Stem cell transplantation is not a new thing. Doctors have been using stem cell transplants – specifically,bone marrow transplants – to treat a variety of bone and blood disorders for decades. Bone marrow transplants are just one type of stem cell transplantation, however. In recent years, researchers have discovered that stem cells taken from a patient’s own fat cells are a high-value source of stem cells that can be used to treat many diseases and disorders, boost the immune system and encourage tissue and cell regeneration. This type of stem cell transplantation is called autologous adipose stem cell transplantation.
We harvest stem cells from a patient’s own fat tissue and blood removed through liposuction. We take those cells, enrich them with incubated growth factors and platelets, and infuse them back into the patient where they will do the most good.
Benefits of Autologous Adipose Stem Cell Transplantation
There are a number of benefits to stem cell transplantation using stem cells derived from your own fat and blood cells.
Uncontroversial: For decades, stem cell treatments using animal stem cells for human healing and embryonic stem cell treatments have stoked controversy. In some countries, research using animal or fetal stem cells is tightly regulated, to the point of treatments being essentially unavailable. Autologous adipose stem cell transplantation, on the other hand, is completely non-controversial, and presents no ethical concerns whatsoever.
Safer: Because the stem cells we use are taken from your own body, the chance of rejection or allergic reaction is nearly non-existent. Stem cell transplants that use stem cells from a pig present a number of safety risks for patients. Stem cell transplantation from another human requires careful type matching to reduce the chances of rejection, which makes those stem cell treatments more difficult and far more expensive.
More Effective: Research into stem cell therapies has shown that autologous stem cell transplants are far more effective than other types of stem cell transplantation.
What to Expect with Stem Cell Transplantation
The stem cell transplantation process is a simple outpatient procedure that generally takes about four hours. It has several parts.
Harvesting: The doctor will use a proprietary procedure similar to liposuctions to withdraw adipose tissue from the patient.
Breakdown: The tissue will be taken to the lab where it is broken down using a combination of natural solutions.
Separation: The lab will then use well-researched and recognized techniques to separate the
adult stem cells from the fat cells.
Isolation: Adult stem cells and other special cells are isolated from the solution using standard techniques. From there, the cells will be washed with a saline solution to remove the solutions and medium that was used to prepare the cells.
Activation: Finally, the adult stem cells will be activated using a combination of platelet-rich plasma with growth factors and light.
Once the stem cells have been isolated, prepared and activated, they will be reintroduced into the patient by either intravenous drip, fat transfer or direct stem cell transfer to the area where they are needed.