Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
Innovative Adipose Tissue Fractionation for Transforming Fat into Specialized Components
Published on: July 11, 2025
HIV-associated facial lipoatrophy treated with injectable silicone oil: a pilot study
Fionn Chen1, Alastair Carruthers, Shannon Humphrey
1School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Background:
Facial lipoatrophy (FLA) is associated with HIV infection and is part of the lipodystrophy syndrome. Temporary filler treatments do not meet the need of the patient, as there is a lack of permanence, and excessive cost.
Objective:
We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a highly purified medical-grade 1000-cst liquid injectable silicone in the treatment of HIV-associated FLA using the serial microdroplet injection technique.
Methods:
Twenty patients with HIV-associated lipoatrophy were treated with liquid injectable silicone with a maximum of 6 treatment sessions (2.0 mL each session maximum). Patients were evaluated at 9-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up sessions. Safety, efficacy, injection volumes, and patient satisfaction were evaluated.
Results:
No persistent adverse effects were reported throughout the study. Most of the patients achieved complete correction of their HIV-associated FLA after 6 treatments and maintained this correction to the 18-month follow-up.
Limitations:
This is a noncomparative, nonblinded study. Study patient population size is small.
Conclusion:
Given our small sample size of 20 patients, our results suggest that, if administered correctly, liquid injectable silicone is potentially a safe, effective, and natural-feeling treatment option for HIV-associated FLA. Larger studies may be needed to confirm safety, efficacy, and permanence.
