getting kinda psyched

[Miss Philicia]

So dear readers, this afternoon I finally bit the bullet that I have procrastinated over for years (for no apparent reason naturally) and went for my first consultation and assessment for Sculptra injections.  As I qualify as a po' white boi the manufacturer of said product will provide me 12 vials of magic powder every two years, and I am responsible to pay the $50 per office visit for the doctor doing the injection.  If this was paid for by private insurance and/or Medicare (which obviously it should be, and actually may in fact be approved to be in a year's time or so) then it would all be covered just like when a breast cancer survivor has a prostheses paid for post-mastectomy.  I see this procedure the same way and it should have been covered a decade ago for everyone.

My nice doctor, who is the medical director of Philadelphia's preeminent HIV clinic for transgendered individuals, was assisted today by the rather delightfully swarthy Sergio.  I brought in two of my passports, the oldest one dating from 1998 which is the last year that I looked normal (age 33) and my current passport photo from 2 years ago (age 43) which by that time I'd recovered from wasting issues so you can see my actual lipoatrophy without the concurrent and misleading appearance that occurs when both wasting and lipoatrophy happen at the same time.  My actual HIV specialist always likes to tell me that he thinks I've gone down a grade to lipo-1 or 2 in the past 5 years, but I've never been sure if I agreed with his rosy assessments.  The Sculptra doctor diagnosed me with a lipo grade 3 (4 is the highest).  So most likely I will need all 12 vials, and if that doesn't suffice than I'm out of luck.  He thinks I'll be fine though, mostly because with my high +1,000 cd4 count the issue of inflammation that occurs with lower counts should not be an issue.  I'm hoping that if there is enough vials left over after doing the main part of my face/cheeks that we can use them in my temples, because the simple act of wearing sunglasses causes me to get bad headaches because there's simply no fat padding that area.  Plus I'm rather certain that when I eventually go for an eye examination I will have start wearing reading glasses.

So now I just have to wait for about two weeks while my Sculptra grant paperwork is processed and then I will have my first injection session, followed by two more over the course of three months.  Then I shouldn't have to have a refresher round of injections for two years if all goes according to plan.

I was rather happy when he looked at my old passport photo and confidently stated he should be able to make me look like that again.  OK... right.  I'll believe it when it happens and not before then.

[Matty the Damned]

Oh honey. You're beautiful on the inside and isn't that what really counts? 

MtD

[Miss Philicia]

Oh honey. You're beautiful on the inside and isn't that what really counts? 

MtD

Yes, that's why I procrastinated over a decade.  It was kind of a big middle finger to the world.  Actually I was very mentally fucked up about it when it first happened, for about five years.  The last five years I've just been kind of whatever with it all... it's like having more gold stars, you know?  It's important to suffer with AIDS as a badge of honor.

Really though I've not suffered all that much... I at least need a couple of corpses tied to my hobby horse for a better parade if you get my drift.

[Miss Philicia]

ALSO I JUST LIKE TO GET THINGS FOR FREE

[denb45]

Miss P..... I'd think LONG & HARD before I would put anything like that into my face, if you really think it will make you look better, than go for it, but, do understand just what doing so  might do to you later on down the road............just sayin  Miss P    at my age I wouldn't do it, I don't care what I look like, as long as I don't have any teeth missing, and I'm not walking around with Body Oder, and overly obese  

[Miss Philicia]

Oh, and let me just add this tidbit.  This office does intake on these little personal handheld touchscreen wifi gadgets.  That was the first time I'd seen this.  So much more efficient than endless paper forms on a clip board.

After my appointment I cased in a Starbucks gift card for a chicken salad cranberry sammich on wheat and a venti latte, while reading a book and gazing inconspicuously at the hunky guy with the red beard.

[Miss Philicia]

Miss P..... I'd think LONG & HARD before I would put anything like that into my face, if you really think it will make you look better, than go for it, but, do understand just what doing so  might do to you later on down the road............just sayin  Miss P   

With all due respect you obviously don't comprehend the difference between a temporary filler like Sculptra and a permanent one like what people get when they traipse down to Rio or Tijuana.

[denb45]

With all due respect you obviously don't comprehend the difference between a temporary filler like Sculptra and a permanent one like what people get when they traipse down to Rio or Tijuana.

maybe I don't, but at my age I wouldn't consider it, but, hey go for it, if you think it will help your looks 

[Miss Philicia]

I'm just doing it so I can score 22 year old mutton chop hipsters during blizzards, preferably with copious anal warts.

[Matty the Damned]

Being comfortable with one's physical appearance is important. There are sound medical reasons for the use of products like Sculptura.

I hope it works out well for you, Philodendron. 

MtD

[WillyWump]

That's great Philly!! I'm excited for you!!


-Will

[Hellraiser]

I'm just doing it so I can score 22 year old mutton chop hipsters during blizzards, preferably with copious anal warts.

That's great Philly!! I'm excited for you!!


-Will

Are you excited for him to find a trick with anal warts?

[Matty the Damned]

Why not? Love bumps have their charms.

