Looking to Keep Up Appearances After Lipodystrophy?

Injections for HIV – Solutions for a Changing Body

HIV shouldn’t keep you from looking your best. If you’ve been diagnosed with lipodystrophy after taking medication to combat HIV, don’t lose hope. There are several new treatments designed to restore changes in appearance brought on by HIV treatment, and they may be the key to keeping up appearances. Furthermore, many of these procedures may be covered by insurance. If you’ve experienced too little fat or too much fat in certain areas of the body recently, dermal injections or liposuction may be an effective solution. After all, you deserve to feel confident in your own skin.

How Do Injections for HIV Work?

While you may be aware of dermal injections and their use in combating aging and restoring skin volume, there has also been recent success in helping those diagnosed with HIV to fend off unwanted changes in appearance.

For lipodystrophy (particularly fat loss due to lipoatrophy), safe and effective treatments include:

  • Sculptra Injections – designed to restore facial fullness due to illness or premature aging.
  • Fat transfers – usually taken from the abdomen. Fat can also be frozen for later use if lipodystrophy continues. There is little to no bodily rejection risk because your body has produced this fat to begin with, making it much safer for patients with HIV.

For lipodystrophy (particularly fat gain due to lipodeposition), safe and effective treatments include:

  • Liposuction – fat is actually deposited (extra fat) in areas like the neck or abdomen which is usually treated with suction-assisted liposuction and is commonly performed in the operating room with anesthesia.

These treatments have been proven to be the safest for patients with HIV, with little risk of infections and few, if any, side effects.

Consultations Available Now

Take the first step. Get your questions answered and find out which treatment option is best for you by meeting with one of our knowledgeable medical staff at Longwood Plastic Surgery for an in-person consultation.

Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our experienced team members will reach out to you promptly to schedule your consultation.

Am I a Good Candidate for HIV Injections?

Whether HIV treatment has you losing or gaining fat in certain areas, Longwood’s experienced, qualified team wants to help you.

If you are looking to combat lipodystrophy, dermal injections and fat transfers may be the answer in helping you to retain confidence in your body. In cases of more severe HIV lipodystrophy (specifically Lipodeposition such as Buffalo Hump or Psuedogynecomastia), other options are available, including liposuction.

To find out which option is best for you, consult Longwood’s team of specialists for a more in-depth analysis. We want to help you look your best.

How Long Does A Typical Treatment Take?

Treatment duration depends largely on the area of the procedure, the procedure selected and the severity of the treatment. For Sculptra, typical treatments can be done in a single office visit, typically 30-60 minutes. Fat transfers and fat injections are slightly more complicated and can take a little longer, typically a few hours with longer recovery time.

What Results Will I See?*

Patients undergoing HIV injections report seeing a more youthful-looking and confident face and body, much like they had before lipodystrophy. Patients undergoing more intensive procedures can expect to see a reversal of lipodystrophy’s effects with results lasting for up to and over 1-2 years. To ensure that you achieve the results you want, be sure and communicate with your specialist.

Is There Any Downtime?

For Sculptra injections, patients can return to their lives almost immediately with few restrictions. Those undergoing a fat injection/transfer or liposuction can expect to have a longer recovery time depending on the intensity of the treatment, with typical downtime lasting a week. Aftercare is important to ensure the desired results– be sure to consult with your specialist for the right post-procedure treatment.

Take the First Step – Request A Consultation

If you would like to schedule an in-person consultation, please fill out the form on this page or call (617)383-6250 and one of our knowledgeable medical staff members at Longwood Plastic Surgery will reach out to you promptly.

Longwood Plastic Surgery serves Brookline, MA and the greater Boston area.

*Individual Results May Vary

Testimonials

“Dr. Morris–I just wanted to thank you for the great job you did on my surgery. It was exactly what I wanted and they actually look better than I thought they would…I am lucky someone recommended your name to me and I will do the same.” * -AB

AB

“Dr. Reformat – Beginning with our first consultation, we both knew we trusted you. We witnessed your keen memory of details, noticed your sense of style and your natural artistic ability.”*  -LS

LS

*Individual Results May Vary