Raising engraftment rate to 70% using 'fat-derived stem cell' blending know-how

Plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology are cited as the most active fields of stem cell therapy in Korea. This is because the improvement effects are visibly apparent, and unlike conventional plastic surgery which can look artificial, the results are natural. Dr. Shin Dong-jin, director of SC301 Clinic, stated, “Silicone gel breast implants, which were widely distributed in the late 1980s, have been loved by many women over their 30-year history, but side effects have also been a topic of discussion. For the past few years, stem cell breast augmentation that preserves natural beauty has become popular.”

◇ After breast implant surgery, a rupture checkup every two years is necessary.

According to an investigation by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, adverse effects such as breast implant rupture and capsular contracture were reported to have occurred in 1176 cases in 2013, 940 cases in 2014, 985 cases in 2015, and 657 cases in 2016. Among these side effects, implant rupture can cause inflammation and necrosis in breast tissue, and capsular contracture, where the tissue surrounding the implant hardens, also occurs frequently.

In response, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety established a policy stating, “Individuals who have undergone silicone gel breast implant surgery must check for rupture using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) three years after surgery, and are recommended to undergo rupture checks every two years thereafter.” Furthermore, it advised pregnant women who have received breast implant surgery to follow these recommendations in advance if they plan to breastfeed. This measure was taken in consideration of incidents where silicone was detected in a pregnant woman's breast milk after an implant ruptured. Director Shin Dong-jin explained, “Implant rupture or capsular contracture is ultimately a matter of time,” adding, “The medical community estimates that approximately 40% of all implanted implants experience such accidents after about 10 years following breast implant surgery.”

 

◇ Stem cell breast augmentation with high engraftment rate

 

Director Shin emphasized, “By harvesting fat and stem cells from thick belly fat and thighs, transplanting them into the breasts, and injecting the remaining fat into areas of the face that have lost volume due to aging, one can improve their figure and transform into a youthful appearance.” He added, “However, to achieve the desired results, one must avoid pseudo-stem cell breast augmentation, which is merely a simple fat graft.” When autologous fat is simply extracted and transplanted into the breasts, the survival rate of the fat cells is typically limited to 20–30%. This is because the natural breast tissue absorbs the transplanted fat tissue shortly thereafter. If an excessive amount of fat is injected into the breasts to avoid this, it leads to the side effect of the fat cells dying because they cannot breathe.

Director Shin stated, “If you search the internet, you will find many places claiming to perform stem cell breast augmentation, but it is difficult for the average medical consumer to distinguish the good from the bad. In plastic surgery, the proper equipment and the clinical experience of the doctor operating it are crucial. You should avoid hospitals that use high heat or equipment that reduces cell activity during the stem cell centrifugation process, have inconsistent extraction rates, or exaggerate by claiming to extract stem cells while using a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) extractor.”

It is said that the survival rate of transplanted fat cells can be increased to around 70% only with the know-how to extract fat cells and stem cells with high purity, mix them in the optimal ratio, and inject them evenly and thinly into the affected area.

Dr. Shin Dong-jin, who led the expansion of stem cell breast augmentation as the President of the Korean Society of Stem Cell Plastic Surgery, has proven this through three research papers. When fat cells are transplanted, injecting a fat-derived stem cells (SVF) in an appropriate mixture promotes the secretion of growth factors and the formation of blood vessels, thereby inducing the fat cells to settle properly. Since a certain number of adipose-derived stem cells must be injected, SC301 Clinic mandates the verification process using a cell counter. Director Shin stated, "If the tissue regeneration capabilities of stem cells are fully utilized, the rate requiring revision surgery is only 1 to 2 percent," adding, "Clinics that promise to restore volume if it subsides after the procedure do so because they lack confidence in the survival rate of the fat cells."