The Treatment I Experienced
Renuva, applied on my hands
My Provider
Dr. Haideh Hirmand, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City
What Is Renuva?
Renuva is an FDA-regulated injectable utilized for restoring volume loss related to aging. It's an allograft adipose matrix derived from purified and donated fat tissue. Once injected, it creates a honeycomb-like framework around which your own fat cells can proliferate. Over a few months, it dissolves and is replaced by your body's natural fat. It's highly versatile: “Renuva can be employed wherever native fat exists. This encompasses areas such as the face, neck, and décolletage,” explains Dr. Hirmand. Common treatment locations include the temples, cheeks, hip dips, and hands, which is where I underwent the treatment.
How Does Renuva Compare to Fat Transfer?
Unlike traditional fat transfer, which demands anesthesia and liposuction, Renuva doesn't. It's a favorable choice for those lacking sufficient own fat or who are ineligible or reluctant to undergo surgery, as noted by Dr. Hirmand. However, since it's eventually replaced by the body's own fat, it still behaves accordingly, providing long-term and natural-appearing outcomes, she states. Additionally, because it's composed of the same elements as natural fat, your body doesn't perceive it as a foreign substance.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Renuva?
According to Dr. Hirmand, nearly everyone. “It's an excellent treatment for anyone encountering age-related volume loss. There are very few patients who wouldn't benefit from this therapy,” she remarks, noting that the average age of those being treated lies between 40-65. It can be used wherever fat is typically present, although it's worth noting that it's not intended for placement in dermal, glandular, or muscular planes, such as the lips and under the eyes. In these areas, traditional filler would be a more appropriate option, Dr. Hirmand says.
Is Renuva Safe?
In brief, yes. “Renuva has undergone rigorous safety examinations. It was initially utilized in 2015 for reconstructive purposes like pediatric cleft lip and palate repair, so we possess a substantial amount of knowledge about it,” elaborates Dr. Hirmand. As with any injectable, there are certain potential side effects – redness, swelling, bruising, possible tenderness – but these are temporary and persist for only a few days.
Why I Opted for Renuva
I began noticing volume depletion in the backs of my hands during my late 30s. I've always been aware that hands are among those deceptive areas that showcase age initially and that it sort of sneaks up on you. This is precisely what occurred to me: One day, I noticed that my hands appeared significantly more veiny and had more conspicuous tendons than I recalled. Fat grafting wasn't something I was prepared for yet, but I also desired something more durable than traditional filler. I was also cognizant that some types of filler could cause intense swelling, which I was attempting to evade. Right around the time when I was endeavoring to determine what, if anything, I wanted to do to address the volume loss on my hands, I discovered Renuva. It seemed like the ideal combination – I would be capable of enjoying the effects and longevity of fat transfer with the simplicity of a filler injection.
I visited Dr. Hirmand because she specializes in skin rejuvenation using fat. She and I had an extensive consultation regarding Renuva, its mode of operation, its safety aspects, and the concerns I had about my hands. I showed her a picture of how my hands previously looked so that we could envision what I was aspiring to restore. She pointed out that some of what I was observing was age-related volume loss but other elements, such as skin thinning, were also contributing to the more prominent appearance of veins and tendons. Renuva would be able to restore some of the volume loss, but wouldn't address the other skin matters. Nevertheless, she also reassured me that my hands weren't overly bad and were merely starting to exhibit signs of aging. We decided that she would adopt a more conservative approach to the treatment by initially injecting a smaller quantity of Renuva, knowing that I could always follow up with a second treatment if necessary.
What My Renuva Treatment Entailed
The treatment itself was quite straightforward and very similar to any type of filler injection. The initial step was to clean and sterilize the skin, after which lidocaine was injected around my knuckles where the cannula was to be inserted. Although Renuva can be injected via a standard needle, Dr. Hirmand prefers to use a cannula on the backs of the hands to minimize bruising, given that the area is delicate and contains numerous veins. While the lidocaine was taking effect, Dr. Hirmand reconstituted the treatment matrix, which comes in a preloaded plastic syringe. Using another empty syringe, Dr. Hirmand mixed the treatment with sterile saline and additional lidocaine, transferring the treatment back and forth to homogenize and smooth the product.
She then created approximately three or four points along the webbing between my knuckles and inserted the cannula through them. She injected a thin layer of Renuva between the tendons along the backs of one hand, where I had noticed volume loss, and then repeated the entire process on my other hand. She utilized less than a syringe of Renuva for the entire procedure, which lasted only about 20 minutes and was generally pain-free due to the local anesthesia. The lidocaine injection was probably the part that stung the most.
Following the treatment, my hands were slightly pink for approximately 30 minutes, but I experienced no pain, tightness, or swelling. I would even say that I didn't encounter any side effects at all. One of the pleasant aspects of Renuva is that you can observe a result almost immediately, as it instantly adds volume to the area. Over the course of a couple of weeks, that effect diminishes and reverts to the baseline as the treatment dissolves, leaving behind the structural matrix for your body to fill with fat. Final results take approximately three to six months, but they're essentially permanent. The new fat that grows in doesn't disappear, but the aging process doesn't halt. So in 5 to 10 years, even that fat will commence to decrease again.
My Renuva Outcomes
It's now been approximately three months since my treatment. The results are delicate but attractive. I decided not to return for a second treatment because I didn't desire an overly filled or unnatural appearance. I think it's challenging to discern the difference in before and after photos, but in a real-life context, I can undoubtedly notice a change. In the same manner that I used to catch a glimpse of my hands and think they looked bony, I now catch a glimpse and think they look quite good and very appropriate for my age. I can still see tendons and veins, but they don't stand out to me as much as they previously did.
How Much Does Renuva Cost
According to Ruli members, the cost can range from $1,200–$4,800. This depends on your provider's location, the quantity of ccs used, and the number of treatments you undergo.
Final Verdict
To have such an effortless, non-invasive treatment yield results that persist for years is remarkable. I would undoubtedly undergo Renuva again, not only to rejuvenate my hands but also on my face as I begin to lose volume there. I appreciate that it's a more natural, longer-lasting alternative to fillers, and the outcomes are simply beautiful.
