World's first — 12-month follow-up clinical study after a single intradermal injection of autologous ADSC. Glabellar, crow's feet, forehead, and nasolabial folds became shallower or disappeared, pores were significantly reduced, and the effects lasted for more than one year.
SC301 Clinic · Stem Cell Research Series 3rd Week of June · Single Paper Based · Pure ADSC Direct Injection
📄 Original paper information
Ichihashi M, Tanaka M, Iizuka T, Totsuka H, Tominaga E, Hitomi Y, Ando H, Nishikata T, Mizutani KI.
"A Single Intradermal Injection of Autologous Adipose-Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Rejuvenates Aged Skin and Sharpens Double Eyelids"
Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2023;13(7):1162. doi: 10.3390/jpm13071162. PMC10381540.
Open Access Paper (CC BY 4.0 License)
There are many procedures to improve aging skin. Botox smooths wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles, fillers add volume, and lasers regenerate the surface.
However, most procedures are Periodic repetition is necessary...because the effect disappears after a few months.
This paper raises a completely different question.
If stem cells are injected just once, how long and in what diverse areas will the effects be seen?
A Japanese research team injected autologous ADSCs into the facial dermis once and tracked the results over 12 months, and the answer was surprising.
In this study, the areas where improvement was confirmed after ADSC injections are the places where aging is felt first in daily life.
If you first understand why wrinkles form in each area, you can also understand why the effects of ADSC appear evenly in these areas.
Day 0 (Day of procedure)
100 million autologous ADSCs are injected into the facial dermis. The procedure itself is completed in a single session. Afterward, the progress is observed without additional injections or further treatment.
1 months later
Wrinkles begin to shallow or disappear...was done. In some patients, changes in wrinkles between the eyebrows, around the eyes, and on the forehead were confirmed in photographs as early as one month. Early manifestation of effects
3 months later
Wrinkle improvement becomes more pronounced, Changes in the double eyelid line becoming clearer[This was observed]. Pores also began to shrink noticeably. A pattern of gradually intensifying effects was confirmed.
6 months later
The improvement in wrinkles across the entire face, the sharpening of double eyelids, and the reduction of pores were all maintained at a distinct state. A flow of sustained and strengthened effectsThis continued.
12 months later (1 year)
All effects last for more than one yearThat is it. The effect of a single injection lasted for well over a year. This result significantly surpasses the duration of typical skin procedures. Confirmed to continue for more than one year
Improved wrinkle areas — 5 spots simultaneously
① Dermal reconstruction pathway (previously known pathway)
Increased collagen synthesis
Activation of fibroblasts through the secretion of growth factors by ADSCs → Increased collagen production → Restoration of dermal thickness and density
Elastin recovery
Restoring skin elasticity through the regeneration of elastic fibers (elastin) → Wrinkle improvement and pore reduction
Increase in hyaluronic acid
Increased hyaluronic acid synthesis in the dermis → Improved skin's moisture binding capacity → Improved volume and elasticity
angiogenesis
Formation of dermal vascular network through VEGF secretion → Improved supply of nutrients and oxygen → Creation of an environment for skin regeneration
② Muscle Activation Pathway — Key New Discovery of This Paper
This paper is a meaningful study in many respects.
World's first reportThat is the greatest significance.
This is the first clinical study to report that a single intradermal injection of ADSC sustains facial skin regeneration for over a year. In particular, it presented an unexpected effect of double eyelid definition and a new mechanism hypothesis involving muscle activation.
At the same time, the research team also frankly mentions the limitations. For a small group of 8 patientsThere was no control group, and evaluation relied on clinical images. The muscle activation mechanism was also a hypothesis proposed at the in vitro experimental level and was not directly verified in clinical practice. A more rigorous design (randomized controlled clinical trial) and follow-up studies involving a larger number of patients are necessary.
However, the greatest value of this research is Proof of ConceptThe fact that the result of 'one injection, lasting for one year, overall facial improvement' was consistently observed, even in a small group of eight people, is itself an important starting point that will trigger larger research.
A single intradermal injection of autologous ADSCs was administered to all 8 patients Improvement of frown lines, under-eyes, eye corners, forehead, and nasolabial foldsIt produced clearer double eyelids and significantly reduced pores. The effects lasted for over 12 months.
We clinically reported this effect for the first time in the world with a 12-month follow-up, and Not only does it increase collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in the dermis, but it also activates muscle cells.A new hypothesis was presented that contributes to the regenerative effect in a complex manner.
A single intradermal injection of ADSC is A promising and sustainable new treatment strategy for regenerating aging facial skinIt implies that.
Q&A regarding this study
Q1. How is ADSC different from regular fat grafting?
A. ADSC (Adipose-Derived Stem Cells) differs from the concept of simply transplanting fat to add volume. While conventional fat grafting focuses primarily on supplementing tissue volume, ADSC utilizes stem cells isolated from adipose tissue to aim at improving the regenerative environment of the skin and tissues themselves. In this study, instead of transplanting fat, only ADSCs were isolated and cultured before being directly injected into the dermis. As a result, not only were improvements in wrinkles, pore reduction, and skin elasticity enhanced, but clearer double eyelids were also observed. This suggests that changes occurred in the skin tissue itself, rather than merely a supplement of volume.
Q2. Why could the effects of the ADSC injection last for more than a year?
A. The research team explains that this is because ADSCs do not merely produce a temporary effect within the skin, but rather alter the dermal structure itself.
ADSCs are known to secrete various growth factors to activate fibroblasts and promote the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. They also induce angiogenesis, creating an environment that facilitates the smooth supply of nutrients and oxygen to tissues. In other words, because they improve the skin regeneration environment itself rather than merely temporarily filling the skin, the possibility has been suggested that the effects may be sustained for a relatively long period.
Q3. What is the reason the double eyelids became more distinct in the study?
A. One of the most interesting results in this paper is the sharpening of double eyelids. The research team proposed the hypothesis that ADSCs can influence not only skin regeneration but also muscle cell activity. In fact, in in vitro experiments, myoblasts exposed to ADSC culture medium showed increased activity, accompanied by increased glucose consumption and lactic acid production. Activating the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, which lifts the eyelid, or other muscles around the eye can make the double eyelid line more distinct. However, this aspect is still in the early stages of research and requires verification through additional clinical studies.
Q4. Can the entire face be rejuvenated with ADSC injections alone?
A. This study reported simultaneous improvements in multiple areas, including the glabella, eye corners, under-eyes, forehead, and nasolabial folds. This is attributed to the fact that ADSCs can influence the overall regenerative environment of the skin, unlike Botox, which blocks only specific muscles, or fillers, which only fill specific areas. However, facial aging is a complex phenomenon involving changes in fat, muscle, ligaments, and bone structure, in addition to the skin. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude that all aging issues can be resolved solely with ADSCs, and an appropriate treatment plan tailored to the individual's condition is necessary.
Q5. May we directly generalize the results of this study?
A. While this study demonstrated very meaningful results, several limitations must also be considered. The study sample was small (8 participants) and was a preliminary study without a Randomized Controlled Trial. Additionally, the evaluation was primarily based on comparisons of clinical photographs. Therefore, it is appropriate to view this paper as a 'Proof of Concept' study demonstrating the potential of ADSCs. Further large-scale clinical trials and long-term follow-up studies involving a larger number of patients are necessary to more clearly confirm efficacy and safety. Even taking these factors into account, this study is considered to have significant academic value in that it is the first in the world to suggest the possibility that "overall facial improvement can persist for more than 12 months following a single intradermal injection of autologous ADSCs."
