Why a flat-chested international student returned home for stem cell breast augmentation

Dr. Shin Dong-jin, Director of SC301 Clinic, Proves 75% Graft Survival Rate in SCIE-Level Paper

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Ms. Im (female, 22), who has been studying abroad in the U.S. for two years, attended school with a constant lack of confidence due to her unusually small breasts. Her height was similar to that of Western women her age, making the comparison even more acute. Worried that implant surgery might result in unnatural volume, she looked into other surgical methods and decided to return to Korea briefly this winter to undergo 'stem cell breast augmentation.' Ms. Im was reassured to hear that stem cell breast augmentation provides more natural volume than implant surgery and has a faster recovery period, ensuring that it would not interfere with her studies after leaving the country.

The desire for fuller breasts has persisted across generations. Fat grafting, which enhances breast volume more naturally than implant surgery, is gaining popularity. However, a major drawback of fat grafting is the relatively short duration of its effects. This is why 'stem cell breast augmentation,' the latest version of fat grafting designed to address this issue, is attracting attention. Stem cell breast augmentation utilizes adult stem cells derived from fat; while the engraftment rate of conventional fat grafting is in the 20–30% range, the engraftment rate of stem cell breast augmentation exceeds 70%.

Last February, a paper by a Korean doctor proving with clinical data that the engraftment rate of stem cell breast augmentation is 75.1% was published in an SCIE-level cosmetic journal published by the University of Oxford in the UK. This journal is considered the world's top-tier academic journal in the field of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Shin Dong-jin, director of SC301 Clinic and the author of the paper (a board-certified surgeon), explained, “When performing fat grafting surgery, if only fat cells are transplanted, the fat cells may be absorbed or lost to the original breast tissue after a short time, causing the breast volume to collapse.” He added, “To prevent this, the engraftment rate can be increased by extracting stem cells from the fat tissue, mixing them with the fat cells in a certain ratio, and injecting them into the breasts.”
 

Director Shin Dong-jin is explaining the features of stem cell breast augmentation surgery. [Photo: SC301 Clinic]

Another advantage of stem cell breast augmentation is that it reduces the need for retouching. While conventional fat grafting required at least two to four repeated fat injections to achieve the desired results, stem cell breast augmentation has improved upon this inconvenience. Patients do not need frequent anesthesia, and because the engraftment rate is high even without excessive fat injection, there is virtually no risk of side effects such as calcification. For instance, patient satisfaction is high because there is little discomfort when raising or lowering the arms after the procedure.

Many women hesitate to undergo surgery due to concerns that the recovery period will be prolonged or that aftereffects such as bruising and swelling will persist. Dr. Shin stated, "Some people mistakenly believe that the appearance of bruising or swelling after surgery is a side effect, but it is part of the post-operative recovery process." Swelling occurs when vascular tissue is damaged, while bruising occurs when bleeding during or after surgery is not immediately absorbed into the body. He added, "Swelling and bruising can persist for a long time if the medical team lacks experience with liposuction and grafting, if the equipment is not properly selected, or if post-operative care is not thorough."

Director Shin emphasized, “Recently, similar surgeries claiming to be stem cell breast augmentation are proliferating,” adding, “When undergoing stem cell breast augmentation, it is necessary to check whether the doctor has accurately proven the surgical effectiveness through papers, etc., and whether the hospital or clinic is equipped with a stem cell research institute and expensive equipment.”

SC301 Clinic is equipped with specialized equipment that has been verified for the 'stem cell breast augmentation engraftment rate' by the Oxford Journal of Aesthetic Medicine in the UK, and is focusing on increasing the engraftment rate of fat cells based on accumulated know-how. In addition, it is equipped with a treatment system that includes a sterile operating room, an advanced stem cell extractor, a 3D imaging device to visualize changes in breast volume after surgery, a breast tissue augmentation technique to guide stem cells to settle in a large space before surgery, and skin therapy facilities to reduce post-operative swelling.