Restorative Cosmetic Plastic Surgery for HIV
August 2008
A common and distressing manifestation of long-term HIV infection is known as facial lipoatrophy. The layer of fat beneath the patient’s facial skin erodes over time, causing dramatic changes in appearance and subsequent loss of self-esteem. The present report provides a review of the literature on cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures for restoring this lost facial fat mass.
The Media Focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
August 2008
The authors of this paper contend that the media play a major role in educating the public about medical and surgical treatment options. Because the media typically portrays only cosmetic plastic surgery, as opposed to reconstructive and medically necessary aesthetic surgery, the authors believe that the true scope of this medical specialty is ultimately misrepresented. A false public perception of this type could potentially hinder patients and even physicians from recognizing the types of reconstructive cosmetic plastic surgery options that may be available to them.