STEM CELL THERAPY
Stem cell treatment and research represent one of the greatest opportunities to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for millions of patients. Stem cells are big news in medical and science circles because they can be used to replace or even heal damaged tissues and cells in the body. They can serve as a built-in repair system for the human body, replenishing other cells.
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Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. In addition, in many tissues they serve as a sort of internal repair system, dividing essentially without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential either to remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell.
Stem cells are distinguished from other cell types by two important characteristics: First, they are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division. Second, under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special conditions.
Stem cells are important for living organism for many reasons. In the very early stage of embryo, the inner cells give rise to the entire body of the organism, including all of the many specialized cell types and organs such as heart, lungs, skin and other tissues. In some adult tissues, such as bone marrow, muscle, and brain, adult stem cells generate replacements for cells that are lost and damaged through normal wear and tear, injury, or disease.
to reach the necessary therapeutic threshold.
Adipose-derived stem cells are undifferentiated and multipotent cells that can easily be extracted from adipose tissue (fat), are capable of expansion in vitro, and have the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell lineages, which have clinical benefits in regenerative medicine.
In living tissue, the main purpose of adult stem cell is to use cell division to repair and replace dying cells in order to regenerate damaged tissue. Adipose tissue has the highest concentration of stem cells and can produce billions of cells that will repair, replenish and rejuvenate one’s body immediately. These stem cells can be used for damaged joints from osteoarthritis or aseptic necrosis and facial rejuvenation to look younger by stimulating collagen production.
Autologous adult stem cells are derived from the same individual body. They can be considered our own built-in repair system that regenerate cells damaged by disease, injury, and everyday wear and tear. Once adult stem cells are administered to the body, they respond to inflammatory signals and ultimately replenish damaged cells. There are no ethical or moral issues involved in harvesting autologous adult stem cell.
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are easier to harvest than bone marrow and can provide more mesenchymal stem cells per unit volume. In addition, it is much less painful and involves lower risks. Adipose stem cell takes shorter time from extraction to the administration of treatment. No culturing or manipulation is needed using our procedure, as opposed to a bone marrow extraction which requires days or weeks to reach the necessary therapeutic threshold.
FAQ
> How do I know if stem cell therapy is right for me?
Discussing treatment options with your physician is an important first step in making a decision regarding stem cell therapy. Potential outcomes, an integrative and comprehensive treatment plan, and financial costs are all factors to consider. Common conditions that stem cell therapy can be considered are: Degenerative disc disease, Osteoarthritis and degenerative joints, avascular necrosis of joint, rotator cuff and labral tears, calcified tendon and frozen shoulder, facet joint disorders, sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, tennis and golf elbow, bursitis, synovitis, tendinitis, tendinosis, ACL, PCL and meniscus tears, plantar fasciitis
> How is stem cell procedure performed?
Consultation: Each patient receives thorough consultation prior to the treatment including medical and surgical history, medications, patient’s expected outcomes, and risks/benefits.
Prepare: In some patients, antioxidant and nutritional IV’s can be offered to prepare the patient for the therapy.
Harvest: Using a tumescent anesthetic, a sample of adipose tissue is collected from the patient.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP is isolated from the patient’s own blood.
Stem cells: Adult stem cells will be isolated in a sterile environment from the collected fat sample ensuring no contamination occurs. It is extremely important to note that sterility means that the cells are not exposed to air particles and contaminants.
Injection: The stem cells are then administered back to the patient directly into a localized area where cell repair is needed.
> Are there any detrimental side effects from an adipose stem cell procedure?
No, the adipose tissue is extracted from the patient’s own body so no foreign donors are used.
This minimizes the potential for immune rejection. The procedure is performed completely in-office and administered by a board-certified physician. Every procedure does have its risks, but we do practice sterile techniques which makes the risk of infection very rare.
> How many injections are required for success?
Most patients, especially those with orthopedic conditions, require only one treatment. The number and necessity of any additional treatments would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
> How long does it take to see improvement?
Stem cell therapy relies on the body’s own regenerative healing to occur. The regenerative process may take time, particularly with orthopedic patients who may not see results for several months. In some cases, more immediate responses are possible.
