There is no doubt that the most exciting frontier in medicine now is the use of stem cells. Stem cells have the power to restore beauty, heal damaged tissues, and the potential to treat and cure some diseases.
Embryonic stem cells vs. fat stem cells
Up until recently the media has largely focused on the more controversial embryonic stem cells. These are stem cells derived from embryos. The potential uses of these cells to cure and treat diseases remain vast, but the controversial source of the cells poses ethical questions which have delayed medical progress.
During the past decade, researchers have discovered that stem cells can also be extracted from your own fat tissue. These adult stem cells have the same potential as embryonic stem cells, except for the ability to differentiate into sperm or ova. Unlike embryonal stem cells, stem cells extracted from your own fat are abundant, easily available, and pose no ethical or political controversy.
Cosmetic enhancements vs. therapies to treat diseases
Due to FDA regulations, stem cell therapies to treat diseases are not yet available in the U.S. unless you are part of a clinical trial. In this capacity they are considered to be ‘drug therapy’ and subject to very strict regulation. Therefore, patients not enrolled in these trials are currently traveling outside of the United States to get these therapies.
But using your own (autologous) stem cells to restore a more youthful appearance is available now, from experienced plastic surgeons here is the U.S. There is no need to travel to China, Korea, or Europe to get stem cell enhanced facial rejuvenation or breast augmentation. These therapies do not fall under the FDA’s ‘drug therapy’ classification and are therefore not regulated as such because: 1) the injections are performed in the same operative session as the liposuction procedure to remove the fat; 2) the stem cells have been only minimally manipulated; and 3) the stem cell enhanced fat transfer does not alter the original relevant biologic function of the stem cell. Thus, when the cosmetic enhancement is performed in the same operative session, it is not regulated by ‘drug therapy’ guidelines.
However, if your autologous stem cells are reinjected in a separate or second operative session, it is unclear whether the FDA considers that application to be a drug therapy, even though it is used for the same cosmetic purpose. There is currently an intense legal debate about what constitutes ‘drug therapy.’
Plastic surgeons and fat grafting (fat injections)
Plastic Surgeons have been extracting and reinjecting fat cells into tissues for over a decade. Experienced fat grafting surgeons have known that successful fat grafting is highly dependent on the techniques used for extracting, processing, and reinjection of the fat cells. Surgeons are beginning to understand that fat processing techniques which result in high concentrations of adult stem cells produce not only long lasting results, but also have therapeutic results in injured tissues.
Stem cell enhanced fat injections
To perform stem cell enhanced fat grafting, fat is first extracted by liposuction using low negative pressure. The fat is then processed. Proper fat processing techniques include centrifugation and decanting of the extracted fat. Long lasting results are only achieved with proper fat processing techniques.
In contrast, surgeons who rinse the tissue decrease stem cell adherence to fat cells, and do not increase the concentration of stem cells. These less concentrated grafts have a smaller percentage of success.
Reinjection of the fat must be performed in very small quantities and distributed through all tissue layers to facilitate reestablishment of blood flow to the fat grafts.
Areas which benefit from stem cell enhanced fat injections
Examples of stem cell enhanced fat transfers which can be performed in the same operative session by plastic surgeons at the present time include:
- Facial fat injections - The fat transfer to the face is not just a volume filler. The stem cell enhanced fat can actually rejuvenate your facial tissues and skin. Stem cells assist in increasing blood supply to tissues to make tissues look younger.
- Breast Augmentation- Fat injections provide a natural alternative to breast implants
- Brazilian Butt Lift- Originally used for buttock enhancement, stem cell enhanced fat transfers are being used in body contouring to create an hourglass figure.
- Hand Rejuvenation- As in the face, there is not only a volume enhancement, but aged hand skin is revitalized by the fat transfer.
Other areas of stem cell therapy which are being investigated and currently developed are:
- radiotherapy injuries
- tissue defects
- lumpectomy reconstruction
- breast reconstruction after cancer
Stem cells are the new frontier in plastic surgery
Stem cell therapy is a paradigm shift in cosmetic surgery. Instead of the surgeon using his talents to create the illusion of a more youthful body, the surgeon guides your body to rejuvenate itself!!
video management, video solution, video streamingRicardo L Rodriguez, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
http://www.cosmeticsurg.net
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30 Comments
June 19, 2010 at 10:47 am
Christopher:
Stem cells are great, but I am not sure they are what you are looking for.
The best way to approach this is to figure out what the cause of the frown lines is and then decide what the best therapy is.