MtD

[WillyWump]

Well I was referring to the Sculptra.....but, um yeah, If MissP is happy with the Warted 22 y/o. Then I'm happy. Anytime MissP is happy it's a good day

 
-W

[WillyWump]

Why not? Love bumps have their charms.

MtD

Plus, no need for the "Ribbed" type condoms

[Hellraiser]

That is so wrong...so so wrong.

[Matty the Damned]

That is so wrong...so so wrong.

And yet, so very very right.

MtD

[denb45]

And yet, so very very right.

MtD

What is this thing we all call beauty & Vanity? what we see as beauty, may be totally different for others, I think beauty can only be skin deep, what's ugly on the outside, might be drop-dead-gorgeous to someone else  

[Inchlingblue]

After my appointment I cased in a Starbucks gift card for a chicken salad cranberry sammich on wheat and a venti latte, while reading a book and gazing inconspicuously at the hunky guy with the red beard.

I love a nice thick red beard . . . saw one today on a cashier at Costco . . .

So will we see before and after pics?

Isn't Sculptra the one that takes a while to look right? I know Dr. Pierone on thebody.com does both Radiesse and Sculptra at the same time because one you can see the effects immediately and the other takes a while.

Below is a very good video of him applying it to one of the bloggers, Mark S. King:

http://www.thebody.com/content/art55325.html

[David_CA]

Oh, and let me just add this tidbit.  This office does intake on these little personal handheld touchscreen wifi gadgets.  That was the first time I'd seen this.  So much more efficient than endless paper forms on a clip board.

Even down here in the unsophisticated South, my Dr's office has been using those for YEARS.  You should see my Dr. tap away on that little touch screen.  I keep hoping one of the staff will leave one in the rooms unattended.   

[Miss Philicia]

So will we see before and after pics?

Perhaps.  I was always the kid who cried when the camera came out -- I think I'm secretly Amish.  Should I wear McQueen for the pictures?

Isn't Sculptra the one that takes a while to look right? I know Dr. Pierone on thebody.com does both Radiesse and Sculptra at the same time because one you can see the effects immediately and the other takes a while.

Yes, basically.  I forget the details of the explanation but I think it stimulates your body to produce it's own collagen type material so it takes time to do this.  I'd have to research it some more.  The doctor said that right after the first injections my face will look really nice and full and you'd think you'd not need any more sessions, but then 24 hours later it instantly deflates and you basically look like nothing was even done the day before.  Then gradually over several weeks it begins to build up again and by then it's time for the second injection session.  I guess it's kind of a layering process.

[GNYC09]

Perhaps.  I was always the kid who cried when the camera came out -- I think I'm secretly Amish.  Should I wear McQueen for the pictures?

Yes, basically.  I forget the details of the explanation but I think it stimulates your body to produce it's own collagen type material so it takes time to do this.  I'd have to research it some more.  The doctor said that right after the first injections my face will look really nice and full and you'd think you'd not need any more sessions, but then 24 hours later it instantly deflates and you basically look like nothing was even done the day before.  Then gradually over several weeks it begins to build up again and by then it's time for the second injection session.  I guess it's kind of a layering process.

Is it like botox where they don't give you anesthesia before they stick the needle?  And is there any chance you'll decide to take this to the next level and look like a human tiger like society diva Jocelyn Wildenstein? 

[Miss Philicia]

And is there any chance you'll decide to take this to the next level and look like a human tiger like society diva Jocelyn Wildenstein? 

One can only hope to aspire to the greatness that is Ms. Wildenstein.  In fact, I was wondering how much botox costs because I could use some of that too.

[northernguy]

Sigh, will you still remember us little people after you've got your Hollywood glam "work"? 

[Inchlingblue]

 I'd have to research it some more.  

The facial wasting Q&A forum on thebody.com is a very good resource:

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/FacialWasting/index.html

The great Ms. Wildenstein (although Miss P is more Amanda Lepore):

[attachment deleted by admin]

[denb45]

Sigh, will you still remember us little people after you've got your Hollywood glam "work"? 

Miss P    were all hoping for some pics of before & after, but, if you don't want to put yourself on the World-Wide-Web, we all will totally understand 

[Matty the Damned]

The facial wasting Q&A forum on thebody.com is a very good resource:

http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/FacialWasting/index.html

The great Ms. Wildenstein:

I've gotta say I've never paid much attention to the Body's forums save for their HIV prevention/transmission forum which is fucking atrocious.

I assumed the rest were equally shitty.

MtD

[Inchlingblue]

I've gotta say I've never paid much attention to the Body's forums save for their HIV prevention/transmission forum which is fucking atrocious.

I assumed the rest were equally shitty.

MtD

It's basically a Q&A with Dr. Gerald Pierone. Perusing it can be pretty enlightening (although it eventually becomes repetitive I suppose), he has a lot of experience applying these temporary fillers.

The video I linked, above, shows him doing the Sculptra on someone.

