Stem cell research has come a long way, and now a procedure involving the technology could replace breast implants. Watch Plastic Surgery News to find out more.
Advances in stem cell surgery could soon replace breast implants.
An academic team in Melbourne, Australia, has already succeeded in growing breast tissue on pigs, and will begin a trial experiment on five women in January 2010.
The procedure involves placing a breast-shaped chamber underneath the patient’s skin. Blood is re-directed from the underarm to a piece of body fat inside this chamber that contains a tissue-stimulating gel. The chamber then dissolves as the fat multiplies and the new breast forms – a process that could take as long as six months.
If the Australian experiments succeed, the stem cell surgery could be available to cancer patients in the next three years. For women who simply want cosmetic breast augmentation, the procedure could be available within ten years. Video plays below.
