[Edaily] Stem Cell Breast Augmentation: 'Pre-checking' Engraftment Rate with 3D Volume Measurement

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[Edaily] Stem Cell Breast Augmentation: 'Pre-checking' Engraftment Rate with 3D Volume Measurement

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[Edaily Reporter Lee Soon-yong] For a while, there was high demand for breast augmentation using simple fat grafting, but its popularity has waned due to the limitations of a "low engraftment rate." This procedure involves obtaining fat cells through liposuction from areas such as the thighs or abdomen and transplanting them into underdeveloped breasts. Although it was possible to achieve dramatic volume improvement without implants, there was significant dissatisfaction as the results vanished like a "midsummer night's dream" due to a low engraftment rate of 10–20%.

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Stem cell breast augmentation is an improvement on this. Although it uses the same surgical method as conventional autologous fat grafting, it differs in that adult stem cells are extracted from fat cells, mixed with the fat cells, and then transplanted. Not only does it maintain volume semi-permanently, but it also has a low risk of side effects as there is almost no possibility of calcification or necrosis.

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Stem cell breast augmentation is characterized by addressing the limitation of conventional fat grafting, which involves the significant absorption of fat cells. While standard autologous fat grafting shows a low survival rate of less than 20%, proper stem cell fat grafting can expect an average survival rate of 70%.

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Dr. Shin Dong-jin, the representative director of SC301 Clinic, who has performed over 4,500 stem cell breast augmentations since 2007, has proven these findings through three published papers. Recently, Dr. Shin has been enhancing patient satisfaction by measuring "3D Volume Values" and presenting scientific data on how well volume is maintained alongside the graft survival rate. The 3D Volume Value refers to a system where high-performance cameras simultaneously capture the patient from three directions and combine the images. It is a program that reconstructs the frontal and left-right body shapes in three dimensions to check overall body curves, and then verifies and predicts whether a stable graft survival rate will be achieved after surgery.

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For example, a 22-year-old woman who recently underwent surgery was found to maintain volume with a stable engraftment rate, based on 3D volume measurements taken over a three-month period. She received 170 cc in the left breast and 180 cc in the right breast. Over 60 million stem cells were injected. The 3D volume value of the left breast was 65.1 prior to surgery, surged to 241 one month after surgery, and maintained a stable breast augmentation effect at 206 three months later. The right breast started at 78.4, recorded 252 at one month, and reached 229.4 at three months. Consequently, 149 cc of the 180 cc implanted in the right breast engrafted, demonstrating an engraftment rate of 83.8%. 

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SC301 Clinic goes beyond simply performing surgery; through comprehensive pre- and post-operative care, they create an environment conducive to fat engraftment before the operation and help patients maintain volume for a long time afterward. Director Shin explained, "Good results can only be achieved by thoroughly examining the patient's breast condition, fat quality, and lifestyle habits before proceeding with surgery." He added, "After surgery, we provide coaching on dietary habits to ensure sufficient nutritional intake so that the transplanted fat can settle properly." He pointed out that as the popularity of stem cell breast augmentation rises, caution is needed regarding the increasing number of "imitation procedures"—which utilize equipment with minimal extraction effects or package simple PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatments as stem cell surgery.

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As the number of cases where breast augmentation using PRP or general autologous fat grafting is mistaken for breast augmentation using stem cells increases, doctors who actually use stem cells are suffering the consequences. Dr. Shin Dong-jin dismissed this, stating, “While PRP procedures may show some effects related to tissue regeneration, they are vastly different from the effects of stem cells, which promote angiogenesis and secrete growth factors to increase engraftment rates.” He added that “PRP fat grafting is merely at a similar level, with an engraftment rate slightly higher than that of general fat grafting.”

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He also emphasized, “The key to stem cell breast augmentation is preserving the fat-derived cells without damage and injecting them properly,” adding that “it must be supported by specialized equipment and the extensive clinical experience of the medical staff performing the procedure.” Reporter Lee Soon-yong sylee@edaily.co.kr

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