FAQ

Somatic stem cells exist in various tissues in the body, but research has shown that they are particularly abundant in subcutaneous fat.
At our clinic, we use a method to extract stem cells from the subcutaneous fat behind the ear.

The homing effect refers to the physiological phenomenon in which, after stem cells are administered into the body, they spontaneously find damaged or inflamed tissues, accumulate there, and promote repair and regeneration.
Stem cells administered intravenously travel throughout the body via peripheral blood circulation and reach the damaged area via the lymphatic system and blood vessels. There, they adhere to the vascular endothelium, infiltrate the surrounding tissues, and then undergo proliferation and differentiation to transform into the target cells.

Subcutaneous fat in the back of the ear is rich in stem cells and characterized by high tissue uniformity. Compared to subcutaneous fat in the abdomen or thigh, the volume of fat droplets is smaller, maintaining an environment conducive to stem cell growth. Therefore, adipose tissue harvested from the back of the ear is considered superior in both the number and quality of stem cells obtained.
In addition, the back of the ear is a less noticeable area, and scarring is less likely to occur, reducing the psychological burden on patients.

There are no special restrictions. You can eat as you normally would.

You can go home immediately after the procedure. The incision is very small, so you can shower on the same day and there is no major disruption to your daily life.
In addition, our group provides careful follow-up by phone as needed to alleviate any concerns you may have about postoperative scars or pain.

Yes, when you receive treatment, the doctor will explain everything to you in detail. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. It is most important that you fully understand and agree with the contents before proceeding with treatment.

To undergo cultured stem cell therapy, blood and skin tissue are first taken, and the stem cells contained within are extracted and cultured.
Cultivation takes approximately one month, after which the stem cells can be administered via intravenous infusion. The infusion is administered slowly over approximately 40 to 60 minutes.
The skin is harvested under local anesthesia, and the sensation is similar to that of dental treatment. The harvested area is small, approximately 5mm, and the scars become almost invisible after about one month.

[Safe and pure stem cell culture technology and media]
https://stemcells.jp/technique/

You will feel the effects in around 3 to 6 months.

In Japan, there have been reported cases of death due to pulmonary embolism after stem cell administration (the causal relationship is unknown), and in the United States, cases of blindness due to intraorbital administration.
At our hospital, we have set strict standards for cell quality control and administration methods, and we prioritize safety when providing treatment.
To date, we have provided treatment to over 16,000 patients, with not a single reported case of serious complications.

Our clinic's regenerative medicine provision plan (approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) provides consultations and stem cell therapy for the following diseases:
age-related skin changes, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, scalp alopecia, immunosenescence, bone resorption dental disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), old cerebral infarction, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), female hormone imbalance, neurodegenerative diseases, male erectile dysfunction, etc.
Please feel free to contact our staff for more information.

[List of regenerative medicine provision plans (treatments)]
https://saiseiiryo.mhlw.go.jp/published_plan/index/2

As a general rule, stem cell therapy is not available to those with active malignant tumors. Decisions will be made individually based on the patient's treatment history and condition.

There is no scientific evidence that stem cells themselves become cancerous, and no such reports have been confirmed in domestic or international research.

At our hospital, we take appropriate steps to prevent cell clumping (cell clusters) at two important stages: after the stem cell culture is completed and before administration.
In addition, by using our proprietary culture medium, the size of the cultured stem cells is approximately 20% smaller than other commercially available culture media, which further reduces the risk of pulmonary embolism.

All of our patients' stem cells are cultured in our in-house stem cell culture room (CPC).
All of our cell culture equipment has been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as a "specific cell processing product manufacturing notification," and has also obtained ISO 9001 certification (the AO Building branch is currently applying for certification).

In 2018, we presented the results of our self-made animal serum-free medium (HELENE Medium) at the Cambridge International Stem Cell Symposium. The first point is that more cells can be cultured with HELENE Medium than with other commercially available media in the same period of time. The second point is that the size of the mesenchymal stem cells cultured with HELENE Medium is the smallest. The academic evidence suggests that the smaller the stem cells are, the more unlikely they are to differentiate into fibroblasts. The above two points together confirm that the fat tissue taken from behind the ear does contain MSCs. The amount of fat collected is relatively low compared to that of the thigh or stomach, but with our own laboratory technology and HELENE Medium, it is possible to culture up to 2.25 billion MSCs in one month.

[Safe and pure stem cell culture technology and media]
https://stemcells.jp/technique/

Our proprietary serum-free medium (HELENE Medium), vertical culture vessels, and experienced cell culture specialists - these three elements allow us to maintain stem cell quality while culturing and administering up to 2.25 billion stem cells. Without
any of these elements, we would not be able to achieve this level of quality and quantity.

After stem cell cultivation is complete, our hospital undergoes a three-step verification process.
First, we use an autoMACS magnetic bead separator to confirm that the target is a stem cell.
Next, we use a Countess FL III automated cell counter to accurately measure the actual number of stem cells.
Finally, we use our proprietary AI image recognition system to evaluate the viability of the stem cells.
Only cells that pass all three steps are handed over to the medical department for use in the infusion procedure.

[About our stem cell culture lab]
https://stemcells.jp/lab/

Our hospital's regenerative medicine provision plan (accepted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) stipulates that, in principle, patients must be 18 years of age or older. However, for patients with type 1 diabetes, treatment is available to those aged 6 years or older. Treatment is also possible for elderly patients as long as there are no problems with their overall condition. A doctor will thoroughly confirm suitability in advance.

Yes. Our hospital has submitted a "Regenerative Medicine Provision Plan" to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and provides treatment in an appropriate system based on laws and regulations.