Custom-built Implants Useful for Facial Wasting of HAART-related Lipodystrophy

Custom-built implants can help restore a more normal facial appearance for HIV-infected patients with facial wasting syndrome, a feature of HAART-related lipodystrophy, new research shows.

As reported in the November/December issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. William J. Binder, from the University of California in Los Angeles, and Dr. David C. Bloom, from the University of Washington in Seattle, describe the outcomes of 22 patients who were treated with facial implants.

Eight patients had moderate facial defects and received "off-the-shelf" submalar implants. The remaining 14 patients had more severe defects and received custom-built implants that were fashioned with the use of high-resolution CT and computer-aided design.

The procedure was deemed a success in all cases and the implants eliminated the emaciated appearance characteristic of facial wasting syndrome, the researchers note.

According to the authors, more than 50% of patients who are treated with HAART for at least 1 year will develop facial wasting syndrome. "Custom-designed submalar implants provide a safe, stable, definitive, aesthetically pleasing solution to this problem," they conclude.

11/17/04

Arch Facial Plast Surg 2004;6:394-397.