Frown lines are caused by a habitual muscle contraction. Paralysing the muscle with Botox works, but it’s only temporary.
Interrupting the muscle with an endoscopic brow lift is permanent, but it’s a surgical intervention.
Injecting stem cells into the frown line will not correct the deformity, it will only mask it temporarily.
Check out this blogpost on browlift.
If you would like to know more, contact Kelly at cosmeticsurg.net, we’d love to hear from you.
June 19, 2010 at 10:39 am
James:
There is a relatively well known syndrome of facial fat wasting and lipodystrophy in patients who have been treated for HIV with certain drug “cocktails”. I am not that knowledgeable in it, but anybody who treats HIV will be familiar with it. I have treated some of these patients with facial fat injections, but in some cases the fat loss is generalised and finding donor fat is difficult. In those cases I find the use of an injectable, “Sculptra”, beneficial.
Remember, getting a diagnosis is your first step.
June 19, 2010 at 10:05 am
Dear Litsa:
Sorry for the delay in answering.
In cases of nasal reconstruction, the key is not so much the availability of this or that type of cartilage, but the experience of the surgeon in reconstructing the nose. There are plenty of good options presently available for total nasal reconstruction.
There are several surgeons in the US who have unparalleled technical expertise and I would advise you to concentrate on that rather than on the availability of stem cell enhanced cartilage grafts.
You should look up John Tebbets in Dallas and Gary Burget in Chicago. They are both artists in nasal reconstruction. It is well worth your time and money to see them.
Please do not make the mistake of seeing somebody who has a stem cell cartilage but no artistry in nasal reconstruction.
God bless you and let me know when you get in contact with Dr. Tebbets or Dr. Burget!
June 16, 2010 at 10:25 am
I was wondering if there where an surgeons preforming the stem cell injections in the Chicago area? I am very interested in this procedure. I am 38 and just starting to see some frown lines. I guess it could be any where around in the mid west or north east area.
Thank you,
Chris
June 14, 2010 at 9:29 am
Thank you. I am going to pursue a rheumatologist . The bloodwork is getting expensive as I don’t have provider’s insurance and I am anxious to find out what is causing this condition so I don’t lose my mind and by face at the same time. I am finding my frustration level challenged to find the right Dr. in Tucson that is knowledgable in muscle and cell degeneration. You indicated that some antiviral therapies can cause atrophy of facial fat. Can you elaborate on that for me?
June 13, 2010 at 5:46 pm
James:
Thanks for keeping me in the loop!
Sometimes it takes being seen by a few specialists before you get a diagnosis.
Best of luck in your search.
June 9, 2010 at 4:53 am
Dear dr Rodriguez,
because of a problem which requires nasal reconstruction with very uncertain (rather discouraging) prognosis, I have been advised to look for advancements in the use of autologous stem cells for engineering nose cartilage, etc. A couple of leading labs have e-mailed me that they hope to get approval for trials on people quite soon, as they have had successful results in generating cartilage with structural integrity, but I do not know whether it would be worth waiting for a medical application on volunteers in the very near future. As I have postponed surgery in the hope of this, and as disfigurement has enormous psychological implications, I would be extremely grateful if you could offer me your opinion on the possibilility of such a revolution in cosmetic reconstructive surgery. If you will be willing to use this procedure some time soon, I would certainly be interested in trying it and would greatly appreciate a notification from you, as you have already had experience with stem cells in some areas. I have heard of something like fat+stem cells enhancement for the nose being offered already, but I do not know if this could help with adding even mild length to / counter-rotating the tip. Many thanks for your kind attention and any suggestions you may have.
Litsa Stefanaki
June 8, 2010 at 8:43 am
Thank you, I did go to UMC but the doctor I saw told me he didn’t see anything wrong and told me it was because of my age being 40, changes occur. As far as the joint pain it was just that I was getting older as well. I was very dissapointed with UMC. I will try your advice with getting in touch with a Rheumatologist and let you know.
June 7, 2010 at 2:27 pm
James:
The cardinal thing in Medicine is that diagnosis comes before therapy.
You may need to see several different specialists before you get a proper diagnosis. I would recommend you go to a University Hospital. in Tucson. Start out with a Rheumatologist, they deal with autoimmune disorders. It may be an infectious process, but it does not sound like it. Some kinds of antiviral therapies can cause atrophy of facial fat.
Good luck in your search. Let me know when you get a diagnosis.