 

[Miss Philicia]

Miss P    were all hoping for some pics of before & after, but, if you don't want to put yourself on the World-Wide-Web, we all will totally understand  

No, it's not really that -- I've put up pictures of myself here many times previously.  But I usually pick out ones that make my lipo not look so bad, so to do what everyone here wants I'd be throwing up ones where I look Maxi-Lipo and just very unattractive.  If I do it, I won't put them up until after the entire process and only if I'm very satisfied with the change.  

Should I also make a short high definition video of myself during a bout of explosive med-induced diarrhea?

[Matty the Damned]

It's basically a Q&A with Dr. Gerald Pierone. Perusing it can be pretty enlightening (although it eventually becomes repetitive I suppose), he has a lot of experience applying these temporary fillers.

The video I linked, above, shows him doing the Sculptra on someone.

 

Ah, gotcha. It's from the site proper, rather than their forums. Cheers for the clarification.

MtD

[denb45]

No, it's not really that -- I've put up pictures of myself here many times previously.  But I usually pick out ones that make my lipo not look so bad, so to do what everyone here wants I'd be throwing up ones where I look Maxi-Lipo and just very attractive.  If I do it, I won't put them up until after the entire process and only if I'm very satisfied with the change.  

Should I also make a short high definition video of myself during a bout of explosive med-induced diarrhea?

If you do Miss P just make sure it's in 1080i HD so we can see EVERYTHING in all of it's fabulous glory  

[Matty the Damned]

Should I also make a short high definition video of myself during a bout of explosive med-induced diarrhea?

Yes. Yes, you should.

MtD

[Hellraiser]

Should I also make a short high definition video of myself during a bout of explosive med-induced diarrhea?

Only if you can put the camera in the toilet.

[Matty the Damned]

Only if you can put the camera in the toilet.

He uses a Mac. Where else can he put the camera?

MtD

[Miss Philicia]

I'll use my new brushed metal Flip MinoHD

[tednlou2]

Good luck with the treatments.  I'm sure you are beautiful without them.  I would like to see the before and after.  I actually thought you were Mrs. Huxtable when I first joined this site.

[Miss Philicia]

Here's the 1998 pre-lipo me from my passport

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Miss Philicia]

And 4 teh xtra lulz, here's me going out for a night on the town ~2002 post-lipo and wearing a magnificent (RIP) Alexander McQueen beige tuxedo jacket, with a Vivienne Westwood high collar dress shirt and matching really, really wide necktie.  Please make note of the doo-rag which is actually a silk Fendi scarf.

You just don't get any gayer than Miss P.  My roommate (straight girl) took the picture and told me I looked like Karl Lagerfeld.  LOL

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Hellraiser]

There's no way you could be Karl Lagerfeld he wouldn't be caught dead without a fan in hand.

[Miss Philicia]

There's no way you could be Karl Lagerfeld he wouldn't be caught dead without a fan in hand.

Speaking of, I trust you've seen Lagerfeld Confidential?  It's a must-own DVD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22yzBmr5sY

[tednlou2]

I think you look good in both pix.  But I know what matters is how you feel.  I'm all for any procedures that will improve a person's life, so wishing ya all the best and hoping you don't need more than the 12.

Good Luck!

[Inchlingblue]

Speaking of, I trust you've seen Lagerfeld Confidential?  It's a must-own DVD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n22yzBmr5sY

I saw it when it was on Sundance as part of a fashion series they did. Loved it. Also good were:

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton
Valentino The Last Emperor
Seamless
"The Day Before" series, especially the Proenza Schouler episode

[aztecan]

Philly,

I have a delightful photo of you taken in Mexico City that I won't post because you are standing with some fat old man.

But, I thought you were strikingly handsome as you were then, and probably still are. Still, If you want to go for this, I would like to see the after shots.

HUGGLES,

Mark

[Miss Philicia]

"The Day Before" series, especially the Proenza Schouler episode

I saw that entire series and DVR'd all of them, but when I switched cable boxes for HD last week I lost them all   The Lagerfeld I can watch over and over, it's just so over the top.

I'll never forget running into Marc Jacobs during his grunge phase and dancing at The Swamp in East Hampton back in the mid-90's.  She was really a mess and much too drunk.  I also had words with Isaac Mizrahi when she tried to read me because we both had on the exact same outfits.  I had to inform the queen that I looked better in it because I was actually thin, whereas she had ladies' hips.

[tokyodecadence]

What!? I think you look fine in those pictures. You look fashionably skinny. Us young hipsters love skinny. Instead of getting injections, just follow my [Kate Moss'] mantra:

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.



On that note, you should probably just refrain from eating. Oxygen has enough carbs as it is.




PS: Is your avatar your celebrity doppelganger?

[Rev. Moon]

David, I just noticed the uncanny resemblance between you and Alexander McQueen.



[attachment deleted by admin]

[bear60]

David honey....
You know that Kurt has had two series of this Sculptra stuff over the past 4 years.  That translates into 6 treatments.  He is very happy with the whole thing.  I would say mostly his self esteem is improved but there has been some change in his face.
Good luck!!!!
Hugs.

Joel