HIV Related Lipodistrophy
Written by Dr. Guido Spadafora
One of the most revealing aspects of the patient with HIV is his or her localized loss of grease (subcutaneous tissue) or lipodistrophy of the face, extremities and buttocks, due to an alteration of metabolism apparently caused by the protease inhibiting treatments. This loss of localized fat is more evident in the face causing thus an important negative impact on the proper self esteem and generating anxiety. Bioplasty is being employed very successfully today in order to correct the VIH related lipodistrophies of the face, extremities and buttocks.
Polimetilmetacrilate (PMMA) is used as face and body implants for the following reasons:
- Biocompatibility.
- The biomaterial does not move around the body.
- It doesn't present allergic reaction.
- The patient doesn't need tests of sensibility.
- It is molded when it is applied.
- The biomaterial remains stable once applied.
- Relatively low cost.
- This is an ambulatory treatment.
- It is carried out with small amounts of local anestesia.
- The applied quantity of the product depends on the desired correction degree.
- Applied in different layers of the skin.
- Low rate of complications.
- Aplications with non traumatic canulae instead of needles.
Polimetilmetacrilate (PMMA) is used for the procedure of Bioplasty. Its characteristics are:
- PMMA functions as a bioexpander, filling the region where it is applied.
- Injectable implant of microspheres of PMMA in a non proteic vehicle.
- Biologically inert.
- With permanent results.
Polimetilmetacrilate is being used for more than 30 years as bone cement, knee implants, intraocular implants, and for over 10 years, as injectable implant. It has been used in more than a million patients, showing stability, excellent results,and a minimum of complications.
The best results are observed after 30 days of its application, because it stimulates the formation of fibrolasts, production of collagen and elastine. It is applied with atraumatic canulae , which is a minimally invasive and safe procedure.
The esthetic results of the patients have been highly satisfactory due to its natural look that provokes a change in the self esteem of the patients, letting them to go on with their life o, much better, retake their profession
Other filling products as hyaluronic acid are expensive and of short duration. The implant of autologous fat is complex, specially in HIV carriers. It needs to be done in a surgery room and its lasting is unpredictable, having thus the need of a series of applications without sure results.
Centro Internacional de Bioplastia