Using stem cell therapies in aesthetic medicine is nothing new, according to Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills. The concept has been around for decades, she says, but there are certain benefits, particularly in regenerative medicine, that have proven to be very important and effective since the cells are undifferentiated. “These cells can develop into specific characteristics of an organ or type of tissue to compensate or replace certain areas of damage within the body,” she says. “Ultimately, when programmed, the stem cells will turn into the cell type that is needed to replace the damaged or affected cells in that area. They are basically our repair kit where and when needed.”
You may know about PRP (platelet-rich plasma), or the vampire facial, but you might not have heard of PRF, or platelet-rich fibrin. The treatments are similar, in that they place the patient’s blood in a centrifuge to separate its layers, but PRP is spun at a high speed, causing the stem cells to go to the bottom. PRF is spun at a slower speed, allowing the stem cells, white blood cells, and fibrin to remain in the platelet. It is then injected into the skin, almost like filler, and helps with wrinkles and lines. Research has shown PRF to be more effective in improving skin texture and skin laxity than PRP.
Another way that stem cells are being used in aesthetic treatments is through “stem cell facelifts.” The process, which includes fat transfer from another part of your body, like the stomach, was known as the original filler, according to Shamban. “The issues are the super-sterile environment and the fact they need to be treated like an infant, as they are super fragile due to the architecture of these cells,” she says. When the fat was transferred, she says, the face would blow up or shrink. It was also unstable if the patient gained weight and was not easy to control due to the contouring effects and irregularities.
Marie Lodi
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