FAQ

• Q. What is a cell?
  A. The cell is the basic unit of life. (1)
  It is composed of an aqueous solution containing various compounds and a membrane that encloses the solution and has the ability to reproduce itself.
  
  All life is an aggregate of cells, formed by the repeated growth and division of a single cell.
  Humans are composed of approximately 37 trillion cells (2) and there are more than 200 cell types (3).
  
  1. Nakamura, Keiko, Matsubara, Ken-ichi, Sakaki, Yoshiyuki, Mizushima Noboru, et al. Essentil Cell Biology, 5th ed. Nankendo, 2021, p.1.
  2. E. Bianconi et al., "An estimation of the number of cells in the human body," Annals of Human Biology, 2013.
  3. Alberts et al, "Molecular Biology of the Cell," 6th Edition, Garland Science, 2014.
• Q. What is regenerative medicine?
  A. Regenerative medicine is medical treatment that aims to regenerate body cells, tissues, and organs that have been lost due to disease or accident, and to restore their functions. (1)
  Unlike conventional treatments (e.g., administration of drugs or surgical procedures), it aims to achieve radical healing by utilizing the regenerative capabilities of the living body and advanced technologies.
  
  1. news. "Regenerative Medicine with Patients and Society" - 'Information on Regenerative Medicine Research' - "Why don't we all think about it? ~". Society for Regenerative Medicine. 2017-12-1. https://www.jsrm.jp/news/news-1838/
• Q. What is cell therapy?
  A. Cell therapy (cell therapy) is a branch of regenerative medicine.
  Cells are administered to repair or improve the function of tissues and organs in the human body.
  
  Blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants are considered prototypes of cell therapy."
• Q. What are stem cells?
  A. Stem cells are cells with the following two characteristics (1)
  
  (1) Self-renewal capacity: the ability to divide and produce an infinite number of cells identical to itself
  (2) Multipotent: Ability to differentiate into other types of cells.
  
  Stem cells are classified into two categories according to their characteristics.
  
  ・Pluripotent stem cells: Able to differentiate into endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm (ES cells, iPS cells, etc.) Tissue stem cells: Can differentiate into only a limited number of cell types (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells).
  ・cells: Can differentiate into only limited types of cells (e.g. mesenchymal stem cells)
  
  Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into different types of cells and secrete active components (2) They play an important role in regenerative medicine.
  
  1. Alberts et al．Molecular Biology of the Cell 6th．Garland Science，2014．
  2. Caplan, A. I., & Correa, D. (2011). The MSC: An injury drugstore. Cell Stem Cell, 9(1), 11-15.
• Q. What are mesenchymal stem cells?
  A. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of tissue stem cell.
  They are found in bone marrow, adipose tissue, cord blood, and dental pulp.
  
  MSCs were thought to differentiate into mesoderm-derived tissues (bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, etc.) (1),but recent studies have reported that they can also differentiate into cells of ectoderm- and endoderm-derived tissues (nerve cells, liver cells, kidney cells, pancreatic cells, skin cells, etc.) (2)(3)(4)(5)(6) and have attracted attention in the field of regenerative medicine (2)(3)(4)(5)(6), and is attracting attention in the field of regenerative medicine.
  
  1. Pittenger, M. F., Mackay, A. M., Beck, S. C., et al. (1999). Multilineage potential of adult human mesenchymal stem cells. Science, 284(5411), 143-147.
  2. Yoon, S. W., et al. (2004). Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neurons in vitro. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 319(4), 1304-1311.
  3. Wang, J., et al. (2006). Mesenchymal stem cells: Potential for liver regeneration. Journal of Hepatology, 45(4), 713-720.
  4. Chong, H. K., et al. (2006). Mesenchymal stem cells as a novel therapeutic tool for acute renal injury. Kidney International, 69(2), 257-265.
  5. Lee, J. Y., et al. (2004). Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into insulin-producing cells. Diabetes, 53(9), 2348-2356.
  6. Jiang, Y., et al. (2002). Mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into skin cells in vitro. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 118(6), 1172-1179.
• Q. What symptoms does it help?
  A. Adipose-derived stem cell therapy is mainly effective for chronic fatigue, chronic pain, anti-aging, and immune enhancement. Fibroblast therapy is mainly for skin regeneration and wrinkle improvement, and NK cell therapy is mainly for activation of immune function. For other treatments, please consult with us individually.
• Q. How long can I expect the effect to last?
  A. Effectiveness varies from person to person, but most patients experience improvement within a few weeks to a few months after treatment. However, continuous treatment is recommended. Details will be explained at the initial consultation.
• Q. How long does it take for cell therapy to show results after treatment?
  A. Realization often begins about 1 to 3 months after treatment.
• Q. How long do the effects last in cell therapy?
  A. The duration of effectiveness depends on the treatment and the patient's constitution, but in general, stem cell therapy is said to last from several months to a year. Therefore, continuous treatment is necessary.
• Q. Are there any side effects associated with stem cell therapy?
  A. Stem cell therapy is a highly safe treatment because it uses the patient's own cells, but swelling and redness at the injection site may occur in rare cases. Particular attention should be paid to pulmonary embolisms, but we take every precaution to prevent this. Detailed risks will be explained at the time of consultation.
• Q. Is there an initial consultation fee?
  A. An initial consultation fee is required. Please inquire about fees.
• Q. Can a person with an illness receive the service?
  A. In most cases, treatment is possible even for those with pre-existing medical conditions, but in some cases it may not be possible. A medical interview and examination by our physician is required beforehand.
• Q. Is there any pain during the procedure or injection?
  A. Stem cell therapy requires a small surgical procedure to extract fat, but local anesthesia is sufficient and rarely causes pain. Injections and blood sampling are also painless, just as in a normal procedure. Anesthesia cream is used if necessary.
• Q. Can I use a credit card or medical loan?
  A. We accept all major credit cards. (VISA, MASTER, JCB, AMEX, DINERS, DISCOVER, UnionPay)
• Q. How can I make a medical appointment?
  A. Medical appointments can only be made by phone.
• Q. Can you accept insurance?
  A. This is an unrestricted treatment. Please note that insurance does not apply.
• Q. What is the frequency and cost of treatment?
  A. The frequency of treatment depends on the patient's condition and treatment objectives. The cost will be detailed at the time of the initial consultation.
• Q. Is there a postoperative checkup regarding cell therapy?
  A. There will be a post-treatment checkup to confirm the progress of the treatment. The detailed schedule will vary depending on the treatment.
• Q. I live far away from Tokyo.
  A. For those who come from far away, we will propose a schedule that reduces the number of visits to the clinic as much as possible.
• Q. Can I receive cell therapy regardless of age?
  A. Yes, cell therapy is available to anyone over the age of 18.
• Q. Where are stem cells cultured?
  A. We culture in our laboratory, which is attached to our clinic. The culture is performed safely in a thoroughly quality-controlled environment.
• Q. How long does it take from initial entry to exit?
  A. It depends on the treatment. For an initial consultation, please allow approximately 3 hours for aqueous light injections and 2 to 3 hours for intravenous treatments. For cell therapy, specific time required will be given at the time of prior consultation, as it varies greatly depending on each individual case.