Hiv/aids lipoatrophy (facial wasting)
individuals living with hiv and aids may
not only have to deal with the threat of
illness but the toll of illness. All that
is required to stay healthy and alive can
leave an everlasting mark! I'm referring
to the loss of subcutaneous fat from the
face, commonly referred to as facial
wasting or lipoatrophy.
While individuals are often able to
re-gain weight and build up muscles on
their arms, shoulders, and other areas,
they fail to be able to replace the loss
of fat to their face. Although fat loss
in the face has been reported in
individuals who are not taking hiv/aids
medications, large numbers (up to 80%) of
people on antiretroviral combination
therapies (protease inhibitors and
nucleosides) are developing lipoatrophy.
Reportedly, the longer a person is on
hiv/aids medications the greater the
likelihood of developing problems with
facial wasting. Along with surviving,
many show in their face the telltale signs
of living with hiv!
At one time or another, most of us
infected have feared the onset of facial
wasting. The longer we are on medications
the more we become concerned. Facial
wasting causes great anxiety due to the
stigma and discrimination that often
accompanies it! These circumstances
affect self esteem and may cause
individuals to become socially withdrawn
and cut off their ties with family and
friends. They may go so far as to stop
working. Individuals report that people
treat them badly. Often, they are treated
like they are drug addicts or homeless
street people because their faces are so
caved in from lipoatrophy; when the truth
of the matter is the treatments that
enable them to live have brought this
on!
The fact that I was able to go without hiv
medications for some 13 years (the
exception being 9 months on azt in 1990)
meant that I personally did not experience
the devastating effects of lipoatrophy I
have witnessed in others. But, in the
last 7 years taking medications, I have
watched the fullness in my face slipping
away. Then last summer (2004) my face
started to rapidly sink in; caused by the
fact i've been living with hiv for over 20
years, along with the side effects from
hiv medications necessary in these later
years. There was only sadness for a
situation for which I thought there was no
lasting treatment. I knew only of people
who sought out some temporary fixes that
fell short of what was necessary for
repairing the deep scarring of
lipoatrophy. I was not aware of the long
term or permanent treatments available.
In november 2004, john mccahill, president
of pur medical corporation in toronto
contacted me through my website. John
informed me of a product being brought to
canada that will help to restore the
natural appearance in the face for people
living with hiv antiretroviral drug
induced lipoatrophy. The product, called
bio-alcamid or polyalkylimide made by
polymekon, an italian company, is a
synthetic gel made up of 96% water and 4%
synthetic reticulate polymer. It is
injected below the skin to restore volume
and natural contours of the face.
Bio-alcamid is one of the only products
that can be used in large volumes
necessary to correct this problem with
results that are permanent.
"we have implanted this substance in 73
patients with up to three years'
follow-up. The aesthetic results were
deemed excellent by both physicians and
patients. No implant dislocation, implant
migration, granuloma, allergic reaction or
intolerance was recorded". Department of
plastic surgery, university of parma,
parma, italy (2003)
john mccahill organized pur medical
corporation's first treatment training
session for facial restoration in toronto,
canada on november 26, 2004, where drs.
Beninger, kasrai, weiglein and rice
treated 8 volunteer patients with
bio-alcamid. The following day, 3 others
and I participated in a training session
here in vancouver for some of western
canada's top cosmetic practitioners. This
included drs. Alastair and jean
carruthers, robert thompson and calgary's
wayne perron. Dr. Peter velthuis from
the netherlands, one of the highest volume
users of bio-alcamid in the world, flew in
to direct the physicians in the subtleties
of the technique. These 12 volunteer
patients were the canadian debuts of a
product that has been used in europe and
other countries for 5 years.
Dr. Alastair carruthers, cosmetic
dermsurgeon, clinical professor at the
university of british columbia (ubc) and
vice-president of the american society for
dermatologic surgery, performed my
procedure. Forty minutes later, my sunken
face was restored! Over a period of two
months, my body creates collagen and a
film will form to encapsulate the
bio-alcamid and make my face appear
natural and feel soft under the skin.
Swelling lasted several days and each day
since, my face has become smoother and
softer to the touch.
I am very thankful for this opportunity to
participate and receive bio-alcamid for my
facial lipoatrophy. I would recommend
this product and procedure to people
living with lipoatrophy concerns;
bio-alcamid has rejuvenated my face and
having the treatment has increased my self
esteem.
Until now, canadians have traveled to
mexico, south america and europe to have
bio-alcamid treatments performed at an
expense, which is out of reach of most
people in need. Currently bio-alcamid is
available in canada under provisions of
the special access program, which involves
application on a patient by patient
basis.
Many individuals living with hiv and aids
have often overcome bouts of illness but
the side effects of the medications have
resulted in deep facial scars, which
affect their self-image physically and
mentally. This will contribute to their
hardship and ill health! We need
government to recognize the severity of
the problem and treat lipoatrophy like
that of the restoration treatments
patients with cancer receive. Lipoatrophy
is a direct result of the medications to
treat hiv infection. To remedy the
problem, the procedure needs to be covered
under health care.
I believe we can all work together,
recognizing that there is a need; helping
to create change and providing better
care!
Bradford mcintyre, hiv+ 20 years
vancouver, canada
www.Positivelypositive.Ca<
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before and after photos http://www.Purmedical
.Com/beforeafter2.Htm
