Clinic or Spa? HIV Positive Gay Men Negotiating Surgery for Facial Lipoatrophy April 19, 2010

Lipoatrophy is the loss of fat from specific areas of the body -- most distressingly the face, but also peripheral parts of the body, such as the arms, legs and buttocks. This side effect of retroviral drugs has presented HIV-positive people with profound social and psychological challenges. Unlike the wasting effects of later stages of HIV that attack tissue throughout the body, lipoatrophy only affects fat tissue, but it can do so on a disfiguring level. The gaunt and hollow look associated with lipoatrophy, sometimes referred to as "puppet face" by those who suffer from it, presents a myriad of problems including low self esteem, the risk of being "outed" as HIV+, and social isolation. Those affected by lipoatrophy have begun to look at reconstructive surgery as a possible solution.

Cindy Patton is a professor of Women's Studies and Canada Research Chair in Community, Culture & Health at Simon Fraser University. She is currently working on "Homecare for Homeless HIV+," a study of health services and continuity of care issues for marginally housed HIV+ people. Her recent work includesCinematic Identity: Anatomy of a Problem Film (UMN Press, 2007),Globalizing AIDS (UMN Press, 2002), and editing Global Science/ Women's Health (Teneo, 2008). Organized by the Health and Society Quadrant.

Official Website: http://www.ias.umn.edu/quadrantcal.php