HIV FACIAL WASTING

HIV Facial wasting treatments fall into that class of procedures often referred to as 'non-surgical' facelifts. At Freedomhealth we use Bio-Alcamid to correct the effects of HIV Facial Wasting. Bio-Alcamid is a safe, permanent, removable and injectable filling gel. (Technically, it's not a dermal filler but an 'endoprosthesis'). We typically use Bio-Alcamid to correct the effects of  HIV facial wasting commonly associated with lipodystrophy (an unwanted side-effect of some HIV retroviral drug treatments) and we also use it to correct the effects of ageing, to enhance a particular look eg high cheek bones and where people simply want to look a little plumper and well in their faces.

 

Facial wasting is a feature of a metabolic syndrome where a combination of HIV medications and HIV itself will produce loss of fat and muscle volume under the skin. In HIV facial wasting there tends to be a global facial wasting effect so that the big fat pads, the thin layer of fat under the skin and the muscle tissue itself all waste. The consequences of facial wasting on self-esteeem and confidence can be devastating. Very many of our patients report finding shop windows, car windows and mirrors difficult to look at or into because HIV facial wasting stares back. Light can play tricks and make the facial wasting appear much worse. Patients commonly feel stigmatised by their facial wasting and believe it betrays their HIV status.

 

There is a common view amongst patients with facial wasting that almost anything will make an improvement. At Freedomhealth we believe that we should only use a product that consistently gives as natural a look and feel as possible. Just because a patient has facial wasting does not mean that any result is better - it has to be a good result. The best possible.
 
Bio-Alcamid has only recently been introduced into the UK, Italy and the Netherlands, having been extensively used in Mexico and Spain for HIV facial wasting and also for non surgical facelifts. We are one of the very few facilities in the UK to offer treatment  for facial wasting with this excellent product. Freedomhealth trains other therapists in this technique. Dr Seéan Cummings has a wealth of experience in the use of Bio-Alcamid  and treatment of HIV facial wasting and has contributed to medical and industry Journals on its use. Seéan treats patients with HIV facial wasting from literally all over the world who travel to benefit from his expertise in treating severly wasted and aged faces.
 
The results of the procedure are excellent and long lasting. The treatment usually takes between one and three sessions to achieve the desired effect. After just one treatment, one of our patients with HIV Facial Wasting said:-
 
“This is the first time in two years I have held my head up in public and smiled. It has changed my life overnight.”
 
Treatment involves pre-treatment photography, injection of local anaesthetic in much the same way as dental anaesthesia occurs and then injection of the product into the affected area. The whole process takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Antibiotics are administered to cover any possibility of infection. Sterile, single use equipment is used throughout the procedure. 

• Bio-Alcamid does not migrate i.e. it does not 'slip' into other areas. Very large volumes may be injected at any one time, including up to 500mls for areas such as the buttocks. Typically, 5ml to 20ml is injected into the face.