What is lipoatrophy?

This term is sometimes used interchangeably with lipodystrophy, but it is more commonly used to describe a focal loss of subcutaneous fat. Probably the most common form of lipoatrophy is postinflammatory in nature and can occur following several types of panniculitis. Microscopically, lipoatrophy features “collapse” of fat lobules, with a reduced number of variably sized lipocytes and development of numerous capillaries in a mucinous background stroma. Localized lipoatrophy also occurs following injection of medications, especially corticosteroids (Fig. 19-11B). A variety of plastic surgical procedures has been used to improve or correct lipoatrophy.