POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Lipodystrophy & Metabolic Problems => Topic started by: egello on February 09, 2007, 01:34:46 am
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ok, I really noticed at the gym today. I think I am getting facial lipo. Most of people I was observing have nice full or rather even cheek fat that lies between their cheek bone and their chin, however, my cheek slightly goes in, causing shadow.
Sure, when I was PCP ing, I had lost 15 - 20 % of my original body weight, but now I had gained pretty much almost everything back. However, it seems that the fat I have gained back on my face don't seem to hold and stay up on my cheek!, They have less fullness. When I grab my skin and fat on my cheek, they feel rubbery and thin and seems that they don't seem as springy as I remembered them.
Only when I force edges of my lips up in a semi smiling position, my cheek looks as if they used to be. Harmmmm....
I apologize if this sounds offensive to anyone who have or had this, but its really depressing me. I keep thinking gosh, are people looking at me because of my sunken cheek?
Does fat on the cheek the kind of fat that don't come back once you have lost them? I haven't read anything that said that my current regime cause facial lipo, but I guess for someone trying to gain back the body weight, it does. Should I try to loose my body fat overall? Because I didn't really notice the sunken cheek when I was at 128lb. My full cheek just ain't coming back..... Would they come back eventually if I keep up at my current good fat / good protein diet and exercize?
Anyone have an aswer to this? This is making my day awful now besides minor flu like symtom I started experiencing today. :-\ Gosh, to go from feeling awesome to this, its crappy.
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once lipo has occurred especially in the face ,it does not come back.MOst of the hiv meds out there cause lipo but there are some that are definitely worse than others. You should check into face fillers such as bio-alcamid if you are really bothered by this change in your appearance
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I am not suggesting you are projecting this appearance, but sometimes a person can be the harshest critic to themselves. If you've got a bit of lipo wasting it's not grossly disfiguring, it's most likely visible only to you at this stage. Given the multitude of facial fat/bone structures out there, don't freak-out.
If you opt to do facial fillers, do your research. Ask questions. Get feedbacks and understand the risks. A small percentage (10%) of people have experienced a slight swelling in the areas where they've had fillers placed. That is to say, no logial reason for the swelling; i.e.: no impact injury or infection. Just swelled up a bit then went down in a few days. Why? no one knows for sure. Is is the body discovering something "foreign"? Some kind of immune system response? Don't know.
I have had fillers and am happy with the results. No problems whatsoever. I am conservative in the amount placed beneath my skin. I am 56 and don't mind looking my age, at all. One thing everyone should understand is that whatever filler, in my case Bio-alcamid & Precise, they do a good job of bringing back that youthful look and appearance as well as fill in the cavaties created by lipo. It's incredible to see those age lines disappear too. But, the lipo continues--in varying degrees. So touch-up visits are normal and desirable. Fillers have restored my appearance, and in this sense, much confidence and self-assurance for public viewing. Ta-dah!
Well, I'm getting off my soapbox now.
P.S. Just noticed you live really close to the clinic I visit. Now, ain't that something?
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Lipo sometimes occurs with age also but not at the degree as hiv meds or even the virus itself may cause. What is your age? Both my grandparents had sunken cheeks and I started developing them very similar but when my new meds got me undetectable the lipo progressed to a stage that frightened me. The lipo was taking a toll on my face slowly but it never stopped people from "hitting" on me especially the women. They would say I was an interesting looking man. Another comment from a coworker made me rethink about my face.
I am currently in a facial treatment with PMMA and have a second session on the 3rd of March. The face looks fab now that the swelling is almost gone (3 weeks). My body weight has always remained the same. I'm 5'7" and I weigh 147lbs. even with the lipo affecting my buns and legs. My chest and arms are the same as always. I like my small waist, though, thanks to lipo (ironic humor here)! ;)
I also noticed my sunken cheeks more in the gym than anywhere else. I also touched and pulled my skin as you explained. When I smiled my face would look pretty normal. Just a man with heavy wrinkles. I knew much better. I started to feel shy about exposing myself to public places because I was the only one with sunken cheeks. I never got a rare stare by someone else, thank God, but I did notice that some people were observant with my face. When I got the infamous question of "Have you lost weight?", I knew it was time to find a doctor and even beg for money (if I had to) to pay the bill but I HAD to do it. I never got the money,lol, but my Visa's credit limit was enough to get it paid for. I'm in dept now but the hell with that shit. I got my old (new) face back. I am happy and THAT was a big boost of personal satisfaction. Better than an orgasm, well, almost! :D And I do look 14 years younger because the best close up of my face was a pic when I was THAT age. The doc did an incredible job. Cher will be jealous if she sees me! Another thing, eating right and keeping yourself healthy will not stop lipo. I always eat right and have an appetite of a hog. I am in the SAME weight and the lipo hit me anyways. Eating right just helps your immune system fight hiv and I've been hiv+ for 21 years already. The lipo began 10 years ago slowly (it didn't worry me because I thought it was age related), but progressed in the last 2-3. Especially last year when I became undetectable with my new meds. Facial fat does not come back easily. If it does, it may take years even if aids is cured from someones body. I've read about this and even asked my doctor. We just have to do the best we can with our food intake and personal care like sleeping well and other things. I'm going to post a thread after the swelling goes down after my second session with the fillers. I don't want to show the swollen face pics because that would be a false impression of what does stay on the face. Still, my face changed dramatically and I would kiss my checks if I could. I even had to let my beard grow (first time) for a week before returning to work. People were going to notice quickly but the beard is fooling almost everybody at work. They are all saying "the beard makes your face look rounder and cute". Lol, if they only knew... ;)
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yeah, would love to see some pics.