June 7, 2010 at 1:17 am
I would welcome your advice on a condition I have with the skin around my eyes. I am 40 yrs. and about 2 months ago I noticed a severe change in my eyes and the elasticity around the eyes deteriorating and the muscle structure breaking down in what appeared to me to be the loss of my checks and my eyelids drooping. I went to an opthamologist and they could not give me any advise. The dermatologist gave me no direction either after running a blood profile on me and not finding anything. Can you advise me on whom to see for help? I am in Tucson, AZ. Your help is most appreciated as I feel my face is changing right before my eyes on a daily basis. I was concerned that I may have contracted some form of bacterial infection or parasite that was in my bloodstream and concentrating on that are of my face.
February 27, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Kerri:
My best suggestion to you is to go to a University medical center near you where they have a Plastic Surgery training program. Usually these programs have a clinic program to help patients like you.
Good luck on your search, I am sure you will find Plastic Surgery training program near you.
February 27, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Ann:
Yes, there is. Already scientists are able to grow fat from a small sample. It takes time and resources to grow, so it is costly, but yes, it can be done now.
Thanks for reading our blog!
February 23, 2010 at 12:47 am
Hello Doctor, My name is Kerri, I am 28 years old and have had 4 children. My body is very hard on the eyes. I was always able to pull my body back together after my pregnancies until, my last one. I went from 135 lbs. to 247 lbs. My skin hangs and the extra skin on my arms hang about 3 inches down from my muscle. I was wondering if this fat stem cell injection or reconstruction will help keep my skin tight? Even when i lost weight, my skin still hung. I tried everything from tightening and toning work outs to heat wraps and creams, nothing will help. If it can help, is there something i can do to have a procedure done at little to no cost. Maybe a type of market research or some testing. My budget is very low but, my confidence about myself is even lower. I thank you for your time reading my comment.
February 19, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Is there any possibility in the near future that there will be the ability to grow more of a patients own fat from stem cells so that it would not be necessary to rely on fat that the person already has..as in the case of someone who has had lipo in past and does not want any more significant amount of fat removed. Thank-you.
February 5, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Marko:
Yes, it works wonderfully for acne scars.
One of my earliest fat grafting cases was for acne scars, and I was amazed at how good the skin looked. Now we know it was the stem cells in the fat.
We’d love to hear from you, call Kelly at kelly@cosmetisurg.net
January 31, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Hello Dr. Ricardo.
I am interested to know if this procedure would be helpful for softening acne scars? Thanx
December 29, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Carol:
You should go to a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist to see why you are having pain sitting. It may indeed be because of lack of fat, but you need to rule out other possibilities too.
As for being of a slender build, you’d be surprised how much fat we can find in other areas of your body. If your objective is just to pad some areas, you may have enough.
December 29, 2009 at 1:09 am
Dr. Rodriguez:
I am slender built. Approximately 20 years ago, I had liposuction in my thighs and buttocks and 1000 cc of fat was removed. I feel that too much fat was removed. I am having problems sitting and have pain. I would like to have some fat cells replaced to those areas. Because of my slender built, I don’t have any fat cells in my body to spare. What can I do?
December 26, 2009 at 1:15 am
Sandy:
Fat grafts, when done well, are permanent.
I don’t “repeat” fat grafts. If you are interested, contact Kelly at Kelly@cosmeticsurg.net
Looking forward to hearing from you!
December 17, 2009 at 7:20 pm
How much does it cost for the fat/stem cell transfer to the face.. I have already had a fat transfer to the face and it did not last long.
Thank You.
December 2, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Nikki:
Calcifications from fat injections are secondary to poor injection technique. When fat dies, cell membranes disrupt and the cell contents interact with calcium. These calcifications do not turn malignant but some people were concerned that they would be confused with or obscure cancerous calcifications. Experienced mammographers can tell them apart.
The issue of sagging breasts is a little bit more complex. If the areola is low on the chest wall, or below the fold of the breast, the patient needs a lift.
Would I recommend it to young women? Yes, but the barrier is price. Implants are relatively cheap compared to fat injections to the breast.
Hope this helps!
December 2, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I’ve read that fat transfers for breast enhancement cause breast calcifications. If this is true, what’s the likelyhood that cancerous calcifications will form as a result of this procedure? Also, would you recommend this procedure for young women who are interested in this method as an alternative to implants and don’t need reconstruction or want to fix sagging breast due to breastfeeding or age?
November 9, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Laurie:
Hi!
