14 DAY TRIAL // It's cleat that breasts are rather a sexual 'mark' than having a clear breastfeeding purpose in humans. Because otherwise it's hard to explain 300,000 breast augmentations and reconstructions performed in the US only in 2006, a triple number compared to 1997: any woman wants to feel attractive. But the classical implant technique posses many complications and dangerous consequences for one's health. Clinical data shows that 56,176 breast reconstructions have been made in the US in 2006, 14,266 being operations to remove breast reconstruction.
"Aesthetic" can be the reason in many case, but there are also some severe medical issues linked to implants. Breast pain is associated with 6% of silicone implant patients and 16% of saline implant patients. 21% of the patients can experience a silicon leakage from the implant which requires invasive removal and can provoke health problems and infections. 1-2% of the implants can also induce tissue necrosis which, in the best case scenario, means heavy scarring from surgery.
Now, Cytori Therapeutics, a Californian biotech company, comes with the most desired solution: stem cell technology for more natural breast increase procedure. Even if by now the effectiveness of the procedure is not precisely known, it is clearly safer and healthier.
It employs the patient's own organic cells. By inserting just fat carries less risk, but in the absence of blood supply withering takes place over time. Cytori's "Celution" employs a mix of fat and stem cells that would develop blood vessels, ensuring a constant blood supply.
Fat would be taken through a minor liposuction procedure from a patient's buttocks or belly. The stem cells are collected and an hour later, a mix of stem and regenerative cells is loaded into a cartridge for re-injection, without any culture or manipulation. The breasts' maximum growth takes about six months and can be by about two cup sizes. It may not be as huge as in implant techniques, but the 'new' breasts will surely "look more natural".
The procedure comes at similar prices to that of the implants, and the surgery takes more or less the same amount of time. Initially, Cytori Therapeutics will focus on reconstructive surgery in breast cancer patients. Clinical trials are on the way in Germany, and will last till early 2008, when we will know more about the effectiveness of the method.