What is the stem cell treatment, which we have been hearing quite often lately and which is said to rejuvenate and beautify? Is there really such a thing? What is “stromal vascular fraction” or “miracle in fat”? What are they used for? As you can find at the end of the page, I wrote this page by reviewing more than 20 articles.
What is a stem cell?
Cells that are used in tissue regeneration due to their ability to renew themselves and that have the potential to transform into many cells such as repair cells are called stem cells. It is found in places such as placenta, cord blood, bone marrow and adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is our main source due to its ease of obtaining and abundance.
Are stem cells obtained from adipose tissue used in medicine?
Stem cells derived from adipose tissue, namely “adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs)”, provide cell proliferation and regeneration thanks to the cytokines, extracellular vesicles, RNA, and proteins they secrete. It is used in cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia (lipid disorders), diabetes, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, degenerative joint diseases, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Is there a field for stem cells to be used in plastic and aesthetic surgery?
Stem cells obtained from adipose tissue; produce important proteins such as collagen/elastin, thicken the dermis, reduce melanogenic activity, increase blood flow to the existing area and nutrition of that area. Thanks to the repair, regeneration, and rejuvenation capacities of these cells; they are used in skin rejuvenation, hair loss treatment, treatment of under-eye grooves, poor wound healing, bad scars, acne scars, hyperpigmentation treatment, lip &and genital mucosa dryness.
What is a stem cell obtained from adipose tissue? What is SVF? What are their differences?
The structure obtained after some processes of the removed adipose tissue are called SVF (“stromal vascular fraction”). Mesenchymal stem cells are one of the elements in the SVF. In the structure of the SVF, in addition to mesenchymal stem cells, there are also cells such as pericytes and regulatory T cells, which have important functions. Pericytes are thought to be the source of mesenchymal stem cells. Regulatory T cells also show anti-inflammatory and immune tolerance-enhancing effects. In addition, cellular connections and extracellular matrix remain intact in SVF. In this way, the microenvironment is formed, and tissue regeneration is ensured.
Are stem cells or SVF the same as PRP? Is PRP a kind of stem cell therapy?
PRP means “platelet rich plasma”. It is not a stem cell as it is thought. We take the blood from the patient and inject it into the target area in a platelet-enriched form. Many growth factors such as IGF, TGF-B, VEGF are released from platelets. Therefore, PRP has a positive effect on wound healing thanks to these growth factors. PRP provides proliferation, differentiation, and migration of mesenchymal stem cells in the medium. However, there are many growth factors in PRP, not mesenchymal stem cells (See PRP and Mesotherapies for Skin Rejuvenation Section) (See PRP and Mesotherapies for Hair Loss Section).
From where are the stem cells in adipose tissues obtained?
The answer is pretty simple. From your own body. It can be conveniently taken from the abdomen, outer thigh, inner thigh, lumbar region and inside the knee. After fat is taken from the desired area; it is subjected to some processes such as centrifugation, emulsification, filtration, fractionation. After these processes, this structure, which also contains repair and stem cells, is called the “Stromal Vascular Fraction (tSVF)”. Although it may seem like a difficult process, it is actually not. With the right method and technique, millions of repair cells are ready for injection safely, at a relatively low cost.
How is “stem cell therapy” done?
The area where the fat will be taken is locally anesthetized. With a millimetric incision, the area is entered, and the required amount of adipose tissue is taken with the help of cannulas. The removed adipose tissue is subjected to centrifugation, emulsification, filtration, and fractionation processes. The structure obtained after these processes, namely “tSVF enriched with stem cells” is injected into the target area. If stem cell therapy is to be combined with PRP and mesotherapy, PRP and mesotherapy are also prepared until the stem cells are ready. PRP is obtained from your own blood. All these preparation and injection stages take an average of 45 minutes. It can also be performed under sedation or general anesthesia if the patient and surgeon prefer.
What is the post-operative period after stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is an outpatient procedure, and you can go home after the procedure. No side effects are expected other than edema, small bruises, and minimal pain that responds to painkillers, which can last up to 3 days in the area where the fat is removed. All prepared cells are your own cells, so there is no risk of allergy or anaphylaxis. Depending on the combinations, the effect becomes noticeable in the first days, but the maximum effect is seen after 6-8 months.
