Serostim does effect facial fat. A hallmark of rHgh use in professional bodybuilders is that their faces have some sinking in of the cheeks.

Androgens, like higher doses of testosterone and anabolic steroids, and human growth hormone have been shown to decrease fat mass under the skin and in the visceral area. However, the doses used in HIV are a lot lower than in bodybuilding.

There are data that show that testosterone gels and growth hormone do indeed decrease fat under the skin in the abdominal area. No studies have been done to asses fat loss on the face. You are right that a ripped bodybuilder tends to show "facial wasting" but this problem goes away when they start eating again after a contest. In HIV, facial lipoatrophy usually does not improve unless someone gets off Zerit or AZT. It may increase around 10% a year after those two drugs are stopped. And in those with severe facial wasting, the problem does not get better until facial fillers are used.

Growth hormone (Serostim) is only approved for HIV wasting, not lipodystrophy, since it has been shown to increase lean body mass. It is extremely expensive and has side effects that may make it impossible for many to use (joint aches, high blood sugar, carpal tunnel syndrome). Fortunately, we may have a growth hormone precursor called Tesamorelin approved soon that decreases belly fat without increasing lipoatrophy. It works a lot more slowly than Serostim but it does not seem to have the same side effects. But I would not be surprised if Serono, the company that will sell it in the US, does not price it as high as Serostim. I guess time will tell if Serono will correct all the problems they have had with HIV activists, Medicare, doctors and the FDA now that they have another chance after Serostim.

Nelson Vergel