Adult Stem Cell Research Now As A Face Lift Alternative

Memo to Michael Jackson, Adult Stem Cell research has brought you an early Christmas gift this year. No longer is surgery required for anti-aging or making one look younger because Adult Stem Cells are now being used as an alternative to a facelift- no surgery required!

The stem cells being used are taken from the patient's fat- so they are autologous adult stem cells ie. the patient's own stem cells so there are no rejection issues.  Here is how it works:

Process of Stem Cells

1. Patients  have fat cells removed from their stomach using a needle and local anesthetic


2. Stem Cells are extracted from the fat cells and multiplied


3. Two weeks later, patient returns to hospital.


4. Doctors inject the stem cells into the face in a series of shots that plump out skin, erase wrinkles and give the patient a youthful appearance


5. No surgery required!

Stem Cell Facelift Only Available in China

Alas,  since the United States always seems to be the last ones on the bus for these adult stem cell treatments, it is China that is taking the lead.  This process is taking place at  Beijing Tian Tan Puhua Hospital in Beijing, China.

Before you scoff at this stem cell treatment, this is the same hospital where Penny Thomas, the famous American woman who was the first to be treated with Adult Stem Cells for her Parkinson's Disease.  Countless other Americans have followed in her footsteps as the US FDA drags its feet.

Also, this same company, RNL Bio, is the same one that has helped John Cullison with his arthritis as we saw previously on this blog in this stem cell video.

This stem cell facelift is very popular with South Koreans after they had one of their aging stars, Kyung-gyu Lee go there to give it a try. Apparently it must have been a success.

Adult Stem Cells As Alternative to Plastic Surgery- A Possible Billion Dollar Industry

With the plastic surgery industry in the United States in the billions of dollars annually, we are looking at the near future of this industry.  Right now, this face lift alternative to surgery costs about $4,000 + the cost of a trip to China.
Bruce Jenner? You want to be the US pioneer?

But seriously, at first glance, this seems to be an industry with untapped potential. Some of you entrepreneurs out there may want to check this out.

See the whole story on the stem cell facelift here

Stem Cell Research Brings About Another Miracle

Korean doctors have apparently regrown a patient's jawbone using the patient's own Adult Stem Cells in yet another amazing miracle that Adult Stem Cell research has brought us.

An 18 year old Korean boy who had to have most of his jawbone and his teeth removed due to a tumor was the lucky recipient of this fantastic stem cell research victory.

The young man, who had been suffering confidence problems due to his appearance (missing his jawbone and teeth) is very happy now after the Adult Stem Cells worked their magic and regrew his jawbone so he looks normal in appearance now.

Process of Stem Cells

1. Adult Stem Cells were taken from the man's bone marrow


2. They were then multiplied and "coached" into becoming an osteoblast- a cell responsible for bone formation


3. The new Adult Stem Cells were injected into the "damaged" area around the man's jaw


4. 6 months-1 year the stem cells grow new bone to fill in the gap left when the jawbone and teeth were removed


5. Man's looks better, has more confidence, happier

Stem Cell Case Study Presented at Conference

The results of the trial were published in the British medical journal BMC Medicine and it was also presented at the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons annual meeting (Those silly Maxillofacial surgeons must have forgotten my invitation)

Another Case of Adult Stem Cell Research Working Magic

This is just another instance in which the patient's own stem cells were used to help. The patient had nothing to lose (no side effects because they were his own stem cells), and everything to gain. And gain he did with this miracle.

This reminds me of an amazing story in Germany a few years back in which they actually used a man's back as an incubator and grew him a new jawbone

Click here to read the whole stem cell article

American Doctors and Patients Challenge the FDA to Save Lives Rather Than Allow Patients to Needlessly Die

A couple of weeks ago, the American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA) was formed by a group of doctors, not to debate the pros and cons of embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research, but to contest the FDA's position that a person's own Adult Stem Cells are to be classified as drugs and subject to the same regulations as Vioxx, Ritalin and thousands of other chemical deadly concoctions.

The FDA’s stance is that a person's own stem cells must be tested as a new drug- ie. subject to 7-10 years of clinical trials and testing for each disease/condition it is used for.

As I have argued many times before, this stance is ridiculous and is costing millions of lives while sick Americans wait for the use of their own stem cells which would improve their quality of life.

Well, now a group of patients are now targeting the FDA as well.

And they have issued a press release:

A critical initiative for the ASCTA and the Safe Stem Cells NOW! movement is to bring public awareness to the FDA's position so consumers, and those who stand to benefit from safe stem cell therapies, have the opportunity to be heard. "We get letters and calls every day from people suffering from a variety of conditions and diseases that have no known cure who are eager to access stem cell therapies.", Hanson adds. "Many of them are forced to look outside the U.S. for treatment, which involves prohibitive travel and procedure costs."

Adult Stem Cells Should Be An Option for Patients With No Options

One of those patients is Beverly Lessard, a 71-year-old patient from Florida, who has been diagnosed with end stage emphysema. Her late-stage condition prohibits extensive travel and the estimated cost of $12,000 to $50,000 is unaffordable. "At 71 years of age there is little interest on my part or anyone else's to opt for lung transplants. I think this is disgraceful for our FDA to prohibit the use of autologous stem cells except in a very narrow concept so that people are forced to seek relief outside the USA," wrote Lessard.

The FDA Is Not Protecting Us, but Hurting Us

Adult stem cells are ready for early clinical use now and can be processed with the same techniques commonly used in existing in-vitro fertilization labs. "Classifying them as drugs will not add to patient safety, but it will delay treatment to patients who don't have 1-2 years to wait, let alone 5-7 years," stated Christopher J. Centeno, M.D., a founding physician member of ASCTA. "ASCTA has established lab guidelines which will allow the safe use of the patient's own adult stem cells under the supervision of doctors," continued Dr. Centeno.

