The search for eternal youth and beauty has reached back thousands of years and is likely to continue. In the past, cosmetic companies have looked to plants and flowers as the basis for a variety of cosmetic products. In recent years, cosmetic and plastic surgeons have relied on surgical techniques to slow and reverse the aging process - for a time. However, the future holds unknown opportunities in anti-aging technologies because the development of stem cell research in anti-aging techniques and procedures.
The two most common types of stem cell research involved in anti-aging technologies include adult stem cell and embryonic stem cell research.
Leading Technologies in Stem Cell Research
Regenerative therapies are at the forefront of stem cell studies in the field of anti-aging research. This type of research utilizes advanced cellular therapy methodologies to replace damaged or dying cells, which accelerate the aging process. These cell therapies rely on the transplantation of healthy and vibrant cells that have been isolated and multiplied in an environment outside the body. They are then injected into the body or skin, depending on need, to supply a healthy source of new cellular growth.
Pre-engineered adult stem cells are often utilized in such research, as well as research into other fields of biomedical technology including cardiac care. Adult stem cell therapy utilizes a patient's own stem cells harvested through a typical blood draw. These cells are then sent to laboratories where they are cultivated and multiplied. Patients receive injections of the new cell growth about a week later. The injected adult stem cells then stimulate the regrowth of tissues and cellular structures throughout the body or in specific areas where they are injected.
Therapeutic cloning involves the nuclear transfer of somatic stem cells. This technique is often used with skin cells and is commonly used to treat a variety of skin disorders. This technology utilizes a type of skin cell development where stem cells are extracted and transferred to grow in small sections of human tissue or even entire organs for eventual transplant. Therapeutic cloning was first accomplished in 2001. The process relies on DNA as the basis of collection for cellular information and structure. Therapeutic cloning may utilize the DNA donated by a specific person, enabling cells to grow and multiply before being re-injected back into the body.
This type of technology is often used to create new skin grafts for burn patients or to treat a variety of skin diseases, though it has also been used in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease treatments as well as for diabetes patients.
Who Benefits From Anti Aging Stem Cell Treatments?
Stem cell treatments designed to reduce or slow the visible signs of the aging process may very well be the wave of the future. Today, more patients seek minimally invasive procedures to repair skin damage caused by aging, and patients may benefit from future noninvasive treatments and technologies to deal with the aging process. Individuals with skin conditions or those suffering from skin damage and those who lack confidence or self esteem caused by the appearance of sagging skin, wrinkles, or age spots may very well benefit from such technologies in both their professional and personal environments.
What Do Stem Cell Treatments Cost?
Stem cell treatments and technologies are still considered to be in their infancy. While such treatments are offered in a variety of medical fields today, specific anti-aging stem cell treatments with proven results are still on the horizon. To date, stem cell treatments and therapies are not available in the United States, but may be found in various locations around the world, from Mexico to Germany to Japan. In some cases, stem cell treatments and therapies may cost as much as $10,000 or more. Time will tell where stem cell research will take those seeking the elusive fountain of youth, and if found, if it is affordable.
