The two primary sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are our bone marrow and adipose tissue (ie. fat!). Adipose tissue (that’s right, the fat around our abdomen) is a rich source of these regenerative MSCs and can be harvested to produce a solution used to heal injuries and regenerate tissue. The lipoaspirate procedure is performed in clinic under local anesthetic. The entire procedure is usually performed in under and hour. Adipose tissue is typically harvested from the abdominal area and is then concentrated in a specialized centrifuge to produce a mesenchymal stem cell graft or solution that is injected at the desired site of treatment (ex. knee joint, rotator cuff, Achilles tendon, etc). Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) provide a promising future in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Due to their wide availability and ability to differentiate into other tissue types of the musculoskeletal system, including bone, cartilage, muscle, and tendon, ASCs may serve a wide variety of applications. In comparison to bone marrow-derived stem cells, the amount of ASCs is roughly 500-fold greater when isolated from an equivalent amount of adipose tissue. Why not use this unwanted tissue for something good?!

Contact Dr. Dold to see if you are a candidate for a lipoaspirate procedure which might help you avoid surgery.

Research Publications On Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ASCs):