How Stem Cells are Changing Healthcare and Medicine

A stem cell is a basic cell that has the capability to transform into specialized cells such as the heart, nerves, lung, skin and more. It also can duplicate and produce more of its own. The body summons stem cells to the site of injury to repair and restore normal function. When other cells get damaged from disease, the environment or even the aging process, stem cells flock to the damaged cells to repair them. However, as we age we lose stem cells and they can also undergo changes that decrease their effectiveness.

Stem cells can be retrieved from a variety of areas such as bone, fat, teeth and the umbilical cord. Stem cells are also unique in that they are immune privileged, meaning they can go between one person and another without rejection.

Stem Cell Studies

There are currently over 400 trials regarding stem cells in the fields of pulmonary, orthopedics, neurologic, gynecologic and immunologic conditions. Stem cells are being clinically shown to improve a variety of chronic and inflammatory conditions in some, including but not limited to multiple sclerosis, lichen sclerosis, arthritis, stroke, COPD, as well as certain autoimmune disorders and traumatic injuries.

Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center and the Future of Medicine

Dr. Daniel Ritacca, who is the founder of Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center, is an oculoplastic surgeon who is has taught in hospitals and universities for the past 25 years where stem cells were used to treat a variety of conditions, such as eye degeneration and other skin conditions. He is on the board of cell-surgical network, a group of physicians dedicated to stem cell research. Cell surgical network has performed over 6,000 stem cell cases.

At Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center Dr. Ritacca uses autologous stem cell derived from fat which has been shown to yield the highest number of stem cells along with allogeneic cord blood which have been shown to be safe and effective.

He offers hope to patients with a variety of conditions through stem cell alternative medicine which he feels is the future of medicine. He strongly believes with stem cells we will be able to treat chronic and inflammatory conditions with the replacement of medicine by using the body’s own healing power.

Image Credit: Eileen Gentleman/Wellcome Images/Flickr

Dr. Daniel Ritacca

Medical Doctor at Ritacca Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa

Dr. Daniel Ritacca specializes in the art of eyelid surgery, liposuction, fat transfer, laser liposuction and other cosmetic treatments in his private practice and other major hospitals. He has taught at the Cook County Hospital for over 20 years and has studied under Jeff Klein, the innovator of Tumescent Liposuction.

Dr. Ritacca works with a team of physicians in the field of breast augmentation, liposuction, facial rejuvenation, lasers, hair restoration and stem cell therapy. In 2011, he founded Chicago Stem Cell Treatment Center, autologous stem cell harvesting and deployment for people suffering from diseases that may be alleviated by access to adult stem cell based regenerative treatment.