Stem cells are being widely researched for their potential life-saving benefits, but doctors and scientists are also conducting research into treatments that may seem a bit more frivolous, but are no less important to many people. Stem cell cosmetic surgery procedures are widely offered by cosmetic surgeons across the country and around the world. These cosmetic enhancements range from breast augmentation and anti-aging treatments to stem cell therapy that may improve or even replace scar tissue entirely. This latter procedure could be a special boon to the thousands of American veterans who were injured by IEDs during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Here’s more information about stem cell cosmetic surgery procedures that are available.
Where Do They Get the Stem Cells for Stem Cell Cosmetic Surgery?
The stem cells used in stem cell cosmetic surgery come from a singular source – your own body. The fat in your body stores a supply of dormant stem cells waiting to be activated. These adult stem cells have the potential to mature into many different types of cells that your body needs, including fresh, healthy skin cells. When you decide to have a stem cell facelift or other augmentation, the surgeon will extract fat from your body using liposuction. The fat will then be sent to a special FDA-approved lab where the regenerative and stem cells will be extracted and stored until you are ready for the surgery.
How Does Stem Cell Cosmetic Surgery Work?
Adult stem cells, which are extracted from your own fat, will reproduce themselves once they have been injected into your tissues. When stem cells reproduce, they can become one of two types of cells: duplicate stem cells, or specialized types of tissue cells, such as skin cells, bone cells and blood cells. Stem cells are activated when there is an inflammation after an injury to your tissues, going to work to generate new cells to replace the old, injured or malformed ones, taking on the form of the surrounding tissue – skin cells next skin, fat cells next to fat, etc. In other words, the stem cells essentially become an internal repair system, replacing old, damaged cells with healthy, vibrant cells that rejuvenate your skin and your appearance.
Is Stem Cell Cosmetic Surgery Safe?
Stem cell cosmetic surgery is an outpatient procedure that uses your own cells, so there is almost no risk of adverse reactions to donor tissues. There is no anesthesia, no scalpel and no stitches, and few reports of adverse reactions to the procedure itself.