Stem Cells and Breast Augmentation - The Future is Coming

As the most popular elective cosmetic surgery across the nation and around the world, it should come as no surprise that there is continual research on breast augmentation. Doctors and researchers are interested in finding the easiest way for women to increase their breast size and improve the overall shape with minimal risk. Many of the things that women complain about with breast implants are incision size and scarring, risk of implant rupture or leakage, asymmetrical results, and risk of missing breast cancer on future mammograms. Some researchers in Japan and Europe believe they may have a solution that permits enhanced breast size without many of those side effects and risks. 

Stem cells are very early developmental cells that are found within a developing fetus or embryo. As a cell matures, it is given a job and grows into a particular type of cell that will do that job for the rest of its life. However, there is a period after the cell is produced and before it is given a job in which it has the potential to do any job. Similar to a high school student about to graduate and on the cusp of many life opportunities, a stem cell can choose to go to college or travel or stay at home and continue living with their parents. It is these stem cells that scientists have been harvesting for many different uses.

The body does not make new stem cells as we get older. However, in theory if you put stem cells from a developing body into a particular location in your own body, you may be able to give those high school students a new job. Stem cells have been proposed as the solution to some brain disorders in which brain tissue is damaged or atrophies over time. By replacing the tissue, you should theoretically be able to replace the function. 

The same goes for breast augmentation. Some scientists argue that stem cells can be placed within the chest wall and will develop into breast tissue cells that improve the shape and size of the overall breast. The injection of stem cells requires a very tiny incision that should result in virtually no scarring. There is absolutely no risk that the implant will leak or rupture because there isn’t any implant. The risk of asymmetry is also very low since the same amount of material will be injected into each side and your body will take over from there.

As with other fields of research, stem cell use in breast augmentation remains controversial and there aren’t many physicians in the United States that perform the procedure. If you have questions about stem cell research and breast implants, contact your plastic surgeon today.