Cosmetic Surgery Meeting Generates Stem Cell Buzz

Stem cells and their future in cosmetic surgery was one of the hot topics at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS) 27th Annual Scientific Meeting that just wrapped up in Phoenix.

“We’ve learned that your own fat is a great source for stem cells,” said Dr. Mark Berman, outgoing president of the AACS. “With our current technology, we can harvest fat and actually separate the stem cells.”

Cosmetic surgeons, the AACS believes, will be one of the principal players in this new segment of medicine.

“Not only will this be the next major plateau in cosmetic surgery, this is likely to represent the next major breakthrough in medicine in general,” Dr. Berman said.

A patient’s fat can be fortified with stem cells and then used for rejuvenation procedures for many areas of the body, including the face, hands and breasts. Furthermore, liposuction, a procedure that many cosmetic surgeons perform, will most likely be the foundation for many future stem cell procedure.

Dr. Berman told American Health and Beauty that patients need to understand what procedure they are receiving and the reality vs. the marketing. He said that for the most part these procedures are simply fat transfer procedures.

“I’ve been hearing people say ‘We’re doing this stem cell facelift, we’re doing the stem cell breast augmentation,’ stuff like that. That may be good for marketing but only as long as the patient understands what they’re getting,” he said.

“Some physicians do separate and concentrate stem cells before injection, but these are not miracle procedures. More research is needed,” he added.

In other news from the meeting, Dr. Angelo Cuzalina of Tulsa Surgical Arts was named the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s new president.