Patient satisfaction and duration of effect with PLLA: a review of the literature.

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) has been available to the European medical community as a treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-associated facial lipoatrophy for nearly a decade, gaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this indication in 2004. PLLA has been utilized in an off-label manner in the U.S. to treat lipoatrophy of aging in the non-HIV population. The literature regarding safety and efficacy of PLLA is well-documented, while studies regarding patient satisfaction and duration are more limited. The following review article discusses the currently available literature pertaining to the durability and patient satisfaction after PLLA treatment. Patients treated for HIV-related facial lipoatrophy and cosmetic use of PLLA for lipoatrophy of aging are discussed separately.