces. A rational approach is undertaken by means of excision of the sagging skin, phleboexeresis, and chemical exfoliation. Our experience in the last 5 years is analyzed.