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Stem Cell Research Continues to Find New Uses

 

Science is continually finding applications for stem cells derived from fat, and doctors abroad are working hard at uncovering new ways to harvest stem cells, and how best to use them.

Stem cell research is in many ways still a burgeoning field of medicine and one that is expected to revolutionize the way patients are treated. Scientists and researchers worldwide are working on uncovering the potential of stem cells and finding which are the best applications.

One of the current uses for stem cells in aesthetic medicine is for use in enhancing fat transfer procedures. "So far, we are extracting adipose stem cells, which are regenerative cells from fat tissue," says Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura of the University of Tokyo. "We then supplement the conventional fatty injection material with the extracted stem cells, but in the future, we may be able to mobilize bone marrow stem cells as well."

natural breast augmentation before and after
Actual Stem Cell Breast Augmentation Results of Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura
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In the US, we most commonly hear of stem cell enhanced fat transfer to the breasts or buttocks. The addition of the stem cells helps the fat cells integrate into the new area of injection. They are able to better develop their own blood supply, keeping more cells viable and preventing them from passing from the system.

Dr. Yoshimura says that in Japan, stem cell enhanced fat transfer is being used a lot in breast augmentation as well, but is also finding a use in facial reconstruction. "We've found stem cell fat transfer to be great for treating patients who have certain congenital diseases that can cause facial defects," he says.
natural breast augmentation before and after
Actual Stem Cell Breast Augmentation Results of Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura
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Patients who want fat transfer generally need to have enough fat to transfer. Those who are very thin are typically considered non-ideal candidates and some physicians actually suggest that patients gain weight so that there is fat to liposuction for transfer. Dr. Yoshimura says that in Japan, he sees many very thin Asian patients but is able to remove a sufficient amount of fat from the thighs for transfer.

Dr. Yoshimura explains that after the fat is removed, the stem cells are separated. "One portion is the graft material and the other portion is isolated stem cell material. We take stem cells from the latter portion and supplement them to the graft material." This forms an ideal fat mixture for re-injection which Dr. Yoshimura estimates is 30-50% more effective than fat alone.
natural breast augmentation before and after
Actual Stem Cell Breast Augmentation Results of Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura
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Another rich source of stem cells is known to be bone marrow, but fat is easier to harvest at this time. Dr. Yoshimura believes that the coming years will bring the development of methods to harvest and utilize bone marrow stem cells. "We hope to identify the methods for bone marrow stem cell harvesting. We believe that perhaps during surgery or following injury, we can gather these cells which we already know are helpful in the growth of capillaries and other vascular structures," explains Dr. Yoshimura.

Some in the medical community have expressed concern that stem cell fat transfer to the breast may put a patient at a higher risk of breast cancer. Dr. Yoshimura says that at this time, the general belief is that adult stem cells cannot initiate breast cancer. They are known to promote the growth of existing tumors, so Dr. Yoshimura says that before fat transfer to the breast he always performs an ultrasound, MRI, and mammogram to rule out the risk of an existing cancer.
natural breast augmentation before and after
Actual Stem Cell Breast Augmentation Results of Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura
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