Facial Wasting Rehabilitation: A Personal Algorithm

Abstract

Facial lipoatrophy, also known as facial wasting (FW), defined as flattening or indentation of normally convex facial contours, is the most distressing manifestation for HIV patients. It can be stigmatizing, severely affecting quality of life and self-esteem, and it may result in reduced antiretroviral adherence. Several surgical or non surgical techniques exists, however to restore facial features in HIV-related lipoatrophy fillers and structural fat graft seems2 to be the procedures most performed. In this article the authors present his experience in FW rehabilitation, and his decisional algorithm of choice. Keywords: Filler, facial lipoatrophy, structural fat graft, facial wasting, HIV.