About Stem Cells

Stem Cells are an early stage cell, which has the ability to become other specialized cells. These cells can repair damage. Autologous stem cells are obtained from the patient’s own body. These are the safest type of stem cell since they come from your own tissue. Since the stem cells come from your own body, there is not the ethical and moral issue related to embryonic stem cells. In addition, there is not a concern for transmission of disease.

Stem cells can be harvested from many locations, but the most common are from fat or bone marrow. Fat (adipose) tissue actually contains the largest number of stem cells. Fat is harvested with a very minimally invasive liposuction. An average harvest from bone marrow yields about 50,000 stem cells. An average harvest from fat yields 25-‐100 million stem cells. The number of stem cells from fat eliminates the need to grow and culture the stem cells into larger numbers. This provides other safety issues and eliminates the concerns of stem cell culture.

Stem cells can repair and regenerate tissue. The tissue can repair to the original and appropriate structure. This can reduce scar and fibrous healing that can occur with surgery. Recover is generally faster and healing can be better.

Damaged tissue releases various chemical signals to try to help recruit other cells to come in and repair the damage. The stem cells respond to these signals and help heal the damaged tissue. When stem cells are injected under image guidance, it places a large number of stem cells right into the area of damage. These stem cells respond to the signals from the damaged tissue and begin repairing and regenerating the damaged tissue.