Adult Stem Cells Cultured the Same As IVF Cells

Adult stem cells are different from embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in the human body in various tissues. In order to obtain enough to treat a condition or disease, they often need to be cultured, similar to today's fertility treatments. Adult stem cells have undergone much more research than embryonic stem cells and thus are closer to real world treatments. These adult stem cells are taken from the patient's own body (autologous) and ASCTA believes that they are therefore safest for use in treating patients.

About Safe Stem Cells Now!
The Safe Stem Cells NOW! Movement was started by the American Stem Cell Therapy Association and driven by its patient members. The movement's goal is to inform patients and physicians that their ability to access safe stem cell treatment is being heavily restricted by pharmaceutical industry agendas and by the FDA. For more information, visit http://www.safestemcells.org

I would appreciate it if you could all take some time to sign up for this new organization. With YOUR help, we may be able to make some much needed changes and get American patients the help that they need.

Stem Cell Research Clinical Study- Spinal Cord Injury

A few weeks ago, I covered a story about  a stem cell research published study for spinal cord injury patients in Ecuador.  In that study, Dr. Luis Geffner used 3 different delivery methods of Adult Stem Cells to help 52 spinal cord injury patients and counting.

Michael Flounders- Walking in the Right Direction

One of those 52 patients was Michael Flounders who says "Since the stem cell implant I am making a recovery. How long and how far it will go no-one can say because it is so new.

This is taken from the stem cell abstract published in Cell Transplantation, Volume 17, Number 12, 2008 , pp. 1277-1293(17):

Comprehensive evaluations demonstrate improvements in ASIA, Barthel (quality of life), Frankel, and Ashworth scoring. Moreover, in order to assess bladder function, we designed a simple numerical clinical scoring system that demonstrates significant changes in bladder function following BMSCs administration.

Adult Stem Cell Video- Spinal Cord Injury

Also in that clinical study, there were 8 case studies done.  And this amazing video has recently surfaced showing 3 of those spinal cord injury patients treated with their own Adult Stem Cells.   Below, the video you will find the transcription (the stem cell video is in Spanish, although there are subtitles). Watch the whole thing- it really is uplifting!

Stem Cell Video Transcript

Patient Report #1
6 Years of Paralysis
"I've changed quite a lot, my way of living and quality of life. Prior to stem cell implantation I could just sit.
I could not walk and my entire body ached. After implantation (adult stem cells), I feel better.
I can now stand up, walk at home, go to my bed."
Patient Report #2
8 Years of Paralysis
"I noticed I achieved important goals. I've overcome some troubles.
My legs no longer swell. I improved my way of urinating and defecating. My back no longer aches.
So as you see I'm working out and feeling quite better."
Patient Report #3
22 Years of Paralysis
"After implantation, I gained some sensitivity, mobility, and bladder control. Before implantation, I was not able to hold my urine. Now, I can stand up, hold my urine, and walk.
I can go to the toilet and I gained total independence on that. Sometimes as I go out from work I hold my need to void until I get home.
As the people see me standing up, walking after 22 years of being on a wheelchair, they hardly can believe one can do that!"

Media Coverage of Adult Stem Cells Non-existent!

Thank you Rebecca Taylor for the video who says correctly -"The media coverage of this is non-existent of course. Meanwhile, Geron is just getting permission to study the safety of embryonic stem cell derived cells to treat spinal cord injury in humans. The safety portion of this study alone will take years. While America obsesses about the embryo, the rest of the world moves on with what works. Go figure."

Stem Cell Research and Therapy for Cardiomyopathy

Adult Stem Cell research has performed another miracle and it is fitting that it is a Reverend who has been helped this time for his dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Reverend Dan Jackson, of Colorado has reported that his ejection fraction has more than doubled after a stem cell treatment using his own Adult Stem Cells.

When Dan's dilated cardiomyopathy caused his ejection fraction to drop to 21% and into congestive heart failure, he knew he was in trouble. His son Duke took to the internet to find help.

Vescell Adult Stem Cells for Heart Disease

That was when he found Vescell Adult Stem Cells, by Theravitae. Theravitae uses the patient's own stem cells to treat heart disease and peripheral artery disease. However, money was an issue. Duke helped take care of that by having multiple fundraisers to help fund the stem cell treatment.

Dan and his wife traveled to Thailand in November for his stem cell therapy in which he had his own Adult Stem Cells injected into his heart muscle.

Before the Adult Stem Cells

• Ejection Fraction at 21%

After Vescell Stem Cell Therapy

• Ejection Fraction at 50%

Dan says in this cardiomyopathy article -“This should do my heart good for some years; it’s not just a short-term fix,” Jackson said. “My life is in God’s hands. That’s who we’re trusting for our next life. We’re thankful for what the doctors can do, but above and beyond that, God takes charge.”

“They consider this operation very successful,” he said. “I was leery about it, but I’m glad I did it. I am planning to be around here for a long time, the Lord willing. We’ve got things to do. I love my work at the prison as a chaplain. I also love spending time with my grandkids.

Second Chaplain Treated With His Own Stem Cells for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

This is hard to believe, but Dan Jackson is not the first Chaplain to come to Thailand and be helped by VesCell Stem Cell therapy for his Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Reverend Mike Rumble, from Florida, who I covered last month and in December 2008, also went to Thailand and was treated with Vescell. Mike's ejection fraction went up from 10% to 30% after having his own Adult Stem Cells injected into his heart.