Comparing Efficacy and Costs of Four Facial Fillers in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Lipodystrophy: A Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of four different dermal fillers in the treatment of facial lipoatrophy secondary to human immunodeficiency virus. METHODS: The authors conducted a clinical trial including 147 patients suffering from human immunodeficiency virus-induced lipoatrophy treated with Sculptra (poly-L-lactic acid), Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite), Aquamid (polyacrylamide), or autologous fat. Objective and subjective changes were evaluated during a 24-month follow-up. Number of sessions, total volume injected, and overall costs of treatment were also analyzed. A comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of the treatment options was performed. RESULTS: Objective improvement in facial lipoatrophy, assessed by the surgeon in terms of changes from baseline using the published classification of Fontdevila, was reported in 53 percent of the cases. Patient self-evaluation showed a general improvement after the use of facial fillers. Patients reported being satisfied with the treatment and with the reduced impact of lipodystrophy on their quality of life. Despite the nonsignificant differences observed in the number of sessions and volume, autologous fat showed significantly lower costs than all synthetic fillers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated facial lipoatrophy using dermal fillers is a safe and effective procedure that improves the aesthetic appearance and the quality of life of patients. Permanent fillers and autologous fat achieve the most consistent results over time, with lipofilling being the most cost-effective procedure.

First Report of Pyoderma Gangrenosum after Surgery of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema with Transfer of Vascularized Free Lymph Nodes of the Groin and Simultaneous DIEP Flap.

BACKGROUND: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare cutaneous ulcerative disease that does not respond to antibiotics and worsens with surgical manipulation. This is the first report in the literature revealing that this disease complicates total microsurgical breast reconstruction associated with the transfer of free lymph nodes. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a female patient who underwent left-breast microsurgical reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and simultaneous transfer of vascularized free lymph nodes for the surgical treatment of secondary left upper-limb lymphedema, and who developed a severe PG of both the skin of the flap and the donor zone on postoperative day 7. After exclusion of other etiologies, treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and topical zinc sulfate was initiated. The flap was salvaged and breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) surgery was definitively effective despite the PG. CONCLUSIONS: PG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive cutaneous ulcers following surgical interventions, once infectious and ischemic etiologies have been excluded. Early initiation of immunosuppressive treatment can lead to preservation of the initial flap and function of the transferred lymph nodes in the case of microsurgical breast reconstruction with associated lymph node transfer.