Stem Cells and Fat Grafting

The public is currently fascinated with stem cell therapy. It’s not too surprising when you realize that stem cells are written about in the lay press as if they are the key to the fountain of youth and carry magical powers. The truth of the matter is that while stem cell therapy is one of the most exciting new frontiers in modern medicine, research is in its infancy, and and real-world applications are unreliable. There is much more to learn before the true potential of stem cell therapy is known.

Like most things that sound too good to be true, most of the hype currently being published is just that. There are many anecdotal reports of amazing rejuvenation, but no true randomized clinical trials regarding stem cell therapy in aesthetic surgery. The nomenclature regarding stem cells is also misused in much of what is written. I will try to clear some of this up in this article.

Stem cells are immature cells that when placed in certain environments or are stimulated appropriately can develop into almost any type of cell desired. Stem cells are abundant in fat, so harvesting fat cells via liposuction can provide a large volume of stem cells. To increase the concentration of stem cells in a sample, the fat has to be processed. Currently, the processing systems are not FDA approved, so anyone providing this procedure in the US is doing so without FDA approval. Once the stem cells are obtained, they can be injected into the face with fat in an effort to provide a rejuvenative effect.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently released a joint position statement on stem cells and fat grafting. In part, they stated that the current available data do not substantiate the claims being made by certain entities marketing to patients seeking aesthetic procedures. They went on to state that fat injections alone without processing stem cells should not be referred to as stem cell therapy, and instead should be called fat grafting. They feel that further studies need to be done in a controlled fashion, adhering to all FDA guidelines, before these therapies should be provided without supervision to the general public.

As with any aesthetic procedure or treatment, it is wise to thoroughly evaluate any physician you desire to meet with in consultation. Ask about their board certification and hospital privileges. If they are not board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, keep looking. There are excellent “find a surgeon” features on the ASPS website at plasticsurgery.org and on the ASAPS website at surgery.org. Until more research is published, be wary of anyone promising the fountain of youth in a syringe.

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