Imagine if you were able to enhance your breast size, eliminate facial lines, and reduce the size of your hips without collagen, silicone, or surgery. Now, with the introduction of stem cell therapy for reconstructive and cosmetic applications, this concept is starting to take form.
Realistically, however, stem cell applications for aesthetic purposes are still only a pipe dream. But researchers and doctors say this field is promising for medicine, especially plastic surgery.
What Can Stem Cells Do?
Stem cell therapy works to regenerate tissue, restoring cells in the body. With regard to reconstructive or plastic surgery, stem cells can be altered to develop into specific cell types that could effectively create a shaped, durable piece of replacement tissue. For example, survivors of breast cancer would have the option of a natural replacement after undergoing a mastectomy.
“Hair follicular stem cells, tooth stem cells, and skin stem cells all show therapeutic promise,” said Denis English, editor in chief of the journal Stem Cells and Development. “These can restore hair to a bald man, teeth to those in need, and skin to scarred patients.”
Research is Underway
While the likelihood that stem cell therapy for cosmetic applications is still years away, researchers are currently exploring stem cells for reconstructive surgery. However, experts believe cosmetic applications are not far behind.
“In our society, there is such a huge demand for these rejuvenation surgeries, despite their significant risks, that the pragmatist in me cannot deny the likelihood that it will not be long before someone offers a two state procedure starting with liposuction followed by injection of these autologous stem cells for breast augmentation or into the face to rejuvenate,” said Dr. Daniel Salomon of the department of molecular and experimental medicine at Scripps Research Institute in California.
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