Is Liposculpture Safe for HIV Positive Patients?

It's a safe procedure as long as he HIV+ patient is healthy with preferably an undetectable viral load and normal T-cell count. 

Patients with the HIV virus are living longer and more productive lives than ever before.  In the past some of the side effects of the drugs left them with contour abnormalities, (a buffalo hump between the shoulder blades).  The treatment was often liposuction, (liposculpture), of the area.  The drugs have become much better, so we see less of that.  As long as the patient is otherwise healthy, with the correct laboratory indicators, liposculpture is a viable option.  See your local board certified plastic surgeon.  Together you will come up with an appropriate plan.

There was a time when elective cosmetic surgery was not commonly performed on HIV positive patients.  Since the advent of medications that indefinitely prolong life and reduce the viral load, elective cosmetic surgery is often done in this subset of patients.

I would agree with Dr. Stratis.
There are many new medications which have dramatically improved the prognosis of HIV infected individuals. The decision to operate is less effected by the disease itself when compared to your overall medical condition as well as your counts.

Practicing in Washington, DC I am extremely familiar with the care of the HIV positive patient. The introduction of the retro viral and antiviral medications have enables those who have been infected with the AIDS virus to lead relatively healthy and normal lives. Unfortunately, the price that many of these patients pay for being treated by these extremely powerful medications is fat wasting and lipodystrophy.
Lipostructure or liposculpting is extremely safe in the healthy HIV patient, however, the relative lack of fat as a source for fat transplantation poses a bit of a problem. Longer acting fillers such as Radiesse and Sculptra have become popular alternatives to fat. They are both safe and effective.

-- Hello dear, thanks for your question and provided information as well.. This is the surgical procedure that revolutionized cosmetic surgery becoming one of the most performed cosmetic procedures. Subcutaneous tissue or fat is removed in order to contour the body in a way that is harmonious and pleasing to the senses. It can be performed in almost all regions of the body such as the neck, chin, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, arms and ankles. Usually done through a small incision in the skin through which a cannula connected to a vacuum is applied, it can be performed alone or in combination with other procedures. After liposuction your body is going to be really swollen for at least 2 to 4 months after your surgery. It is important for you to wear your compression garment for at least 6 months, the first 3 months 24/7 and then the last 3 months at least 12 hours per day for your body get use to not having the faja for so many time. When you remove it, your body can get swollen and also you can have pain. Remember to also compress your body to prevent a seroma which is an accumulation of liquid that has to be drained, it is hard to touch and also really painful. Bruises are completely normal for almost 3 months from surgery, that’s why is better for you to use a bruising cream and apply it all over your body 3 times a day. To prevent bad circulation and swollen legs, use compression socks. Brazilian butt lift can be performed with the same procedure and for a month it will be swollen and it will drop a little bit without losing it’s shape if you use your garment.. If you’re going to perform liposuction on your inner, outer, anterior, lateral, postetior thighs, be careful and consult with your surgeon what’s best for you, sometimes we have more extra skin than fat, that can cause severe sagginess on our legs, which can be only be reversed performing a thigh lift!

If the patient living with HIV is in relatively good, stable health, then it is perfectly safe to have liposuction.  HIV-positive patients who are under treatment with antiretroviral medications are at risk for the development of a lipodystrophy syndrome characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat centrally (intra-abdominal fat and "buffalo hump")  and loss of fatty tissue in the face, buttocks, and extremities.  Liposuction can be performed to reduce the areas of fat excess, and fat harvested during liposuction can be used for autologous fat transfer to facial areas exhibiting fat wasting.  Best of luck!

Liposuction is surgery and stress.  If you are controlled with low viral counts and are otherwise fairly healthy, surgery can be done. Do remember, HIV can cause loss of fat, especially in the face. If you have any done, please be conservative.  I recommend you discuss this procedure with a plastic surgeon and your medical doctor.

It is possible to perform liposculpture in HIV-positive patients who are currently being treated and do not have too few white blood cells. If you have HIV and are under medical management but are otherwise healthy, you may be a candidate for liposuction.
 

Yes, liposuctioning can be done safely in HIV patients. What is more important is the general medical condition of the patient including the medications the patient is taking.