Facelift in a Patient With Benign Symmetric Lipomatosis and HIV Facial Lipoatrophy

Abstract

Benign symmetric lipomatosis (BSL) is a rare condition characterized by deposition of unencapsulated adipose tissue at typical sites on the body. Although the pathogenesis is not clearly defined, the disease has been associated with male gender, alcoholism, Mediterranean descent, and highly active antiretroviral therapy. A case study is presented of a facelift performed on a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient on a highly active antiretroviral therapy with facial lipoatrophy in the anterior cheek region in combination with BSL characterized by excess fat deposits in multiple areas including the posterior cheeks and neck. The resultant peculiar deformity was managed in this case with a modified facelift and fat excision without recurrence. There are few reports in the English literature describing surgical excision using the facelift pattern for treating BSL.