Stem Cells
Adipose Stem Cell Therapy
The two main types of stem cells in our bodies are hematopoietic stem cells that give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and mesenchymal stem cells which tend to produce bone, cartilage, muscle and other tissues. Bone marrow, for instance, has more hematopoietic stem cells than mesenchymals while fat tissue contains far more mesenchymals.
When disease or injury strikes stem cells are released from bone marrow to help with repair and healing. There are also stem cells that reside in most tissues and organs of our bodies that play a vital role in healing and tissue maintenance.
Stem Cells through a microscope
However, bone marrow is not the only major reservoir of stem cells. Scientists have found that fat tissue, especially from the abdominal region, is very rich in adult stem cells. One hundred grams (~ 3 ounces) of fat contains about 4.5 million mesenchymal stem cells (5%) along with a smaller number of hematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells. The presence of so many stem cells in fat makes it a natural source of same for use by doctors doing regenerative medicine. This is a principle reason Dr. Steenblock and his team harvest and use them clinically. To obtain fat, the method of extraction is important. Regular or traditional liposuction actually kills stem cells. A mini-liposuction procedure does not and is the harvesting procedure Dr. Steenblock relies on for this reason. A mini-liposuction procedure generally entails the gentle removal of a small quantity of fat tissue (100-300 ml) from one or two sites on the abdomen or sometimes buttocks or other tissues. This is done under local anesthesia over the course of an hour or two. This approach results in less bruising, pain and swelling than is true of traditional liposuction. And once it is over a small bandage is usually all that is needed to cover the entry site(s). Most patients can return to normal activities the following day.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Because fat tissue is so rich in mesenchymal stem cells which can become a wide variety of body cell types like bone, muscle and cartilage Dr. Steenblock uses it to treat joint, muscle and skeletal issues such as osteoarthritis, sports injuries and bone loss. He is also employing it to treat a wide variety of other diseases and health conditions.
