Stem cell science has the potential to open new approaches to medical problems. As with most groundbreaking discoveries, public interest grew into public enthusiasm which morphed into public obsession. This sets the stage for the entrance of the snake oil salesmen.
Plastic surgeons have been injecting fat for decades. Fat transfer and grafting definitely works in certain clinical situations. It is embarrassing, though, that the science of what goes on at a cellular and molecular level is really thin. Injected fat has a fat cell component and a stem cell component. We really don’t know which cells do what.
A stem cell is basically a blank chalkboard waiting to be defined by environmental factors. Theoretically, a stem cell can be coaxed into any type of cell with proper manipulation. This is pretty powerful stuff. However, practical applications are a ways off and probably will have many practical limits.
This does not keep the charlatans from hijacking phraseology for monetary gain. Got a problem? Put some stem cells on it! Stem cell cream for aging skin? Absolutely ridiculous and really should be an embarrassment for anyone making such a claim.
