My skin is thinning and I have a very pale complextion. My once pretty feet show every vein now, is there any I can do?
Fillers applied to the hands or feet has been something that practioners have begun using to mask skin thickness and fat loss common as we age. It is important to realize that this is an off label usage of these products and has not been approved by the FDA. An alternative is fat transfer.Fat transfer for the hands has become increasingly popular in recent years. In my San Francisco area practice we perform this procedure and have noticed there has been interest in treating the feet as well. In the hands of an experienced practitioner, fat transfer to the feet should be able to produce the same results.The key is finding someone with significant experience in these techniques. Fat transfer to hands and feet has unique challenges in comparison to fat transfer to other parts of the body. A board certified plastic surgeon is a good place to start.In addition, fat transfer to the feet have additional risks and considerations. The feet typically have poorer circulation than the hands and are more dependent (hang below the heart) which can increase the chance of infection, swelling and recovery time. Also, feet can be more difficult to allow appropriate time to heal (think at least a few days of bedrest and leg elevation for several weeks). These concerns would be similar for injectables though the recovery time would be quicker.I hope this helps.
I am getting more and more inquiries concerning the treatment of foot veins. Although fillers can be used to try to hide the veins, this is an expensive, short term solution. I feel that the best treatment for veins would be either sclerotherapy, removal through small 2mm incisions(microphlebectomies) or, if the veins are large enough-laser ablation.
