[Chosun Ilbo] From autologous fat grafting to stem cells... Boosting engraftment rates and volume.

Stem cell breast augmentation
 
Recently, an increasing number of women are preferring autologous fat grafting to express the natural beauty of their breasts using their own fat tissue, as they feel aversion to breast augmentation using artificial implants. Breast augmentation using autologous fat grafting, which accounted for less than 3% just a few years ago, is now trending toward exceeding 10%. It is receiving a positive response not only from the general public but also among celebrities with upcoming broadcast appearances. It is popular as an "emergency procedure" to preserve natural beauty when participating in revealing photo shoots or broadcast filming during the summer. As word spreads about the ability to expect visible volume changes on the day of surgery and the rapid recovery, an increasing number of busy office workers are undergoing the procedure over the weekend.

No matter how closely implants resemble the shape of the breast, their texture and appearance inevitably feel artificial compared to one's natural body parts. In severe cases, this can lead to the side effect of capsular contracture, where the area around the implant hardens. On the other hand, autologous fat grafting creates natural volume by injecting the patient's own excess fat tissue into areas such as the breasts or face. However, a limitation was that the engraftment rate was low, ranging from 10% to 20%, as the fat tissue was absorbed into the body after the procedure; furthermore, injecting excessive amounts of fat to account for this risk of necrosis or calcification. The engraftment rate refers to the percentage of cells or tissues that survive when transplanted to a specific area.

'Stem cell breast augmentation' is designed to compensate for these drawbacks. It is similar to conventional fat grafting up to the point of harvesting fat from areas such as the abdomen or thighs. However, it differs in that fat-derived adult stem cells are extracted and mixed with pre-purified fat cells in an appropriate ratio before being injected into the breasts. Celebrities do not want their on-screen appearance to look unnatural, and they can also expect the added benefit of slimming down their body fat during the harvesting process. This is why a significant 'fan base' seeking stem cell breast augmentation has formed.

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Director Shin Dong-jin is shown selecting only healthy fat cells, extracting stem cells, and mixing them with fat for 'stem cell breast augmentation.' / Courtesy of SC301 Clinic
 
Dr. Shin Dong-jin, the representative director of SC301 Clinic, is the figure who has established actual data on engraftment rates since 2007. From 2012 to 2015, he published research in an academic journal of Shandong University Medical School in China that combined cosmetic procedures, demonstrating that stem cell breast augmentation can raise the engraftment rate to the 70% range. Dr. Shin stated, "Stem cell breast augmentation minimizes the loss of transplanted fat, allowing for satisfactory results without side effects with a single surgery." He introduced the procedure by adding, "The key is improving the engraftment rate and volume of fat cells by injecting pure stem cells into the existing simple fat grafting process."

He said, “Most celebrities have made dieting a part of their daily lives, and in such cases, they are bound to have handicaps, such as a low engraftment rate after surgery or insufficient fat to harvest, making it difficult to expect sufficient volume.” He added, “In these cases, we are increasing satisfaction by filling with healthy fat through pre- and post-operative care, and then implementing aftercare that allows the fat to properly engraft in the breasts.”

In cases where facial fat is rapidly lost due to drastic dieting, fat extracted from other parts of the body is transplanted to the face to restore a youthful appearance. It is an anti-aging treatment that smooths out fine wrinkles and improves skin elasticity.

Director Shin emphasized, “If a woman with insufficient fat fails her first surgery, even if she considers a second surgery at a specialized hospital later, she cannot expect satisfactory results because she already lacks fat,” adding, “One proper surgery is the way to prevent side effects and increase satisfaction.”

SC301 Clinic explained, “However, simply transplanting stem cells does not guarantee a successful surgery. The results can vary significantly depending on the know-how to extract as many stem cells as possible without damage, extraction equipment that minimizes high heat and vibration, and the surgeon’s technique to shorten the fat grafting time through rapid hand movements.” They added, “For instance, stem cells must be isolated within a very short time and rapidly injected into each tissue layer of the breast in a golden ratio to increase the number of living cells and improve the engraftment rate.” Director Shin Dong-jin pointed out, “The majority of clinics promoting stem cell plastic surgery are merely going through the motions without possessing the necessary stem cell extraction equipment,” and warned, “Pre- and post-operative care is also poor, making it no different from conventional fat grafting, so caution is advised.”

SC301 Clinic utilizes advanced equipment such as TGI and HuriCell to inject 30 million to 100 million stem cells, and creates a breast condition that enhances engraftment rates through pre-operative care. In addition, it establishes a condition that maximizes the retention of stem cells through pre- and post-operative dietary, exercise, and drug therapies. Thanks to this high level of treatment technology, the clinic recently won the '2016 Medical Consumer Satisfaction Award' and the 'Minister of Food and Drug Safety Award' for two consecutive years.

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Copyright ⓒ Chosun Ilbo & Chosun.com [Source] This article was written by Chosun.com.

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