At a Glance
- Surgery duration: 1 to 3 hours (outpatient)
- Anesthesia: Exclusively local anesthesia (tumescent anesthesia)
- Preliminary examinations: Blood test, further examinations depending on the patient’s state of health
- Check-ups: To be arranged on an individual basis
Cardio-vascular diseases are on the rise in the Western world. Almost everyone is at risk from one factor, whether it be nicotine consumption, overweight, diabetes, insufficient physical activity and family history. Diseases of the vessels and lymphatic system (including aneurysms, sclerosis and lymphedema) often have serious effects on the patient’s quality of life.
Even if the risk of these diseases occurring can be assessed, conventional medical assistance usually involves lengthy surgeries, numerous side effects and post-operative impairment. Medicinal therapies and surgery frequently effect merely an alleviation of the symptoms of the disease.
Stem cell therapy using stem cells from the patient’s autologous fat, so-called mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), offers a highly promising approach to the treatment of heart and vessel diseases. This could spare the patient from having to go through the strains and dangers of disease and conventional therapy, for both post-operative care and as a preventive measure.
Protection and Regeneration
Stem cells from body fat have the potential to contribute to the regeneration and growth of blood vessels. In doing so, they can replace old, damaged cells or cells that have already been lost to cell death.
Although sufficient data are not available at present that make treatment with autologous stem cells from fat generally recommendable in cases of cardio-vascular diseases, the amount of encouraging signs gained in many studies is increasing. Stem cells are, however, not a universal remedy.
I play basketball since I was young. Unfortunately, I had to quit the National League season prematurely because of knee pain. Conventional treatments did not lead to improvement. Then I saw my chance with fat stem cells. Today I am working on my comeback. I am very happy about the result and the way I was treated by DDr. Heinrich and his team.
Due to discomfort in the shoulders, knees, and feet, it became increasingly difficult for me to walk longer distances. Even standing in front of school classes and in lecture halls was stressful. When I fell sporadically I decided to undergo treatment with my own stem cells by DDr. Heinrich. After the procedure, the pain subsided in all joints; mobility and safety when walking have increased.
My joint problems started with two surgeries, after which I could hardly bend my knee. This limited me in playing football. I decided to get a stem cell treatment at the Viennese doctor DDr. Heinrich. After a while, I was free of pain and could bend my foot again. Now I have no more pain at all. I am very thankful for this second chance.
My knee problems started in 2012. I had pain when walking and sleeping. Some months ago I had my knee treatment with fat stem cells by DDr. Heinrich. 8 days later I noticed an improvement. Today I am free of pain and can finally sleep again peacefully. In addition, I regained power and passion to run my own flea market booth again.
For over 20 years, I suffered from pain when walking. Thanks to my stem cells, today I can climb stairs without pain and go hiking again! Just two, three weeks after the treatment performed by DDr. Heinrich I felt that my pain subsided and now it’s even better! I am excited and can recommend this treatment!
Previously, it was necessary to obtain autologous stem cells from bone marrow and muscle tissue in complex procedures, and to artificially reproduce them in a laboratory. In the meantime it is known that every person has rich reserves of mesenchymal stem cells in his/her fat tissue, and that reproduction of the stem cells is not required before the application.
The stem cells are gained from a small quantity of autologous fat, extracted with fine microcannulas in a minimally invasive procedure using local anesthesia. Immediately afterwards, the stem cells are introduced into the body where their regenerative effect begins to work. The patient is fully mobile after treatment and can resume normal everyday activities.
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Scientific Information
- Conrad, C., Niess, H., Huss, R., et al.: Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells acquire a lymphendothelial phenotype and enhance lymphatic regeneration in vivo. Circulation January 20, 2009; 119: 281–9. Epub December 31, 2008.
- Gao, L., Bledsoe, G., Yin, H., et al.: Tissue kallikrein-modified mesenchymal stem cells provide enhanced protection against ischemic cardiac injury after myocardial infarction. Circ J 2013; 77 (8): 2134–44. Epub May 21, 2013.
- Granel, B., Daumas, A., Jouve, E., et al.: Safety, tolerability and potential efficacy of injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in the fingers of patients with systemic sclerosis: an open-label phase I trial. Ann Rheum Dis August 11, 2014. Epub ahead of print.
- Jui, H.-Y., Lin, C.-H., Hsu, W.-T., et al.: Autologous mesenchymal stem cells prevent transplant arteriosclerosis by enhancing local expression of interleukin-10, interferon-γ, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Cell Transplant 2012; 21 (5): 971–84. Epub March 22, 2012.
- Lee, J.S., Hong, J.M., Moon, G.J., et al.: A long-term follow-up study of intravenous autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with ischemic stroke. Stem Cells June 2010; 28 (6): 1099–106.
- Perin, E.C., Sanz-Ruiz, R., Sánchez, P.L., et al.: Adipose-derived regenerative cells in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy: The PRECISE Trial. Am Heart J July 2014; 168 (1): 88–95.e2. Epub April 5, 2014.
- Rehman, J., Traktuev, D., Li, J., et al.: Secretion of angiogenic and antiapoptotic factors by human adipose stromal cells. Circulation March 16, 2004; 109 (10): 1292–8. Epub March 1, 2004.
- Riera Del Moral, L., Aramburu, C.L., García, J.R., et al.: Experimental model for coadjuvant treatment with mesenchymal stem cells for aortic aneurysm. Am J Stem Cells 2012; 1 (3): 174–81. Epub November 30, 2012.
- Vono, R., Spinetti, G., Gubernator, M., Madeddu, P.: What’s new in regenerative medicine: split up of the mesenchymal stem cell family promises new hope for cardiovascular repair. J Cardiovasc Transl Res October 2012; 5 (5): 689–99. Epub August 11, 2012.
This page serves the purpose of information only and is not to be understood as medical advice. We would like to expressly point out that a cure cannot be guaranteed. Stem cell therapy is an advanced procedure, which has only recently been applied worldwide and for which the long-term studies and reliable documentation on successes, risks and side effects required for a recognized procedure are not yet available.
The legislation on stem cell therapies and conducting of new therapies varies from country to country worldwide. In our clinic in Austria we only carry out the treatments permitted under the applicable legal situation. For other treatments we have worldwide contacts in our cooperation network and can support the selection of specialized medical facilities abroad.