Cosmetic Question: What is a stem cell face lift? Where can I get one?
Cosmetic Answer:
You can get one at any reputable plastic surgeon’s office – a stem cell face lift is just facial fat injections. When fat is removed from the body, it contains stem cells.
These are cells that can change into any kind of cell, including skin cells.
The “stem cell face lift” makes the entirely unproven claim that the stem cells in the fat will turn into new skin that in 1- 2 years, tightens your face. This is marketing, not medicine.
What really happens? Fat injections in the face, if they survive, will plump up the face.
Today, we can carefully inject about 25 – 30 ccs of fat into the face. On average, half the fat – about 10 – 15 ccs, will survive. (More in some, none in others. Results are unpredictable.)
The advantage of facial fat injections instead of filler? If you need more than 4 – 6 ccs of filler, the fat injections will cost less and improvement may be permanent.
But the results are from the fat, not the stem cells. But ‘stem cells’ sound like magic. Grow yourself young! It’s a miracle! People can easily be led to pay a lot of money for miracles. If two years later, you don’t have a miracle, that just too bad. Your money is gone.
This false marketing is of great concern to ethical and honest plastic surgeons. We have a hard-earned reputation for honesty and good results, not phony claims.
What to do? Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who does facial fat injections. Yes you will have stem cells injected along with the fat – but your benefit is from the new facial fat.
There is a lot more to discover about stem cells, growth factors and additives to improve fat injection results. So things may change. If so, we’ll tell you about it here!
We offer all cosmetic office and surgical procedures and cosmetic dermatology.
We have offices in Buckhead (Atlanta) and Alpharetta.
We personally answer our phones so it’s easy! Give us a call! 404.941-3200
For more information, search our blogs or go to www.realself.com – where Dr. Morgan regularly posts answers.