Did you have severe lipo/wasting but not anymore?

[Ihavehope]

I've read through some threads where a few people mentioned that they were on the older meds at some point of their lives and switched or stopped that regimen for another med and gained the weight they may have lost back. Facial wasting and Belly far accumlattion was minimized as well. Has this happened to you?

[allanq]

Even though I was off d4T (Zerit) and AZT for several years, I did not notice any improvement in my facial wasting. I had four Sculptra treatments, which helped, but then I had two treatments with PMMA in Tijuana. My face looks normal now, and people tell me that I look much better (and younger). I'm very happy with the treatments, especially the PMMA. I still have the belly fat accumulation and a skinny butt that makes it painful to sit on hard surfaces.

[mjmel]

NO my fat has not come back after switching meds. I believe the lipo continues but of course it's hard to detect the rate with polymer products in my face. My legs are fat-less/muscle-only which indicates to me lipo still continues--but not as rapid since discontinuing the 3TC/DT4. Unfortunately, that was only a year and a half ago. Someone pointed out that eventually the lipo will stop since the fat will eventually be gone. Good point!

[pozniceguy]

I have the severe wasting...stopped the Zerit and AZT...had many treatments with Sculptra...been nearly a year and the treatments have been very successful for the face but the fat has not returned.....still skinny legs/butt/ arms/feet...was never very big but could sit without bone touching chair ( not any more)  and stand on bare feet on just about any surface but now even carpet is very touchy almost painful..

modified to point out pic... the current pic is after Sculptra...before pic will be available on request...

[megasept]

I've read through some threads where a few people mentioned that they were on the older meds at some point of their lives and switched or stopped that regimen for another med and gained the weight they may have lost back. Facial wasting and Belly far accumulation was minimized as well. Has this happened to you?

Yes to moderate lipo and 75% RECOVERY due to...time only.

Let's talk about the wasting. I had it in both sets of cheeks. I was taking d4t and 3tc. It didn't happen for nearly 3 years into the combo. Then all of a sudden, in a matter of days not weeks (that's the definition of threshold). I kept taking the meds more than another 2 years. I was less interested in vanity than high t cells and low VL.

I went on an STI (I'm still taking no meds, for 6 years now). Still no improvement after 2 years caused me to go get my face filled with Silikon 1000 (droplets). Extremely gradually over the last 3 years (beginning 3 years after quitting my meds), I began to improve. How do I know? I didn't do anything to my butt. And it did hurt to sit down on so little fat. Now I believe I have 75% back.

For those of you who think your butts are already too fat, let me tell you, when you are in shape (I keep myself that way all the time), you realize you fat is what makes your butt round. This has nothing to do with "side vents" which you'll have if you're athletic, and especially if you hike or run. Rears should be round unless you're built like a fence post genetically.

I am really happy that I experienced some recovery---I am actually surprised. I look better. And it no longer hurts to sit.

I am always in favor of us eating well and exercising (to whatever limit your health dictates). Still, I think the idea that rigorous nutrition plans will stop or reverse Lipo is a pipe dream. One reason I know this, is I have eaten well consistently, during the entire experience I have described above. Nutrition, aging, just aren't the culprits.

Some things really are all about certain meds. And the time off certain meds. That's my 2 cents! I wish you all well, and thank you especially for the detailed med histories, since changing meds may make a world of difference for many (and for me too, when I resume treatment).

   -megasept

[Miss Philicia]

My doctor seems to think if you only have grades 1 or 2 lipo you may see some recovery but it still takes quite some time, but not recovery (except artificially) with grades 3 or 4 as by then too much damage has been done.  As far as my own situation I'll need another year to properly answer.

[jorja53]

I have lipodystrophy in my abdomen.  My specialist has reported to me that because lipodystrophy is a "marbleing" the fatty tissue around my internal organs, I am not to expect this to go away no matter what I do.  In the beginning, I told my Dr. that I didn't want to end up looking like Big Bird by taking my medications, but guess what?  He told me that I had two options:  buy bigger clothes that fit around my waist, or .....   I chose to buy bigger clothes.