Have you seen advertisements that “stem cells” are used in all kinds of aesthetic procedures, such as breast augmentation, face lifts and wrinkle treatments? Before we all jump on the bandwagon, I’d like to share some cautionary information—not to put a damper on the exciting potential of stem cell usage, but to balance the excitement with some facts.
First, what are stem cells?
Stem cells are “undifferentiated” cells. That means that they have the potential to become any other cell type, such as skin cells, muscle cells, bone cells—you get the idea.
Where do stem cells come from?
So far, stem cells have come from one of two sources:
· Embryos
· Adults
Embryonic Stem Cells:
Embryonic stem cells come from labs that create embryos for in vitro fertilization. Multiple embryos are created, but only one embryo is inserted during each in-vitro cycle. What to do with the others? Throw them away? Keep them? Use them for research? There’s been an ongoing ethical debate with persuasive opinions on all sides. Fortunately, we have another source now: adult stem cells.
Adult Stem Cells:
After we’re born, we retain stem cells in the tissues of our brains, liver, blood & blood vessels, skeletal muscles, skin and liver. These stem cells are your body’s National Guard. They show up when you need them, but otherwise, they wait. If they are “activated” by disease or injury, they divide and conquer. For example, if you cut your finger while chopping onions, your stem cells get a message to get busy and repair the tissue and skin that was damaged.
Originally, scientists thought that stem cells from the liver would only make liver cells and stem cells in bones would only make bone cells, etc, but recent studies show that most stem cells can “differentiate” to make other cell types. This is great news because everybody has stem cells, compared with the limited availability of embryonic cells, not to mention the ethical debate about using embryonic stem cells.
Stem Cell Usage in Aesthetic Medicine
There are ads all over the Internet, in magazines and newspapers and on radio & TV that you can get larger breasts through stem-cell injections instead of a breast implant; that it lasts a lifetime, is less expensive and has an easy recovery. Some doctors and centers advertise that they can plump your lips or fill your wrinkles with stem cell enriched fat instead of fillers and that it’s permanent, ie, you’ll never need to come back for a refill like you do with Juvederm.
Sounds great! So what’s the problem?
This is the problem: the marketing of stem cell treatments is way ahead of the proven safety of stem cell treatments. That creates risk for everyone who is exposed to their use before safety has been absolutely proven.
Remember what I said about stem cells’ ability to become other types of cells? Can injected stem cells become cancer cells? Can they can create a new disease? Nobody is certain yet. Scientific studies are performed over the course of several years and the scientific community simply hasn’t had those years of study to be absolutely certain whether there are side-effects of stem cell injections and if so, what those side effects might be.
What This Means To You As My Patient
I am a member of a professional association composed only of board-certified plastic surgeons: ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons). The ASPS and ASAPS (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon, also all board-certified surgeons) put together a task force to study the issue of stem cell procedures. Because both groups are committed to the highest standards of ethics and safety in plastic surgery, they are very concerned that physicians—primarily those on the “fringe” of plastic surgery, like dentists injecting Botox, OB’s doing breast augmentations—you get the idea—are pitching “the miracles” of stem cells long before their safety is confirmed.
Led by plastic surgeon and stem cell expert J. Peter Rubin, M.D., the task force poured over every study and report they could get their hands on about stem cells and cosmetic usage. They realized this: the scientific information available right now doesn’t support the marketing claims targeted to consumers seeking aesthetic procedures and treatments. It’s just too soon to know if stem cell injections are safe. Maybe they are, but what if they aren’t?
The task force position is: until it’s proven to be safe, members of the ASPS and ASAPS are asked not to inject stem cells into their patients.
I am an aesthetic surgeon but, first and foremost, I am a doctor who, like all MD’s, took the Hippocratic oath that includes these words: “I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.” I only deliver treatments to my patients that are proven to be safe and effective. You are not my guinea pig, and you shouldn’t be a guinea pig for another physician either. The phrase, “Buyer Beware” should apply to used cars, not to human health.
For safety’s sake, please forward this blog post to everyone you know who is currently involved with, or considering, cosmetic enhancements.
To your health & beauty,
