Doctors at New York City's Montefiore Medical Center have announced that they have developed a long-lasting surgical solution to combat facial wasting in HIV-positive people suffering from antiretroviral-related lipoatrophy. The researchers, presenting study data at the American Association of Plastic Surgeons' annual meeting in Baltimore, reported that their technique of transplanting a graft of the deep layer of skin and its attached fat from the abdomen can reduce the appearance of facial wasting for as long as 21/2 years. 'This new, long-lasting cosmetic surgery is a great boon to the quality of life and self-esteem of patients with HIV, most of whom live long lives today because of improved treatment,' announced Berish Strauch, director of plastic surgery at Montefiore.
