What Is Stem Cell Banking Your Fat Good For?

Stem Cell Banking

By Sadi Erfani, MD

Have you heard of stem cell banking yet? It is a quickly emerging field that ‘dedicated’ plastic surgery clients should consider invaluable to looking their best.

Body fat, commonly referred to as adipose tissue in the medical community is generally harvested for various procedures in cosmetic surgery. This fatty tissue contains an ultra rich stem cell source, Mesenchymal or MSC. MSC stem cells contain incredible self renewing properties and have the amazing ability to be used for highly advanced medical purposes. Surprisingly, any time a cosmetic procedure such as liposuction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation or a fat transfer is performed excess fat that contain these stem cells are removed and then disposed of. The opportunity to harvest this precious genetic material to be used for later applications with stem cell banking exists today.

It is apparent that younger cells are certainly more potent than progressively older aged cells. They multiply themselves much quicker while existing in greater number. Stem cell banking allows for the safe preservation of cellular tissue through cryogenic technology. By using one’s own stored adipose tissue for a future date and for different aesthetic procedures will ensure the best results to regaining a youthful appearance, enhancing a desired area on the body or properly heal if used for reconstructive purposes.

Adipose tissue is often and successfully used for facial transfer procedures on areas such as:

• Nasolabial Folds
• Tear Troughs
• Cheek Hollows
• Peri-Orbital Thinning
• Temporal Thinning
• Neck Lines
• Marionette Lines

Stem cell banking is not only beneficial to plastic surgery, but is crossing over in other medical fields as well. In an area of cell research called tissue engineering, doctors have successfully utilized MSC to generate a new bladder for a patient with bladder cancer, new blood vessels for circulatory diseases and even a new trachea for an accident victim.

Currently, harvested adipose tissue that contains MSC can be safely preserved for a period of five years with no degenerative effects. New advancements with stem cell banking are continually being explored. The opportunity to consistently get amazing plastic surgery results with one’s own younger and more viable body fat would ideally be a quick decision to make.