What is the secret of young skin?

What do you think when you hear the word "stem cells"? 

You may think that these are experiments, or you may be concerned about what you have read or heard in the media about embryonic stem cells. But perhaps this method should be seen in a different light. Stem cells are a part of your body and a completely natural healing mechanism. If not the best of all.

There is a special stem cell treatment method that we call "fat transfer", which is already extremely popular with male and female patients. More on this later. 

How does our skin age?

As you age, you automatically lose facial volume, especially around your temples, under your eyes and around your cheeks. Your face loses its round shape - like a balloon running out of air - your skin begins to sag, your chin droops and you develop wrinkles. These are all unmistakable signs of skin ageing. 

These effects are caused by the loss of bone density, collagen and - above all - fat. For many years, the standard method of reversing this process was either cosmetic surgery or a so-called "liquid" facelift - a procedure that fills the haggard areas with hyaluronic acid, the synthetic version of a natural component found in healthy, young skin.

The stem cell method against skin ageing

Those affected by ageing skin often want to regain their youthful appearance through a surgical facelift. However, with the latest advances in stem cell technology "fat transfer", there is now a gentle method of facial rejuvenation. Also known as an 'organic facelift', the technology was originally developed to restore breast tissue after cancer surgery. And since then, it has evolved into a simple, non-invasive procedure.

The fat is extracted from the abdominal area, thighs or buttocks by suction and then returned to the face by injection - the entire process only takes three to four hours. 

In the past, up to 70% of the injected fat was lost during fat transfer facelifts, so doctors used more fat to compensate for this effect and achieve long-lasting results - as a result, patients often appeared bloated. Now, however, almost all of the fat remains intact because autologous fat transfers harness the healing power of the body's own stem cells.

You may know that stem cells are the mother cells in your body, so to speak: All other cells have developed from them. Fat contains a rich supply of stem cells, in an even more concentrated form than bone marrow, for example. Moreover, using stem cell-rich fat raises none of the ethical questions that arise when using embryonic stem cells. 

In addition, you are the donor yourself - so the risk of rejection is zero. 

The stem cells contained in the fat rejuvenate the skin, making it thicker, smoother and more radiant - just like young skin. In the past, when surgeons injected comparably large amounts of fat into the face, only the uppermost layers were supplied with blood. This is countered by the careful administration of fat droplets directly into the facial muscles, which have many blood vessels. This allows the stem cells to provide the blood supply for the transplanted fat, which can thus survive and at the same time form a scaffold that supports the collagen contained in the skin.

The results are visible for up to ten years - compared to the usual six to twelve months with the "normal" hyaluronic filling method. 

The right diet to combat skin ageing

Of course, you can also do something at home to maintain your skin's lipid content.

Every skin cell is surrounded by two layers of fat - the so-called phospholipid bilayer. As long as this wall of fat is stable, it gives the cell a solid structure and keeps it intact. It also helps to ensure that the skin has sufficient moisture. The fluid inside the skin cells prevents the skin from drying out. This is the key to plump, youthful skin. But to keep the fluid inside the cell, it needs a strong, lipid-rich membrane to hold everything together. This is what makes the consumption of healthy fat so important in reducing wrinkles. 

Linoleic acid, an essential component of omega-6 fatty acids, is recommended. Linoleic acid is good for the skin because your body converts it into omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to protect the skin from damage caused by sunlight, which in turn leads to premature skin ageing. 

Omega-3 fatty acids as an anti-ageing miracle 

High quality linoleic acid is found in sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pecans and Brazil nuts. Another good source is cheese - especially blue cheese, Brie or Emmental. 

You should also consume plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, as these build healthy cell membranes that keep the skin moist, plump and youthful looking. 

For more omega-3 in your diet, eat three to four portions of oily cold-water fish a week - e.g. wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna and anchovies. Other food sources of healthy fat include pastured beef, free-range eggs, olive oil, walnuts, avocados and coconut oil.