Friends who tell me
that I look well and that I seem ten years younger have given me a terrific
lift to my self esteem. So I would like to say a big thank you to everyone
who has paid me such kind compliments. Undoubtedly one of the principle
reasons for the improvement in my appearance is the course of NewFill
injections I have had as part of a clinical trial at the North Manchester
General Hospital. One of the side effects
of long term HIV infection and the highly active anti-retroviral therapy
(HAART) used to control it is lipodystrophy of which perhaps the most
obvious and distressing feature is facial wasting. Patients with the condition
have found that the facial changes have a marked effect on their confidence
and emotions. The use of NewFill (polylactic acid - the material commonly
used for many years for soluble sutures in surgery) is one of the most
promising treatments on trial at the moment I was fortunate to
fulfil the trial requirements and to be offered a place on a NewFill trial.
The trial is under the guidance of Dr Ed Wilkins and consists of a series
of injections that effectively thicken the skin. The procedure conducted
by Dr Jeremy Day involves around 30 injections in both cheeks of small
quantities of NewFill. Jeremy finds that a large number of small injections
produce the best results. After each set of injections, which are quite
painful, Jeremy advises a five-minute massage of both cheeks twice daily.
This helps to ensure an even distribution and avoids the formation of
lumps. Before the first and
after the third set of injections, facial photos are taken and ultra sound
tests record the skin thickness at selected point on each cheek. Further
measurements will be taken over the next two years. The thickness of the
skin in my cheeks has almost doubled after three sets of injections. However,
as one of the measurements is a little below the target dimensions, it
may be necessary for me to have further sets of injections. At my consultation
with Dr Wilkins in February he considered that although there was marked
improvement a further series of injections would produce an even better
result. I had the first of these on St Valentine's day and the final set
will be some time after Easter. You should, therefore not consider the
picture shown above as the end result but rather as work in progress.
My personal response to the effect of the treatment is one of utter delight. It feels wonderful to be rid of the skeletal AIDS look that greeted me every time I looked in a mirror, not to mention the convenience of a much easier shave every morning. Vain creature I may be, but I can't wait to see the final effect. Maurice |
