March 27, 2005
THANK GOODNESS THAT ONE DOESN'T REQUIRE EMBRYOS:
Stem-cells could allow women to grow breast implants (Sophie Goodchild, 3/27/05, New Zealand Herald)
A revolutionary technique using stem-cell research could soon allow women to choose breast enhancements made of living tissue instead of silicone. [...]Professor Mao has developed a method of isolating the patient's stem cells, culturing them into a fatty tissue mass, and then building it around a "scaffold" of the correct shape for breasts or lips.
Professor Mao said he first took adipose stem cells from a human donor and isolated the fat-generating cells. These were mixed with a chemical, hydrogel, "which can be moulded into any given shape or dimension". Hydrogel is a lightweight material licensed for use in medicine.
"You mould them into the shape of the other normal breast or the missing portion of breast and instead of implanting silicone or saline structures, we would use the stem cell-derived adipose implant," Professor Mao said.
The living tissue implants would not "wear out". And because they are derived from the patient's own stem cells, there would not be a problem of tissue rejection that can arise with tissue from a donor.
"The technique is also applicable for other soft tissue, including facial tissue such as the lips." he said
Posted by Orrin Judd at March 27, 2005 8:00 PM
I still think any surgery of this nature is a waste of resources for ego massaging, but for those women who have had a radical mastectomy, this is definitely a godsend.
Posted by: oswald booth czolgosz at March 27, 2005 10:41 PMOswald seems to be right, but don't we let people waste their resources as may seem best to them? Some people think big SUV's or even gun collections are a waste! There is a right way in which to indulge oneself out of excess resources, the gravemen of which is pleasure as opposed to need. Thus one who would be happy with big knockers, and happy without them, may take reasonable satisfaction from the procedure without being a slave to it.
Posted by: Lou Gots at March 28, 2005 6:58 AMOswald: good point. Not all cosmetic surgery is frivolity motivated by vanity. For those who have been disfigured by disease or injury, it's a necessity.
Posted by: Mike Morley at March 28, 2005 8:14 AMAndn yet I wouldn't outlaw the egoists. I should have specified that. Like SUV's. . .
Posted by: oswald booth cazolgosz at March 28, 2005 9:37 AMIs anyone doing this kind of research on, say, brains?
Taking the old question:
Is it real or is it Memorex?
To a whole new level.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at March 28, 2005 1:47 PMBigger boobies. You're actually debating this?
Posted by: Amos at March 28, 2005 5:57 PM