Funny you should mention this. I just came back from a medical conference where stem cells were being discussed along with other therapies for “antiaging”.
PRP is being used for a lot of stuff and it does have its uses. I worked 14 years with platelet derived growth factors (Procuren, Regranex). Procuren is autologous platelet derived growth factors, Regranex (beclapermin) is recombinant platelet derived growth factors. They are, essentially, signaling proteins.
They can stimulate local tissues, the question is, to do what and how much. Stem cells are better, because they can differentiate into structural as well as functional cells. Fat, when processed correctly, has a high percentage of stem cells. It is, in my opinion, superior to PRP because it has the endogenous building blocks (fat), as well as pluripotent cells to do whatever is necessary.
By the way, stem cells have may beneficial neurologic effects, but I would never dream of treating nerve related disorders with stem cells, as that is not my area of expertise. Any Doctor with expertise treating orthopedic/musculoskeletal conditions who ventures into treating a totally different area because he has a tool that “works” is, by definition, out of his area of expertise.
At that convention I mentioned above, a doctor came to me to talk about PRP for esthetic applications. I told him I preferred fat. His astonished answer was, You can inject fat like that? Yes, I can. He followed with Who else uses fat? Well, most plastic surgeons!
Yet, there are many doctors working outside their area of expertise out there, happily injecting PRP into unsuspecting patients who trust their judgement because they doctors.
November 7, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Dr Rodriguez,
Sven was just telling me about this new procedure which was started in London by a French Doctor named Dr. Sister. Anyway, it is called Vampire therapy or S3 therapy. I found it to be quite interesting and I thought about you and wondered if you were aware of it. Anyway, below is a comment from a doctor in Utah about it. So, I guess you know where I am going with this, what do you think? Would you consider trying it? I am still looking for something to help my acne scars…that is why Sven mentioned it to me. However, I guess it is great for wrinkles, sports injuries etc. and has been used for a long time to help people with receding gums.
Which, begs the question of WHY my dentist continues to fill in the spots on my teeth where my gums have receded, and the fillings never last more than a few months. Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand, I know you are busy but let me know what you think (of the physician’s note describing the technique below) if you have the time.
Thanks, Laurie Hochheimer
November 2, 2009 at 2:07 am
Dear Dr. Rodriguez,
This is to request permission to print your story “Is stem cell facelift a new phenomenon?” that was posted on 14 Apr 2009 on http://www.cosmeticsurg.net/blog/2009/04/14/is-stem-cell-facelift-a-new-phenomenon/.
Your story will be printed with your photo as author, a short bio about you at the end of the story, and your website address, in Medica Tourism magazine, a monthly magazine in Bangkok, Thailand, which is distributed free to help readers with information about the medical tourism industry.
I’d be happy to mail you a copy of the magazine.
Yours truly,
Jaime Alfredo Cabrera
Editor, Medica Tourism Magazine
12-I Ocean Insurance Building
163 Suriwong Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: 02-236-5399 Fax: 02-236-5398
October 2, 2009 at 10:21 am
The most exciting research in stem cells is now coming from “Adult Stem Cells” collected from the patients own body. I am particularly interested in fat cells as they are abundant in the body. There are several clinics overseas which are treating Parkinson’s with the patients own stem cells, bu tthe techniques aren’t quite refined yet. I do think that we are only a couple of years away from making significant improvements in treatment of Parkinson’s.
Check out this link for information from the NIH (National Institute of Health) about clinical trials and stem cells.
September 27, 2009 at 7:04 pm
My sister has Parkinsons. Because so many people are against using stemcells, because they come from infant stemcells. Would it be useful, using adult stem cells, or should I say, successful, with adult cells being used? I would love to hear from you, regarding this process, since, so many people are against using “infant” stem cells. Thanks so much
June 20, 2009 at 10:37 am
In the case of stem cells not manipulated or treated other than in reinjection (which is what I do) there are no reports of “side effects”.
I suppose that as people try to get more involved with techniques such as getting cells to differentiate into other cell lines there might be unexpected results, but so far, nothing that is raising concerns.
June 17, 2009 at 9:09 am
Stem cells have the power to restore beauty, heal damaged tissues, and the potential to treat and cure some diseases. I think it true and the benefits are countless.
Only concern is what about side effects ?
June 8, 2009 at 8:01 am
using stem cells from patients’ own body fat.
Why not? The patients own DNA is already there. It’s compatible.
Dead baby bodies have their own DNA. Like any organ transplant, they’d be rejected without a life time of medication.
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