Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Facial Wasting
What is Facial Wasting?
Facial wasting is one symptom of a syndrome
called lipoatrophy, which describes the loss
of the soft layer of fat that sits just
beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat). When a
person has lipoatrophy, it is most
noticeable in the legs, buttocks, arms and
face. There is no single identified cause
for lipoatrophy. The evidence collected so
far shows that both HIV itself and the drugs
used to treat it can lead to this kind of
fat loss. Fat loss from the face is one of
the components of lipodystrophy, the name
used to describe a syndrome of body fat
changes that are seen in people taking
anti-HIV drugs. Facial wasting is marked by:
- Loss of underlying fat and support to the
face, especially along and under the
cheekbones
- Malnourished appearance or emaciated
appearance
- Sunken temples
- Loose hanging skin especially in the
middle part of the face
- Deep laugh lines on either side of a
raised prominent fold
- Sunken cheek pads
- Noticeable and prominent outlines to the
facial muscles and bones
What are My Facial Wasting Treatment
Options?
Click here to review detailed
information regarding facial wasting
treatments
Facial Implants
Fat Grafting
Perlane (cosmetic facial filler)
Radiesse (formerly knows as Radiance,
cosmetic facial filler))
Restalyne (cosmetic facial filler)
SCULPTRA™ (also known in Europe as New-Fill)
What are the Causes of Facial
Wasting?
It’s not known exactly what causes facial
wasting in people who take anti-HIV drugs.
At first it was thought that protease
inhibitors were the cause of facial wasting,
but now many doctors believe that it is
caused by nucleoside analogues, particularly
d4T and to a lesser extent AZT. Because of
the link with d4T many HIV associations no
longer recommend the use of d4T if there are
other treatment options available.
Other factors have also been suggested as a
possible cause of fat wasting from the face.
These include severe immune system damage
before anti-HIV treatments were started, low
body weight, age over 50 years, and being
male.
Where Will my Facial Wasting
Treatment Take Place?
Your facial wasting treatment is a
relatively simple nonsurgical procedure. It
can be performed in Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M. Senderoff,
MD's beautiful, modern Westchester or
Manhattan, New York offices. Dr. Senderoff
has successfully treated hundreds of facial
wasting patients.
What's the recovery time?
Treatment with facial fillers can be
performed quickly and easily. Patients
are able to leave the office immediately
after the procedure. Some swelling,
bruising, or discoloration may be evident at
the injection site.
In What Parts of the Face Does
Facial Wasting Occur?
Fat wastes away from the fat pad in the
cheek, below the cheekbone and beside the
nose. This can make a person look very
hollow-cheeked, gaunt, or ill. Fat is also
often lost from the small fat deposits in
the temples.
What Will I Look Like After Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M.
Senderoff, MD Treats My Facial Wasting?
Your appearance after facial wasting
treatments depends on several factors
including:
- the type of filler used
- the amount of filler used
- the frequency of filler used
- the severity of the underlying facial
wasting
- texture and quality of the skin
- laxity of the skin
The goal in treating facial wasting is to
restore facial volume to the pre-wasted
appearance and to eliminate the stigmata of
HIV infection. Dr. Senderoff strives
to produce results that are both natural and
pleasing.
If you have any additional questions about
facial wasting please feel free to contact
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M.
Senderoff, MD at his Manhattan or
Westchester, New York office.