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Look at my face.
I had it filled and I now look fine again.
It changed my life. So, if it really starts to make living impossible, go for it.
The earlier you start the better.
Good luck
Hermie
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hi hfy
earlier you start facial filler, better? why is that? what kind of filler did you use and how much did it cost?
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hi,
I had my first fillings done back in the nineties, when I looked like an advertisement for AIDS.
I have my fillings done every year now. Of course the first ones were the most expensive. Afterwards you need smaller amounts.
I live in Europe, so material and prices will differ. Look for the other threads in this section. I know people have had long conversations about it.
to answer you questions :
The earlier you start , the less sillicon needs to be injected. I refer to myself now. Also, the results are a bit better.
From the other side it won't give you the wooooowwwwww result, but you will clearly see a fuller face and a softening of the wrinkles .
It fills "the valleys".
As for the cost : I paid about $ 1.500,00 for my 3 first treatments, after which I was a changed person.
Just look for a specialist to do this. If it bothers you as much as you say : Go for it.
Good luck
Herman
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heartforyou:
You had sillicon injected--not PMMA related products? Interesting. You look great.
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mjmel
It is reffered to as "sillicon pearls" over here.
Upon injection the body starts to build fat around these miniscule pearls.
The injection feels like a bee sting, but it is worth it.
I love it when people say : have you gained some weight?
Instead of feeling offended, i have a "yes" moment...
Herman
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I have touched those cheeks, they look natural and tender. ;)
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Juanito.......
besos..
Hermie
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Hermie
You look really good, I can't tell you had work done on your face. Thanks for sharing this with us, at least we know we have options if we need to improve our appearance.
Al
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Thanks for all your comments. I konw I sound nutty posting like crazy person, but I am not doing so well. My skin looks old, I look like i am touching rubber when I touch my face and I have slightly suken cheek and my stomach is bulging not from fat but from somewhere deep inside. It feels like there is a hard baloon in there.
This all started to occur as I started gaining back my weight this past month. I have been on my hiv meds combo for three weeks now, and this week, things seem to be really hitting the fan. My skin feel flushed and I often feel disoriented, often forgetful and my Lipo symtoms have appeared harder. Although no stomach or nauseous problem anymore.
Does it take a while for the meds to build in your system once you start ? Like say 3 weeks?
Are these the side effect people talk about that will go away? Or would I have to live with this?
Thanks
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heartforyou:
You had sillicon injected--not PMMA related products? Interesting. You look great.
FYI: I also had silicone, Silikon 1000, 2 sets of injections.
I am not informed enough to say this vs. that filler. Just know, I didn't want a solid piece of whatever put into my face, and I had an expert do it. Collagen forms around each little silicone bubble. I am not recommending. Just sharing. Folks here are discussing other kinds of treatments.
Had the treatment, 3+ years back, little if any change since then beyond slight aging everywhere (injected in temples and especially in triangular formations in indented cheeks). I look good, and feel absolutely the same. The wasted look is gone. That's all I wanted.
cost: $1600 (I think) 2003; totally out of pocket.
I am happy with the result unless it kills :o me much later (it is silicone, after all). lol.
8) -megasept
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hey egello, I too was worried about the meds changing my face and body..I started meds in September, and noticed i was losing weight on the face especially when the light would hit my face on an angle and see that my eyes were sinking in. But thats also because i would struggle to keep the weight on due to the runs. Last week i saw my doc and asked him if i was getting lipo..According to him it wasnt lipo but just weight loss..its true my face is more angualr now, but who knows how long it will take when my face really starts to sink in. He said most of the newer drugs dont cause fast lipo like AZT and the other early drugs. Im on Kaletra, which im not sure if hes telling me the truth or is he just saying that so i dont panick. At the end he just said i wouldnt qualify for face fillers beacuse there isnt any lipo happening...just weight loss..So all i can do is just hit the gym, and eat more (and avoiding fat because of the rasing of triglyc)..So what im saying is, 3 weeks is way too early to say you have lipo..it could be just weight loss..or maybe even just the HIV taking its toll..genetics...or lets face it..your aging..consult your Doc, but i wouldnt panick just yet if i were you.
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Hello everyone, my boyfriend just started a new regimen a couple of days ago and I want to know if they can contribute to losing fat in your face. Viread and Epzicom and Prevista. He's so sweet and so beautiful and he's so young, and he's a dancer so he's on stage and I want him to be successful and look the part. Are these meds going to make his face fat free?
Thanks for listening
Jake
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has your doctor diagnosed you with Lipo?
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I see it in his face, just by looking at him you can see the fat is leaving his face, but technically, he has not been diagnosed.