Adipose derived stem cells (ASC) are an abundant source of stem cells with the potential for repair and regeneration of acute and damaged tissues. ASCs are in much greater abundancy in adipose tissue than bone marrow.
The ability to harvest these cells, and then concentrate, and use for repair, reconstruction, and replacement of damaged tissues has great potential.
Typically, the procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery center under local or light sedation. A small puncture is made through the skin of the lower abdomen, or “love handles.” The fat is collected, and combined and processed with sterile saline solution, during which the fat is washed, rinsed, and resized into smaller clusters. Debris, blood, inflammatory cells, and fatty oils are removed as the desirable remainder of the fat is concentrated. The concentrated product is then injected into the treatment site.