Menu
What Is Stem Cell Therapy and Its Benefits?
By Dr. Benjamin Busch, DO, MBA
December 16, 2022
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem Cell Therapy is a type of medical treatment that involves the use of stem cells to repair or replace damaged or diseased cells in the body. This therapy has been used to treat a wide range of conditions.
Recently, stem cells are used for health and beauty purposes. Stem cells differentiate into various types of cells and can repair and regenerate damaged or aging tissue.
Stem Cell Therapy is typically performed by injecting stem cells into the treatment area. While Stem Cell Therapy is still a relatively new and emerging field, early studies have shown promising results for its use in improving the appearance of the skin and reducing the signs of aging and regenerating tissue throughout the body.
What are stem cells?
Stem cells are originator-type cells from which all other cells are made. They have the potential to differentiate into any cell of an organism and can self-renew or regenerate. This process is called differentiation. Differentiated cells can function as brain cells, muscle cells, blood cells and bone cells.
Stem cells are unique — meaning there is no other cell in the body capable of renewal on its own.
Understanding how stem cells work in the body
The stem cell’s natural function of differentiation is the body’s own superpower against degradation, illness and aging. Stem cell differentiation can be simply described as a cellular repair system. By changing a cell to a dedicated-specialized cell type with a specific function, it can improve and enhance the way our body responds to illness, injury or condition.
Stem cells work in 3 powerful ways:
- Stem cells replenish and renew our cell population throughout our entire life.
- Stem cells have a protective nature and guard injured or damaged cells in our body.
- Stem cells initiate a regeneration process and stimulate the creation of additional cell types.
Regenerative medicine and stem cells
Restorative medicine, or orthobiologics, can be defined as the practice of using technologies and techniques to trigger the replacement or regeneration of cells to combat degenerated or injured tissues. Stem Cell Therapy is an exciting and highly effective alternative to many surgical procedures. Often when other treatments and even surgery have failed, stem cells injected to the area of injury can:
- Initiate the regrowth of damaged muscle, cartilage and tissue
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Improve mobility
Stem cell types
Generally, stem cells are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct functions, uses and properties depending upon the origin and type. Typically, in regenerative medicine practices, stem cells are obtained either from the bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat) or sourced ethically from umbilical cords that are sourced from what would otherwise be post-natal medical waste.
Mesenchymal stem cells
Mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, can make diverse types of cells. Some examples include bone, cartilage or muscle. These types of cells can help treat a variety of diseases and injuries. MSCs are found in the bone marrow and are important for both making and repairing skeletal tissue. Unfortunately, stem cell harvesting from bone marrow requires a painful procedure to obtain the cellular material from within a patient’s bones. However, the emergence of umbilical cord stem cells has proved to be superior — and much more comfortable for the patient.
Adipose stem cells
These are taken from the patient’s subcutaneous adipose tissue (fat cells) via a small liposuction procedure. The cells are treated to dissolve the fat and stem cells are obtained. The processing of adipose stem cells requires enough manipulation that the FDA labeled it a drug and has stopped its use.
So, the current legal “in office” stem cell uses are bone marrow aspirate, where a painful trocar is pushed through your bone into the marrow, or Wharton’s jelly umbilical cord stem cells which are very easy, have a low-immune response and a great differentiator with growth factors.
Umbilical cord stem cells
The tissue surrounding the umbilical cord at birth is called Wharton’s Jelly. This substance contains high levels of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) ethically sourced from what would’ve been post-natal waste. Wharton’s Jelly MSCs have high differentiation potential and notable immuno-specific properties.
When injected into damaged tissues, Wharton’s Jelly may help regenerate injured tissues and stimulate the strengthening of degenerative cells. In addition to the high MSC concentration, umbilical cord tissue contains significant amounts of growth factors, cytokines, hyaluronic acid and exosomes.
- Growth factors present in Wharton’s Jelly are known to encourage the growth and survival of bone cells, cartilage cells, tendon cells, blood vessel cells and muscle cells.
- Cytokines found in Wharton’s Jelly play key roles in inhibiting inflammation, controlling pain and promoting wound healing.
- Hyaluronic acid content in Wharton’s jelly combats musculoskeletal degenerative diseases.
When indicated for a patient needing orthopedic care, ViveWell’s team of talented providers get excellent results with responsibly sourced umbilical stem cells from Wharton’s Jelly.
Stem Cell and Tissue Component Treatment pricing
This treatment uses stem cells or tissue components to repair or replace damaged, sick cells in the body. It can be used to address a broad range of health concerns.
Good, better…best.
Tissue products vary by application and concentration, according to the goal of therapy.
Often, patients see significant benefits from the synergy of complementary products working together. Pricing is specific to your individualized treatment plan.
Dermal Fibroblast Exosomes | $1,500
A human-derived birth-tissue product that can be combined with PRP, stem cells, and exosomes for tremendous benefit.
Substitute in cases where a patient is not a good candidate for PRP
Can be divided into separate treatment areas
Stem Cells | from $4,000
For some patients, this is an initial dose of product split into 2 areas.
Highly concentrated Stem Cell Treatment | from $6,250
Given in a single dose or divided into separate treatment areas
Share on:
References
- Centeno CJ, Pastoriza SM. Past, Current, And Future Interventional OrthoBiologics Techniques, and How They Relate to Regenerative Rehabilitation: A Clinical Commentary. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2020 Apr;15(2):301-325. PMID: 32269863; PMCID: PMC7134348.
- Gupta A, El-Amin SF 3rd, Levy HJ, Sze-Tu R, Ibim SE, Maffulli N. Umbilical cord-derived Wharton’s jelly for regenerative medicine applications. J Orthop Surg Res. 2020 Feb 13;15(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s13018-020-1553-7. PMID: 32054483; PMCID: PMC7017504.
- Kingery MT, Manjunath AK, Anil U, Strauss EJ. Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy and Related Bone Marrow-Derived OrthoBiologics Therapeutics. Curr Rev Musculoskeletal Med. 2019 Dec;12(4):451-459. doi: 10.1007/s12178-019-09583-1. PMID: 31749105; PMCID: PMC6942063.
Integrative regenerative optimized healing
Located in beautiful Colorado, our clinic offers holistic customized treatment programs to improve and restore your health. For more information or to schedule your consultation, please contact us today. We’re here to answer any of your questions.
Disclaimer: All statements and opinions provided are for educational and informational purposes, not for medical diagnosis. As with all medical treatments and procedures, results may vary on an individual basis. ViveWell follows all FDA guidelines related to the treatments provided. You’re encouraged to consult with your primary care provider before undergoing any treatment programs offered by ViveWell. Some of our therapies are not FDA-approved. During your personal consultation, the benefits and risks of any recommended therapies will be reviewed with you.