Stem Cell Face Lift
The field of medicine is entering a new era with the use of stem cell technology. The ethical and non-controversial use of stem cells from your own body fat, known as antologous adult adipose derived mesynchymal stem cells is now main stream. Imagine using your own stem cells to restore or reshape your body into more attractive and youthful figure in a safe, natural and undetectable way. This is no longer a science fiction story, its true reality. Ground- breaking technology, coupled with advanced cosmetic surgery techniques, has made it possible to harvest and concentrate these desired stem cells from the fat in your body. The next step is to then inject them into another part of the body to repair, regenerate and rejuvenate the desired area.
What are Stem Cells from fat?
You have probably heard about bone marrow transplants that have been used in medicine for years. Until recently it was thought that this procedure was necessary to get the donor stem cells required for rejuvenation and or to treat disease states. Now we have found out those non-embryonic adult stem cells are found most concentrated in the fat. Adult stem cells remain dormant (non-dividing) until they are activated by a normal need for more cells, or by disease or tissue injury. Serving as part of the repair and maintenance system, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish others. When activated, the stem cell in the fat has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become a fat cell, a muscle cell, a bone cell, a cartilage cell, or a nerve-covering cell. In addition to regenerating and or differentiating, these multipotent stem cells secrete growth factors that help the survival of any fat that is grafted as well as regenerate the texture tissues in the immediate area.
Cosmetic Applications
New technical and technological advancements have made concentrated stem cell rich fat one of the best, most natural and the safest filler product to contour and revitalize the face and the body. Viability and post treatment swelling and down time has often been an unfavorable consideration with traditional fat transfer. This is not the case with stem cell concentrated fat. Stem cells are immunosuppressant and ergative so less fat filler is needed to achieve an improved result. This fat can be used to enhance and treat the eyes, forehead, temples, cheeks, laugh lines, frown lines, jowls, jaw line, chin, and hands. Of course the benefit of this is that this treatment and the results are permanent.
The Procedure
The site from where the fat is going to be harvested is infiltrated with a local anesthetic. The donor site can be discussed with the doctor prior to the treatment. Many of out patients choose to have the stomach muscles defined during the liposuction procedure. Remember we are only taking a maximum of 120ccs of fat so there is little risk associated with the liposuction procedure itself. The liposuction procedure takes about 40 minutes to an hour and is done under local with or without oral sedation. After the fat is harvested it is separated to two different syringes. One is used to isolate the stem cells from. From this fat we can get about 60 million stem cells. These stem cells are then added to the other syringe of fat. This stem cell enriched fat is then used as“perfect filler” to recontour, revolumize, and rejuvenate the skin of the face as well as the hands. The extraction takes about 45 minutes, the harvesting (at which time the patient can rest and read a magazine) is 90 minutes and the re-injection into the face is about an hour. The patient goes home the same day. The patient may be slightly swollen for three days but because stem cells are regenerative and immunosuppressive there is very little recovery time requires. If there is slight bruising these go away faster than normal. The results are immediate with the revolumization but over time continued improvement in the overlying skin can be seen as it slowly improves in texture tone and pigment. The results from the procedure are permanent. Clinical results infer that the stem cell facelift will last as long as a traditional face lift.
Adult stem cells, which are derived from the fat, are able to differentiate and become unique tissue types including: fat, bone, muscle, cartilage, and nerve covering. They are activated when there is an inflammatory response to an injury or procedure. Therefore, when it is used as part of a procedure to help heal and repair a defect, the inflammation caused from the procedure helps activate the stem cells and mend the damaged area. Adult stem cells will divide and grow; they then take from the surrounding tissue. For example, they will become bone next to bone and fat next to fat. Adult stem cells do not expand without limit; they are programmed to know when to stop growing in order to keep the natural form and size of the specific tissue in the area where they are injected. IN addition the stem cells secrete growth factors. These seven growth factors help the newly transplanted fat thrive. In addition it helps revitalize and regenerate the skin of the face and the hands.
Safe and Affordable
Subsequently, these adult stem cells are found in your fat, they are relatively easily accessible with ample supply in most individuals. This can be carried out at a fraction of the price of Traditional Facelifts. They are quite safe because they come from your own body’s fat and are injected back into you. This procedure is performed without the need for general anesthesia with very pleasing results. The cost is around $6000 which is all inclusive
