Autologous Cell Therapy: Collagen, Isolagen, Wrinkles, Lines Treatment Costs Price Risks Recovery UK

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Procedures

Non-Surgical Procedures

Autologous Cell Therapy

Rejuvenate your skin with collagen-based cosmetic surgery

Procedure Summary

Surgery Type:	Non-Surgical	Procedure Duration:	2 - 4 months
Expected Results:	Reduces wrinkles on various parts of the face.	Recovery Duration:	N/A
First used:	1912 in Germany	Results Duration:	Several years
Anaesthetic:	None	Average UK Cost:	£3000 - £4000

As our faces begin to show the effects of exposure to the sun and years of facial movement, such as smiling, eating and squinting, many people turn to autologous cell therapy to regain a smoother, more youthful-looking skin.

The procedure involves removing a very small sample of your own skin cells to retrieve their collagen (the building blocks of the skin). This can then be used to repair any areas of damaged tissue. The procedure can be used to reduce wrinkles around the eyes, nose-to-mouth lines, marionette lines (corner of the mouth to chin) and to fill out acne and chicken pox scars. In addition, autologous cell therapy can be used to tackle larger problems such as scars, burns, scalds and pigmentation imperfections like vitiligo.

Autologous Cell Therapy With a history that can be traced back 500 years, it was Phillippus Aureolus Paracelsus, a German-Swiss physician and alchemist, who first suggested that living tissue was the best way to treat an illness. However, it wasn’t until 1912 that the first recorded cell therapy took place when German physicians attempted to treat children suffering from an underactive thyroid with thyroid cells.

Is autologous cell therapy right for you?

The possible applications of autologous cell therapy are numerous and, unless the area to be treated contains infected or necrotic (dead) tissue, it can be used to treat most parts of the body. Before undertaking any form of autologous cell therapy you should be certain that it will deliver the appearance you desire. Your cosmetic surgeon will be able to answer any questions you have regarding this. As with all surgical procedures, a medical history will be required to ensure there are no reasons why you shouldn’t commence treatment, and photographs may also be taken by the plastic surgeon for a ‘before and after’ comparison at a later date.

When the procedure is used to diminish lines, wrinkles, etc., clinical studies have shown that the cosmetic benefits can be seen in a couple of weeks, gradually improving over several months with many patients continuing to see improvement for up to 7 years following treatment. “Too much sun and smoke had caused my face to become wrinkled and saggy,” says one patient in her mid-forties, “After taking advice from a specialist, I undertook cell therapy which literally injected life back into my complexion”.

How your collagen can restore your skin

During the procedure, collagen-producing cells are extracted from your skin, cultivated in the laboratory and then replaced into the area to be treated by injection or direct placement. “I felt happy knowing that I was simply utilising my body’s natural ability to heal itself”, commented another autologous cell therapy patient.

If any discomfort is expected, antiseptic can be applied either by cream or injection. “I hardly felt anything,” said one patient after her ‘marionette lines’ procedure. “Thanks to a little anaesthetic cream, the treatment caused me no pain whatsoever”.

After the treatment, you will probably experience some redness and possible swelling, and you may require a dressing depending on the nature and extent of the treatment. If you have the treatment to reintroduce pigment, for Vitiligo, for instance, the effect will build gradually over several months as cells develop and start to produce melanin (pigment).

As with all cosmetic surgery, it is essential to follow the advice of your practitioner after the procedure. This will make the outcome as successful as possible and reduce the risk of complications. In particular, care should be taken initially when washing etc. to avoid scrubbing the treated area, and only use creams that have been approved by your plastic surgeon.

Embarking on autologous cell therapy

Apart from cases of burns or severe trauma, it is unlikely that anyone would be able to obtain autologous cell therapy free of charge on the National Health Service (NHS). If you think you may fall into one of these categories, first visit your General Practitioner for an assessment of your medical and cosmetic needs.

The cost of the private provision of autologous cell therapy depends on the particular method being used and the area of the body being treated. As an approximate guide, therapy to treat two areas of the face can cost between £3,000 to £4,000.

Autologous cell therapy is not something that your beautician would perform. It is a minor surgical procedure and, therefore, must only be performed by surgeons with formal qualifications in plastic surgery. The surgeon should possess the relevant expertise after experience operating in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission (in the UK).

If you think autologous cell therapy might be beneficial for you, you can discuss all of the issues mentioned here in greater depth during a consultation with your cosmetic surgeon.

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