07/22/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
Scientists believe that stem cells will be able to cure diseases like diabetes in the future, but have warned against using the cells for beauty therapies. Stem cells can be harmful when injected into the skin for mere cosmetic reasons because they can convert themselves into rogue or even cancerous cells.
Scientists who work in accredited U.K. medical research institutions follow guidelines implemented by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) to guarantee that their experiments are approved as safe and ethical, and that their progress and results are tracked. However, investigations have revealed that various private clinics in London inject human stem cells as beauty treatments that are scientifically unproven and could possibly cause severe side effects. (Related: Cosmetic stem-cell treatment causes woman to grow bone fragments in her eyes.)
For example, the London FAMI Clinic in Chelsea offers a “new two-hour wonder treatment” that uses stem cells. The procedure, described as a “nonsurgical eyelid lift,” harvests the patient’s stem cells from fat tissue in their thighs or abdomen, which are then injected into the muscle around their eyes.
One plastic surgeon uses stem cells for a “painless” facelift, while yet another facial cosmetic surgeon uses stem cells from fat around patients’ navels in order to attain “healthy revitalised and rejuvenated tissues.”
Stem cells were first discovered 30 years ago, and were believed to have huge potential in healthcare. However, the potential dangers these cells had came out quickly as well.
One research suggests that stem cells may cause more harm than good. Jonathan Leor, a professor at Tel Aviv University, warned in the journal Circulation that stem cells used to treat heart failure are ineffective, can inflame other cells, and worsen damage to the already diseased heart muscle.
Instead of risking your life by undergoing stem cell therapies, try these five natural anti-aging techniques from different parts of the world.
If you’d like to read more news stories and studies on cosmetics, go to Cosmetics.news.
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Tagged Under: aging, anti-aging, beauty, cosmetic procedures, Cosmetics, stem cell treatments, Stem cells