Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated lipodystrophy with dermafat graft transfer to the malar area

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a death sentence two decades ago, has been transformed into a chronic disease with a life expectancy of many years, due to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Despite virologic success, nearly 50 percent of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy develop lipodystrophy with central and visceral fat accumulation and/or facial and limb fat atrophy. The changes are referred to as the human immunodeficiency virus lipodystrophy syndrome. The authors describe a series of five patients with antiretroviral therapy-induced lipodystrophy of the face who benefited from surgical correction of their typical stigmatizing malar atrophy. Dermafat grafts were transferred from the abdominal wall to malar pockets through a transoral approach. The aesthetic results were dramatic and stable, lasting the duration of the 1- to 2-year follow-up period.