Who applies stem cell therapy?

Stem cell therapy is used in different areas and its usage area is gradually diversifying. Adult stem cells are taken from the patient’s own bone marrow for stem cell therapy in back, shoulder, knee, or joint pain. For procedures such as cosmetic facial smoothing, stem cells are obtained from the adipose tissue in a suitable donor area. After the stem cells are collected, they are centrifuged to separate the cells to be injected into the back, shoulder, knee, hip, or other treatment areas. Thus, only stem cells taken from the patient are used during the injection. 

Stem cells, which are the main cells of the human body can be evaluated under 3 headings as adult, embryonic, and fetal stem cells. Since stem cells are source cells that can transform into any type of cell, all cells such as kidney, liver, nerve, muscle, vessel, and fat consist of stem cells. Likewise, it can be said that all tissues and organs in the body are composed of stem cells. This situation can be expressed as a kind of transformation by differentiation. It needs these cells in order to repair damage in any part of the body. Stem cells, which are directly responsible for the repair in damaged areas, perform this task by transforming into cells of related organs and tissues. One of the most important features of stem cells is their ability to renew themselves.

There Are Different Types of Stem Cells

Bone marrow, milk teeth, umbilical cord blood, and fat cells are considered as adult stem cells and the most efficient stem cell sources. Bone marrow, the oldest known source of stem cells, was mostly obtained from the hip bone. Since the region of the hip bone, especially the crista iliaca, is highly productive in terms of stem cells, bone marrow containing mesenchymal, endothelial, and hematopoietic stem cells can be taken from this region. 

Mesenchymal stem cells have become very popular with the increasing use of mesenchymal stem cells in the field of aesthetics. The reason why mesenchymal stem cells are preferred in aesthetic applications is the formation of fibroblasts from mesenchymal stem cells. However, mesenchymal stem cells do not only generate fibroblast cells. It is very important to obtain the stem cells to be used for the repair of a place rich in fat, bone, muscle and support tissue from a source rich in mesenchymal stem cells.  Arteries and veins are formed from endothelial stem cells, and blood cells are formed from hematopoietic stem cells. 

Umbilical cord blood is considered an easier source than bone marrow. In addition to being easier to access, umbilical cord blood is more practical to obtain and storage conditions are not very demanding. 

Milk teeth and wisdom teeth are also easily accessible resources. Childhood milk teeth are among the richest sources of stem cells. Fat cells are also an important source of stem cells that are easiest to obtain and do not need to be stored. Therefore, it is possible to use adipose tissue taken at any time. 

Stem Cell Therapy Can Be Used in Different Areas

With stem cell therapy, losses and repairs that the body needs but cannot perform can be made. By using the target patient’s own stem cells to produce tissues and organs, tissue and organ losses and damages can be eliminated without encountering any reaction. Thus, it is aimed to eliminate the need for tissue and organ transplantation by using the patient’s own cells. However, the use of stem cells is not limited to organ and tissue losses. Especially in the field of aesthetics, its use has been increasing in recent years. Stem cell therapy can also be used for hair loss, scars, burns, loss of elasticity in the face area, level differences, wrinkles, cracks, and sagging. With stem cell therapy, the repair mechanism can be activated in these regions. 

Fibroblasts obtained from biopsies of the patient’s connective tissue, usually behind the ear, are reproduced in the laboratory environment and stem cell-rich materials are obtained. By injecting these materials into the area to be treated at certain intervals, fibroblasts trigger the increase of collagen and the tissue begins to repair itself. Thus, the underlying healthy tissue gradually rises to the surface and replaces the old tissue. This fresher texture removes the roughness caused by aging or other factors. Problems such as burns, cracks, scars, and sagging skin leave their place to an elastic and healthy skin. 

In stem cell treatment, only the material obtained from the biopsy taken from behind the ear is not used. The PRP procedure, which is used especially in the treatment of facial rejuvenation and hair loss, is also known as an important stem cell treatment. Although blood is poorer in terms of stem cells compared to fat and connective tissue, this situation can be compensated if it offers practical use and frequent sessions. 

Stem cell therapy has the feature of being one of the most effective methods used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases ranging from liver transplantation to hair loss, although there are still many ways to be recorded at this stage.