Blog Dr. Bojan Ćirić

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Stem cell magic

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to make more of themselves and to differentiate into special types of cells, like skin or other tissue types. Some stem cells, called pluripotent or multipotent, are capable of turning into many different kinds of cells and growing wide varieties of tissues ranging from bone to neurons to organs and muscle. While embryonic stem cells are the most well-known type (and the type that raises controversy), not all pluri- and multi-potent cells come from embryos.

Certain so-called adult stem cells, which we make in our bodies, also have these abilities and would most likely be the cells used in plastic surgery.In order to do this, he said, researchers would separate out multi- or pluripotent adult stem cells and grow them in a petri dish. Depending on how they’re grown and what materials they’re grown in, the stem cells can be coaxed into taking on different specialties, such as fat or cartilage. Those cells would then be injected into the patient, where they would continue to grow and divide, creating a small amount of natural tissue. No surgery required.

Fat chance

While these applications are still a ways out, plastic surgeons  are already using stem cells to get better results for their patients. To do this, they’re harvesting stem cells from an unlikely place — human fat.

Turns out, fat is an ample source of multi- and pluripotent stem cells. Science has known for decades that fat tissue is home to a large population of immature cells that have the ability to grow into new fat cells. Around 2000 and 2001, researchers began to realize that these “pre-fat cells” were actually stem cells that could become not just fat, but cartilage, bone, and even neurons and heart muscle. And, unlike other tissues rich in stem cells, such as bone marrow, fat tissue is easy to extract. All you need is liposuction.

Today, as part of ongoing clinical trials and regular practice, doctors outside the United States are taking stem cells from liposuctioned fat and using them to make traditional fat grafts more effective.

How it works: First, a doctor liposuctions fat from a patient. Half that fat gets set aside, while the other half is processed to pull out a mixture of cells rich in stem cells. That mixture is then injected back into the reserved fat, which is grafted into place inside the patient. The result is a fat graft supercharged with stem cells.

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.

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:

1. 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.
2. Breast Augmentation- Fat injections provide a natural alternative to breast implants
3. Brazilian Butt Lift- Originally used for buttock enhancement, stem cell enhanced fat transfers are being used in body contouring to create an hourglass figure.
4. 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:

1. radiotherapy injuries
2. tissue defects
3. lipectomy reconstruction
4. 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!!”

special Thanks :

Ricardo L Rodriguez, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

more about:

http://www.cosmeticsurg.net/blog/2009/06/05/stem-cells-from-fat-plastic-surgerys-new-frontier/

http://www.cosmeticsurg.net/blog/2009/06/05/stem-cells-from-fat-plastic-surgerys-new-frontier/