EAR, NOSE & THROAT UPDATE
THE FAT YOU WANT TO HAVE

By Jeffrey Raval, MD
From today’s headlines, you’d think that all Americans are trying to rid their bodies of fat. But that’s not always the case. Especially for HIV Positive people suffering from facial lipoatrophy because of the medications they’re taking.

Sculptra™ is newly approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with human immunodeficiency virus. This fat-wasting phenomenon is what most HIV patients describe as one of the worst aspects of their condition: they look unhealthy.

Sculptra™ changes all that. Sculptra™ is injected into the skin in multiple injections to restore and/or correct of the signs of facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in people with HIV. The injections stimulate collagen production which is what adds the volume to the face, restoring a healthy appearance. Depending on the severity of the fat loss, patients will require anywhere from two to five treatments—at $750 each. Injections are administered every two weeks and may not be permanent. The results last two to three years in HIV patients; longer in non-HIV patients. Touch-up procedures may only require one or two treatments.

More than 150,000 patients in 30-plus countries have been treated with Sculptra™. Approved in Europe in 1999; approval in the United States was granted in August of this year. Our office, Faces First, is the only one in Colorado administering the product as of the time of this writing.

Sculptra™ is a synthetic biocompatible material injected below the surface of the skin in the area of fat loss. It provides a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness. It’s an answer to HIV patient concerns and as well is seen as the future of treatment for non-HIV patients who are fit and toned but experiencing the generic fat loss in their fact that naturally comes with aging.

Fat injections have long been available in cosmetic treatment. But the problem with fat injections is that they don’t last as long and baby boomers who are in good shape don’t have much fat to use for harvesting.

Patients should not use Sculptra™ if they are allergic to any ingredient of Sculptra™. Sculptra™ should not be injected while one has an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area. Side effects of Sculptra™ may include the delayed appearance of small bumps under the skin in the treated area. Generally these bumps are not visible and may only be noticed when pressing on the treated area. Other side effects may include injection-related events at the site of injection, such as bleeding, tenderness or discomfort, redness, bruising or swelling.

Jeffrey Raval, MD is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and did his residency and internship at the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University Barnes Jewish Hospital. He completed his fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. He is Section Head of Otolaryngology at Swedish Hospital in Englewood and is the Medical Director of Matrix Spa in Denver. His is a practicing partner at Associates of Otolaryngology with offices at Harvard Park Medical Center and in Lone Tree and volunteers at Denver Inner City Health. He can be reached at 303.744.1961.