Overview
Adipose-derived therapy extracts stem cells from the patient's fat tissue through a mini-liposuction procedure. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) contains mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, and other regenerative cells.
In-Depth: SVF
Adipose-derived stem cell therapy, also known as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) therapy, uses stem cells harvested from the patient's own fat tissue. Fat tissue is one of the richest sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the body — containing up to 500 times more stem cells per gram than bone marrow. The procedure begins with a mini-liposuction, typically performed on the abdomen or flanks under local anesthesia, to extract a small amount of fat tissue. This fat is then processed using enzymatic digestion or mechanical methods to isolate the stromal vascular fraction, which contains MSCs, endothelial progenitor cells, pericytes, growth factors, and other regenerative components. The resulting SVF is then injected into the target area.
Adipase-derived stem cell therapy is versatile and has been used for a range of conditions including osteoarthritis, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and cosmetic applications. Because fat tissue yields such a high concentration of stem cells, a single harvesting procedure can provide enough cells to treat multiple areas or conditions. Like BMAC, SVF therapy is an autologous treatment that uses the patient's own tissue, which eliminates the risk of immune rejection or disease transmission from donor materials.
However, adipose-derived stem cell therapy has a more complex regulatory status than BMAC. The FDA has taken the position that the enzymatic processing required to isolate SVF from fat tissue constitutes "more than minimal manipulation," which means the resulting product may be classified as a drug requiring FDA approval. This has led to legal disputes between the FDA and some clinics offering SVF therapy. In 2021, a federal court upheld the FDA's authority to regulate SVF as a biological product. Patients considering SVF therapy should be aware of this regulatory landscape and understand that clinics offering this treatment are operating in a legally contested area. Some clinics have modified their protocols to use mechanical processing methods that may fall under different regulatory guidelines.
How It Works
- 1 A small amount of fat tissue is harvested via mini-liposuction
- 2 The fat is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction
- 3 SVF containing stem cells and growth factors is prepared
- 4 The concentrate is injected into the treatment area
- 5 Cells work to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair
Best For
Risks & Side Effects
- Pain, bruising, and swelling at the liposuction harvest site
- Temporary increase in pain at the treated area
- Risk of infection at the harvest or injection site
- Regulatory concerns — the FDA considers enzymatically processed SVF to require approval
- Variable stem cell yield depending on processing method and patient factors
- Treatment may not produce desired results
Who Is a Good Candidate?
- Good candidates: Patients with adequate body fat for harvesting who want an autologous stem cell treatment
- Good candidates: Patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, chronic pain, or cosmetic concerns
- Good candidates: Patients who have not responded to other conservative treatments
- May not be ideal: Very lean patients who do not have sufficient fat tissue for harvesting
- May not be ideal: Patients who are uncomfortable with the regulatory uncertainty surrounding SVF therapy