Natural breast implants from stem cells and woman's own fat - Japan

Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Article Date: 09 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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In Japan, scientists (University of Tokyo) can make natural breast implants by using a combination of a woman's own fat and stem cells.

This will be far more desirable than having artificial implants made of salt water or silicone.

No one has so far succeeded in increasing breast size with fat. Lots of the tissue dies and the breast ends up with hard lumps.

The scientists say that if you add stem cells you then encourage the growth of new blood vessels.

Another problem with using fat for breast implants is the amount of fat required (a great deal more than for other cosmetic surgeries).

According to Dr. Kotaro Yoshimura (team leader), his team have found a way of enlarging breasts without all the complications.

They suck fat from the patient's stomach (or thigh). The fat slurry is enriched with a higher than normal number of stem cells. These 'master cells' are able to create new fat cells.

When the mixture is ready (combined) it is injected into the breast area.

The woman could be killing two birds with one stone. Not only will she be getting larger breasts, but she will also be losing fat in other parts of her body.

Another advantage of this procedure is that there is no risk of rejection by the patient's immune system.

This procedure has already been carried out on one patient in Japan (last month). The team who did this hope to carry out many more operations.

Other doctors have called for more animal trials before operating in large numbers on humans.