What are autologous bone-marrow stem cells, and how does Cheongdam Cell Clinic use them?

A stem cell is an undifferentiated cell capable of transforming into other cell types and plays a role in repairing and regenerating body tissue. Bone marrow is one of the richest sources of stem cells found in adults, which is why Cheongdam Cell Clinic uses each patient's own bone marrow as its primary cell source.

Using the patient's own bone-marrow cells (autologous) differs from using donor cells (allogeneic) in that there is no risk of immune rejection, since the cells originate from the patient's own body. The clinic uses this autologous approach as the basis for all of its programmes.

The process begins with harvesting bone marrow from the patient, typically from the pelvic bone. The sample is then processed and concentrated in the clinic's laboratory before the resulting cells are reinjected into the patient according to each programme's target — for example, intravenously or into a specific site.

A point the clinic emphasises is the absence of a cell-culture step, which in typical lab protocols can take several weeks to expand cell numbers before use. Cheongdam Cell Clinic instead states it uses highly concentrated cells isolated immediately from the bone-marrow sample, removing the multi-week laboratory wait.

The clinic explains that stem cells play a role in immune-system regeneration and blood-vessel renewal, mechanisms it applies in the 淸(Rejuvenation)CELL whole-body programme and the 性(Sex)CELL programme, which targets blood vessels in genital tissue.

For the skin and hair programme, the clinic states stem cells help regenerate the dermal layer and strengthen hair follicle cells. For the pain-treatment programme, it views stem cells as promoting regeneration of musculoskeletal tissue in areas that are injured or degenerated.

The strength of scientific evidence for bone-marrow stem cell use varies by indication. Some, such as musculoskeletal pain treatment, have more supporting research than others, such as sexual-function restoration or holistic anti-ageing, where clinical evidence remains more limited. Patients should factor this into their decision.

The clinic also states its standard caution that side effects such as swelling, bleeding or infection at the procedure site may occur after bone-marrow harvest and reinjection. Patients should discuss their individual risk with the physician before deciding to proceed.

In summary, the principle behind the autologous bone-marrow stem cells used at Cheongdam Cell Clinic is harnessing the patient's own natural stem cells to support the body's regenerative mechanisms, emphasising speed by skipping the culture step. The next article in this series explains in more depth why the clinic chooses this approach over cell culture.