Stem Cells Found in Fat
Adult stem cells derived from human tissue may be the key to healing future injuries and disease. According to J. Peter Rubin, MD, member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Fat Grafting Task Force, there is great potential for healing serious conditions such as breast cancer, heart failure, spinal injuries diabetes and Parkinson’s disease through the use of stem cells taken from fat.
A recent Brazilian-based study published in the August edition of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the ASPS revealed that higher concentrations of stem cells can be found in the fat taken from certain areas of the body such as the inner thighs and lower abdomen.
The study was the first of its kind in which researchers examined the fat liposuctioned from 23 women to see which areas produced the most stem cells. The participants had fat liposuctioned from their lower abdomen, upper abdomen, hips, flank, inner knee and inner thigh.
The results proved that the highest concentration of stem cells is found in the fat taken from the lower abdomen and inner thigh. Researchers noted that the value in discovering such high concentrations of stem cells in these areas of the body is the ample supply ready and available to plastic surgeons and medical doctors for future use.
Additional studies are being conducted in Asia and Europe, examining the potential of stem cells derived from body fat. This form of stem cell research is still in the pre-clinical trial stage in the United States; however, researchers agree that the more research done on this topic, the sooner stem cells will be put into use.
Because stem cells are capable of self renewal, scientists and doctors theorize that they will be able to repair or replace damaged or dead cells. If this is the case, stem cell enriched fat will be the answer to healing injuries and illness and will open a whole new series of doors for the plastic surgery industry. Plastic surgeons predict stem cells taken from fat will also be used in breast augmentation surgery and to naturally get rid of wrinkles.
“Using stem cells will some day have very practical applications to the specialty of plastic surgery,” said ASPS President Richard D’Amico, MD. “That we may be able to generate new tissue or bone that can be used in many of the reconstructive and cosmetic procedures we do every day is a tremendous.”
