If you’ve visited a high-end skincare counter lately, you’ve heard of “stem cell care”. Dior, Lancôme, Guerlain and even the organic brand Aveda have launched a series of expensive “stem cell” products. Chanel is the company will be 40,000 euros bonus award research stem cells skin rejuvenation scientists. Cosmetic giants in Europe and the United States are scrambling to release the so-called “stem cell cream”, whose main ingredient is basically from the stem cells of plants extracted from the color of the ingredients, these extracts from the theoretical existence of bio-activity, and was advertised that can be achieved by reversing the effect of ageing of the skin. Not only does the cosmetics industry understand the needs of the wives of Beverly Hills, but it is also keenly aware of the future trends in medical aesthetics. Stem cell products are far from true “stem cell therapy,” but the concept is derived from cosmetic medicine, and even more so from the most important tool in the field of restorative and reconstructive medicine: stem cells. Aesthetic medicine scientists have always been inspired by serious biomedical fields, such as Botox, once a biochemical weapon, now used to improve wrinkles. Stem cells are the source of all cells: after the union of sperm and egg, a tiny stem cell is created, which turns into an embryo, which then develops into a human being, the outgrowth of an adult’s cells, the repair of damage, stem cells are present throughout human life. Stem cells can replicate themselves, and the replicated cells can be differentiated into organs, nerves, blood…so the importance of stem cells for the skin is self-evident. If you are familiar with skin care, you will know that the skin’s renewal cycle is about 28 days. In fact, this 28-day cycle is actually the cycle of stem cell replication and differentiation of the epidermal basement membrane of the skin, until they become keratinocytes and are finally shed. The various stem cells in the skin and subcutaneous tissues, like a seed that is either sleeping or awakening, are manipulated by the sophisticated and complex machine of the human body to complete the skin’s transition from old to new. Stem cells from the bottom layer of the skin continue to replicate and differentiate, and gradually move upward until they become keratinized cells (keratin) on the surface and fall off, completing the skin renewal cycle. As we age, the quantity and quality of stem cells decline, resulting in slow skin renewal, fewer progeny cells, followed by a decrease in collagen elastic fiber secretion, thin and loose skin, which is the root cause of aging. Consumption of collagen supplements will only be absorbed into the bloodstream as amino acids, similar to protein powder. The collagen in the skin is secreted by fibroblasts and other cells, and the concept of “eat what you want to supplement what you want” does not work for the improvement of the skin. Aging skin can be seen in the epidermis dermis are thin (thin cell layer), secretion of collagen and vascular components to reduce. Then imagine, if the living human stem cells, transplanted to the aging skin, for the skin to replenish the stem cells: these stem cells can not only continue to secrete a variety of growth factors, to promote the fibroblasts to divide / secretion of collagen, like a “living drug”; there are also part of the direct proliferation and differentiation of the new skin, like a “seeds”. This kind of stem cell-rich skin can truly “reverse skin age” from the root. Where do stem cells come from? It may come as a surprise to learn that the tissue that contains the most stem cells in the human body is not bone marrow, not the liver or spleen, but the much reviled fat. Since the discovery of adipose stem cells in 2001, as of November 2015, there have been 152 clinical trials using adipose stem cell therapy across the United States. Of the completed clinical trials, there have been no serious adverse events clearly associated with the stem cells, and they are safer than other stem cells such as embryonic stem cells, iPS cells, and umbilical cord blood stem cells. The fat aspirate obtained during liposuction can only be processed by specialized laboratories to obtain fat stem cells, and the method of stem cell therapy, stem cell processing, culture and transplantation are all closely related to safety and efficacy. The more powerful the weapon, the more dangerous it is for those who cannot fully control it. Any beauty salon/hospital without rich research experience, theoretical reserve and strong laboratory is not qualified to carry out stem cell therapy, which not only can’t guarantee the therapeutic effect, but also poses a very high risk to the patients. Since 2010, there has been a lack of supervision in the field of stem cell therapy, and organizations that do not have the conditions for stem cell therapy have created a chaotic situation in the market, which led to an emergency halt to stem cell therapy by the Health and Family Planning Commission (HFPC) in 2012. At the beginning of 2015, the National Health Planning Commission and the State Food and Drug Administration held an expert committee meeting on stem cell clinical research, which formed China’s first standardized document on stem cell clinical research, “Measures for the Administration of Stem Cell Clinical Research (for Trial Implementation)”, and introduced a series of specific standards, ethical requirements and regulatory measures. The “Measures” have enabled the orderly development of stem cell therapy in China. In the future, stem cells will become the most powerful regenerative force to help patients and aestheticians, pointing out the direction for skin rejuvenation, scarring, fat transplantation, facial contouring and so on.