"The goal in Regenerative Medicine is to 'regenerate not operate', 'repair not replace' and 'modify or slow down' the progression of chronic disease by harnessing your body's ability to heal itself."
Regenerative medicine….sounds impressive but confusing, right? In layman terms, it means…our bodies were designed to heal themselves! Makes sense…you cut yourself, it heals. Unfortunately, as we grow older, the healing process becomes longer and longer as our cell viability diminishes with age. With the advancement of medical technology in the field of regenerative medicine, there are now therapies available that may harness the power and versatility of the human body to regenerate and heal allowing for much more positive patient outcomes.
Regenerative medicine is a form of tissue engineering and molecular biology which deals with the "process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function". When injured or invaded by disease, our bodies have the innate response to heal and defend. Harnessing and enhancing the body’s own regenerative powers is a medical practice at the frontier of present-day advancements whose properties may seem miraculous to those who benefit from them. The miracle, however, is the result of scientific exploration that has begun to unlock and utilize the body’s extraordinary ability to heal and restore itself.
Everyone has heard of the advancement of stem cell therapy and its miraculous benefits. Stem cells help to regulate inflammation, which cause various autoimmune diseases and reduce pain in arthritic conditions, they promote the formation of new blood vessels necessary to bring nutrients to damaged areas to repair and regenerate new circulation in peripheral artery disease. Stem cell therapy outcome is very dependent on the age of the patient they are being harvested from, i.e. our stem cells are as old as we are and diminish with age…hence the aging process. Equally important in regenerative medicine, especially for patients over the age of fifty, are components such as collagens, cytokines, proteins, growth factors, the list goes on.
Cells are the building blocks of tissue, and tissues are the basic unit of function in the body. Generally, groups of cells make and secrete their own support structures, called the extracellular matrix. This matrix, or scaffold, does more than just support the cells; it also acts as a relay station for various signaling molecules. Thus, cells receive messages from many sources that become available from the local environment.
Each signal can start a chain of responses that determine what happens to the cell. Through medical technology we can now understand how individual cells respond to signals, interact with their environment, and organize themselves into a healing process. Scaffolds are created utilizing various Regenerative Medicine therapies allowing the tissue to “self- assemble.”
The “main function” of stem cells in adult tissue is to repair and regenerate the tissue in which they reside. Stem cell “plasticity” refers to the ability of adult stem cells to acquire mature phenotypes that are different from their tissue of origin.
Our bodies are comprised of cells allowing regenerative medicine therapies to work for us in a broad range of conditions including, but not limited to:
The list goes on and on.
If you’ve been considering Regenerative Medicine therapies contact us at Bailey Family Care to learn more and schedule a consultation appointment.
Q: What is regenerative medicine?
A: Regenerative Medicine is a form of tissue engineering and molecular biology which deals with the "process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function". When injured or invaded by disease, our bodies have the innate response to heal and defend. Harnessing and enhancing the body's own regenerative powers is a medical practice at the frontier of present-day advancements whose properties may seem miraculous to those who benefit from them. The miracle, however, is the result of scientific exploration that has begun to unlock and utilize the body’s extraordinary ability to heal and restore itself.
Q: How does regenerative medicine work?
A: Cells are the building blocks of tissue, and tissues are the basic unit of function in the body. Generally, groups of cells make and secrete their own support structures, called extracellular matrix. This matrix, or scaffold, does more than just support the cells; it also acts as a relay station for various signaling molecules. Thus, cells receive messages from many sources that become available from the local environment. Each signal can start a chain of responses that determine what happens to the cell. Through medical technology we can now understand how individual cells respond to signals, interact with their environment and organize themselves into a healing process. Scaffolds are created utilizing various Regenerative Medicine therapies allowing for the tissue "self assemble".
Q: What can regenerative medicine be used for?
A: Regenerative medicine can be used for a multitude of conditions including, but not limited to pain management, sports injuries, spinal condition, podiatry, wound care, aesthetics, anti-aging, male enhancement, vaginal rejuvenation, hair restoration, the list goes on and on.
Q: How will I know what therapy works best for me?
A: Based on your condition or injury your physician will customize a treatment plan for you and determine what therapy, or combination thereof, will work best for you.
Q: Will the procedure be painful?
A: In most cases the procedure involves a simple procedure and takes very little time. Guided imaging may be used depending on the area of the body being treated.
Q: What is my recovery time?
A: Most patients experience little, if any, recovery time from the procedures? Your physician will provide you with the aftercare instructions prior to your returning home.
Q: Will my insurance company pay for my regenerative medicine treatments?
A: Insurance coverages varies by state but in most cases no, your regenerative medicine treatment is not covered. We will provide you with an itemized statement so you may personally file a claim to your insurance provider.
Q: What is the cost of the regenerative medicine treatment?
A: The cost for regenerative medicine therapy is based on the procedure and type pf product needed. Our staff will sit down with you prior to your procedure and explain the cost as well as finance options if required.
"Enhancing the Body's Natural Ability to Heal"
Bailey Family Care works closely with New Life Regenerative Medicine, a FDA registered and multi-state licensed tissue bank. New Life specializes in regenerative medicine products obtained from birth tissues.
Birth tissue is donated by healthy mothers at the time of scheduled cesarean section. Through an informed consent process, expectant mothers submit their past medical and social history which is prescreened through an extensive and complete medical review and pre-natal evaluation This process is performed prior to delivery utilizing the protocols established by various regulatory agencies. Additionally, prior to delivery, the mother is tested for communicable diseases following the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). The recovery is performed by specifically trained technicians at the time of the delivery.
Birth tissue has been used for over 100 years for a broad range of therapeutic applications. However, it is only recently that birth tissue was discovered to have great clinical benefit when cryopreserved to protect its residual cells. Since the discovery of birth tissue as a viable cellular matrix, there have been no reports of adverse events or disease transmission.
Additionally, birth tissue is considered immune privileged and as such does not express Class II antigens. Finally, birth tissue products are easy to use as it can be applied directly into the injured site. To date, tens of thousands of patients have been treated with these types of products.
Some people may hesitate at the idea of birth tissue. Be assured that the tissue is obtained from healthy, carefully screened mothers at the time of a scheduled cesarean section and causes no harm to her or her newborn.
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