Cryopreservation of Adipose Tissue for Cosmetic Treatment of HIV Related Facial Lipoatrophy is Underused

Abstract

Few infectious diseases have the social stigma or the emotional power that is often associated with HIV. The psychological impact of any disease can be its own difficult, and occasionally insurmountable, hurdle that has very little to do with science or medicine. However, HIV infection seems to have taken on the mantle of a disease with the greatest overall social impact. Over more than three decades of research vast new understanding of the infection and disease progression has taken place. Current states of knowledge have allowed the development of drug cocktails (HAART therapy) that keep a large fraction of morbidity and mortality at bay. But as HIV+ patients live longer and better lives, they must still contend with prejudice and stigma that sometimes associates with disease status. This is often due to the simple fact that HIV+ people look like HIV+ people. As the disease progresses, elements of HIV associated lipodystrophy can change the individuals appearance. Banking of adipose tissue early after diagnosis for subsequent autologous use years later can offer patients a safe and affordable surgical option for reversing the changes in facial appearance and social stigma that associate with HIV status.