What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field that focuses on harnessing the body’s ability to heal and regenerate damaged tissues and organs. Using the innovative approach of regenerative medicine, plastic surgeons can help patients recover better from injuries and illnesses, or slow or reverse the aging process. This area focuses not only on repairing damaged tissue, but also on forming new tissue to restore normal form and function. Regenerative medicine is a promising approach for various medical disciplines and offers hope for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries, degenerative diseases and skin aging.
Regenerative aesthetics
Regenerative aesthetics is a branch of regenerative medicine that aims to modulate and promote the body’s natural healing and repair mechanisms, particularly in the treatment of facial aging. As the body ages, cells gradually lose their ability to renew and repair damaged tissue. Regenerative therapies are often minimally invasive procedures that activate cellular communication and thus initiate natural rejuvenation and repair processes. For decades, plastic surgeons have been at the forefront of innovation in regenerative aesthetics, researching and developing a wide range of revolutionary products and technologies that improve their aesthetic treatment outcomes. The main goal is to rejuvenate facial shapes and contours and create more youthful skin by replenishing volume, softening facial lines and wrinkles, and improving skin hydration and pigmentation. Regenerative aesthetics addresses all components of facial aging and specifically explores and understands treatment methods and combinations that truly help restore “like with like” in the most natural way. This is the core value of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Treatments
Autologous fat transplantation and fat stem cells
A breakthrough in regenerative surgery was the further development and improvement of minimally invasive methods for removing and transferring fat (autologous fat transplantation or lipofilling). In addition to restoring volume or shaping different areas of the body, fat can be processed in different ways into microfat, nanofat, stem cells, secretomes, exosomes and SVF (stromal vascular fraction) for skin and hair regeneration. In addition, autologous fat graft take can be significantly improved through enrichment with nanofat, isolated stem cells, exosomes and SVF. Various adipose tissue products stimulate fibroblasts and support tissue regeneration and wound healing through the production of collagen and elastin, as well as other beneficial processes that ultimately rejuvenate the skin and subcutaneous tissues and promote a youthful appearance. Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles that have angiogenic (formation of blood vessels), anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. The secretome is defined by the set of proteins released into our extracellular matrix for communication between cells.
Biostimulators
Today, regenerative aesthetics with biostimulator injections is well established. These products, some of which were approved for aesthetic use 2-2.5 decades ago (Radiesse® and Sculptra®), have either found new uses for skin rejuvenation or have been developed specifically for this purpose more recently (PROFHILO® and HarmonyCa®). Injectable biostimulators stimulate the body’s production of essential proteins such as collagen and elastin, which naturally decline with age. These substances serve as a foundation for tissue regeneration, resulting in improved skin texture and plumpness, reduction of wrinkles and a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
After a blood sample is taken, the red blood cells and platelet-poor plasma are separated by centrifugation, leaving PRP, which is then injected into the skin. Platelets are a large reservoir of components that are important for cell and tissue regeneration and have additional healing properties. In particular, their high concentration of growth factors is beneficial for wound healing and skin regeneration. PRP also promotes hair growth. PRP injections can help prevent or reduce hair loss, revitalize and improve hair quality, and sometimes stimulate dormant hair follicles, resulting in new hair growth. The availability and minimally invasive nature of the treatment make PRP a very popular treatment option.
Microneedling
By combining it with regenerative substances such as isolated stem cells, PRP, SVF, nanofat and exosomes, microneedling becomes even more effective while reducing downtime. The natural regeneration process during the scarless healing of the tiny needle pricks in the skin leads to an improvement in skin texture, firmness and overall appearance. Complementing these effects with topical regenerative substances offers a comprehensive approach to skin revitalization and regeneration. The effectiveness of regenerative treatments depends on your specific cosmetic needs and the skills of the plastic surgeon. There are legal restrictions in Switzerland on the use of products made from human cells and autologous tissue transplants. I would be happy to explain this to you in a consultation. My approach is to create your treatment plan after an initial assessment and a detailed discussion about your aesthetic goals, taking into account factors such as age and medical background. I will accompany you on your journey through regenerative aesthetics and will be happy to answer your questions about the recommended treatments!