When an aging Hollywood action star or sex symbol reemerges after a long hiatus looking younger, with a great body and smoother, firmer facial skin, people now assume they have undergone stem cell therapy.
In my interview with doctors Eric and Anna Yalung of Regenestem Manila, they set me straight. While the actor/actress may have had stem cell therapy, the outward appearance is most likely a combination of Botox, plastic surgery, a strict diet and a personal trainer. So no doctor who only offers you stem cell can promise you outwardly beautifying results.
This is not to say though that there are no beauty benefits from it. For the beauty aspect, they do this for facial skin rejuvenation and hair growth. According to head dermatologist Anna Yalung, they inject the target area and, if necessary, combine it with services available at the clinic for best results and to speed up the process.
Shots are spaced a week to a month apart depending on treatment requirement for three sessions. The follow-up is scheduled the following year.
How is it done? Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a convenient and cell-based treatment. It is a simple procedure involving the extraction of blood, separation of platelets and administering the PRP to the desired area.
This is done in order to stimulate or promote healing, collagen synthesis for anti-aging, or to deliver proper oxygenation to muscles or tissues. A crucially important function of platelets is the release of various growth factors responsible for almost all repair processes that occur in the body.
Dr. Eric Yalung, who has conducted PRP treatments with Dr. Joseph Purita, world-renowned pioneer in stem cell orthopedic surgery, will spearhead PRP therapy for arthritis, sports injuries, anti-aging, hair growth, facial rejuvenation and pain management. Yalung clears that it is not a cure-all. It won’t make you thinner or outwardly younger by itself. Its main purpose is improving the quality of one’s life and the highest success rates are for those who are suffering from osteoarthritis; degenerative diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s; sports injuries and pain management.
Regenestem’s team of four physicians do not work with embryonic stem cells, only with adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are found in all tissues of the growing human being and, according to latest reports, also have the potential to transform themselves into practically all other cell types, or revert to being stem cells with greater reproductive capacity.
The clinic also provides the option for patient treatments in Regenestem clinics worldwide (US, Mexico, Argentina, and Dubai), and includes assistance in hotel and travel plans.
Regenestem Manila is at 2/F, Belson House, 271 Edsa, Mandaluyong City; tel. 2452200. Visit www.regenestemasia.com