What other procedures can be combined with stem cell therapy?
Stem cells are prepared from your own fat tissue, so other processes that can be combined are also relevant. In the process, the amount of fat tissues taken can be increased and fat injections can be applied to the desired places. The most used place for fat injection is the face area. In order to replace the volume loss, fat can be used in the cheek area, under the eyes, nasolabial grooves (deep grooves descending from both sides of the nose to the corners of the lips), lips, temple area, chin area, deep wrinkles. In addition, fat injection can be used in the rejuvenation of the hands, correction of bad and depressed healed scars, burns, buttock augmentation, breast augmentation in combination with silicone implants, radiation dermatitis occurring after radiotherapy, and legs (See Fat Injection (Lipofilling) Section).
Another procedure that can be combined with stem cell therapy is liposuction. The amount of fat required to obtain stem cells is much less than liposuction. Therefore, the amount of fat taken for producing stem cells does not promise a body contouring in the area where the fat is removed. However, if liposuction is combined with stem cell therapy in the same session, regional shaping of the abdomen, waist, back, hip regions, jowl, pubis, arms, thighs, and knees can be achieved (See Liposuction (Fat Removal) Section)
When does stem cell therapy start to show its effect?
The effect becomes noticeable in the first days after the procedure, but the maximum effect is in the 6th-8th. achieved per month.
What is the effect of stromal vascular fraction and stem cells in skin rejuvenation?
With aging, the epidermis and dermis become thinner because hydration and vascularity decrease. As fibroblast decreases, the amount of collagen, elastin, GAG, and hyaluronic acid decreases. Thanks to the stromal vascular fraction and stem cells, an increase in skin elasticity, dermis thickness and vascular bed occurs.
Is stem cell therapy or PRP/ mesotherapy treatment better in skin rejuvenation? Can these treatments be combined?
Jeroen Stevens, M.D., Ph.D., whom I had the opportunity to work with in the Netherlands, devoted his years to these studies. He explains this issue as follows. When we look at the physiology of wound healing and the system that repairs wounds in our body, we see that 2 elements are very important. The first is signal pathways and growth factors to instruct repair cells. The others are “the repair cells” that do the actual work. We obtain the first element, the growth factors, from the PRP; and the second element, the repair cells, from the SVF, that is, from your own fat tissue. Studies have shown that it is much more effective to apply them to the target area in combination with the appropriate amount of mesotherapy agents, instead of applying them alone or separately. With these combinations, we support your skin to biologically repair itself.
What are the effects of stromal vascular fraction and stem cells in the treatment of hair loss?
Stem cells obtained from adipose tissue increase hair growth, stimulate the anagen phase which is important for hair growth, and reduce cellular damage by androgen and free oxygen radicals. Hair density and the amount of new hair increase (See Treatment of Hair Loss Section).
How do stromal vascular fraction and stem cells affect poor wound healing and scarring?
SVF affects all 3 phases of wound healing. It reduces mast cells and myofibroblasts, supports collagen remodeling. It provides regeneration by affecting pigmentation and vascularity.
Do stem cell treatments require a single session or repetitive sessions?
If a combination of PRP and mesotherapy is done with stem cell therapy, a single session is usually sufficient.
What are the factors affecting the results of stem cell treatments?
The effect and duration of the applications vary according to the agents used, combinations, amount of damage and factors related to the person. Age, sun protection, metabolic/hormonal disorders, smoking, systemic disorders, genetic/structural causes, nutrition are some of these variable factors. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not compare this application with other applications and yourself with other people.
Summary
Stromal vascular fraction therapy containing mesenchymal stem cells are important applications with increasing in popularity. They are easy to apply and have a serious scientific basis. No side effects are expected. The combination of stem cell therapy &PRP&mesotherapy is a single session application and the results are very effective. Stem cell treatments can be combined with fat injection applications, liposuction, or both. It should be noted that the results are affected by many genetic, individual, and environmental factors. Upon request, additional sessions can be planned in order to increase the quality and effect. You can look to the articles related to the subject in the References section. Best regards.
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