Use the fat that would otherwise be wasted after liposuction for stem cell breast augmentation.

At some point, fat became a 'public enemy.' Regardless of East or West, until the late 19th century, animal protein (meat) was considered a sin in a significant number of countries due to reasons such as religion, governing ideology, or the 'prohibition of killing.'

From the 1970s to the 1990s, fat (mainly saturated fat and cholesterol) became known as a "bad nutrient." This was because epidemiological studies showed that countries with high fat intake had higher prevalence rates of lifestyle diseases. Recently, however, carbohydrates have taken the blame instead of fat. "Three white" foods—represented by white sugar, white flour, and white rice—have emerged as the main culprits of obesity.

Just as times change, it appears that criticized nutrients also follow trends. Broadly speaking, the complex problem of high sugar, high fat, and high protein seems to be the main culprit causing obesity and adult diseases. However, critical prejudice against a 'high-fat diet' still persists. Pork belly is arguably the representative food that unfairly takes the brunt of this criticism.

From a medical perspective, fat acts as a buffer that supports the skin, hair, organs, and joints. In metabolic processes, it serves as a medium for maintaining cell function and regulating body temperature. Despite these positive functions, fat is looked down upon, and there is a strong tendency to perceive it as a substance to be discarded through liposuction. 

However, considering pure fat itself and the adipose-derived stem cells that can be extracted from it, fat is a nutrient and a bodily structure that deserves respect. Adipose-derived stem cells allow for obtaining larger quantities of stem cells through a simpler and less invasive method than bone marrow stem cells. Through liposuction, 1000 million to 6 million adipose-derived stem cells can be isolated per 300 mL. There are also reports that cellular aging is slower compared to bone marrow stem cells.

Adipose-derived stem cells are already widely used, having received approval from health authorities for the purpose of regenerating cartilage in arthritis. Furthermore, in plastic surgery, they are an indispensable substance used as the primary medical material for stem cell breast fat grafting or stem cell facial reshaping.

Stem cell breast augmentation is a method in which pure stem cells are extracted by suctioning excess fat from the patient's abdomen, flanks, buttocks, or upper arms, and then mixed with pure fat in an appropriate ratio before being transplanted into the breasts. With an average engraftment rate of over 70%, its advantages include fewer side effects and a natural breast shape and feel compared to artificial implant surgery. Three months after transplantation, the stem cell fat undergoes engraftment, differentiation, and proliferation stages within the body, settling into more natural and voluminous breasts.  

Therefore, instead of wasting the fat after liposuction, it can be used to add volume to underdeveloped breasts or the face, thereby enhancing body shape and natural beauty. If stored through ultra-low temperature nitrogen freezing 'cell banking,' there may come a day, after many years, when it is utilized to treat rare and incurable diseases.

However, based on my clinical experience, there are cases where patients undergo two or three rounds of liposuction after receiving inexpensive and improper stem cell breast fat grafting, resulting in damage to their fat cells and making them permanently unable to receive additional stem cell breast augmentation. This is because the more liposuction is performed, the lower the quality of the fat cells becomes and the weaker the function of the stem cells becomes.

Stem cell breast augmentation is not merely about moving fat from areas of excess to areas of deficiency. It is a process in which adipose-derived stem cells, utilizing their unique multifunctionality, transform pure fat cells into tissues compatible with the target area (i.e., the breast or face), allowing each individual cell to live and breathe as it settles. This can be perceived as the mystery of life and a form of 'art.' 

With the vibrant energy of spring in full swing these days, let's not view fat merely as something to be discarded, but rather respect it as the essence of natural beauty that cultivates beauty and health.