Liposuction Lets Adults Save Their Stem Cells

The use of stem cells to treat illness is new but exploding as scientists discover innovative treatments.

Some parents save their childrens cord blood because it contains embryonic stem cells, an opportunity older Americans did not have when they were born.

But now there may be a way for adults to bank their own stem cells through liposuction.

Kevin Joseph is undergoing liposuction not because he wants to lose inches, although that is a nice side benefit.

I exercise, I eat right. I never considered liposuction, he said.

The main reason hes doing this is because he thinks someday it may save his life. Scientists have discovered that human fat contains more stem cells than any other tissue in the body.

And not just any ordinary stem cells.

As UCLA researchers recently discovered, fat contains embryonic stem cells -- the most versatile stem cells of all.

You can, in the future, make that cell into any tissue in your body, at least thats the potential, said Dr. John Joseph, at the Clinical Testing Center of Beverly Hills. They literally should be able to grow kidney any part of your body because its embryonic.

Those stem cells in fat can now be stored for future use.

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Liposuction Lets Adults Save Their Stem Cells