Celebrity endorsement for a procedure still in its infancy
Apr 09, 2012 Posted by Martha Drezin
Celebrity endorsement for a procedure still in its infancy
Suzanne Somers pioneers stem cell breast reconstruction
In March 2009, a healthy, radiant Somers invited Oprah viewers into her kitchen. The goal was to witness Somers’ morning routine. Viewers who expected a ThighMaster demo were in for a surprise. Instead, Somers rubbed estrogen and progesterone on the inside of her upper arm, injected estriol into her vagina (off camera) and ingested 40 pills, leaving 20 over for the PM. She admitted to Fox News that the routine makes her seem “like some kind of fanatic,” but she says it has helped her beat the “Seven Dwarfs of Menopause: Itchy, B**chy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful and All Dried Up.”
Indeed, Somers looked beautiful and sexy in spite of a 2001 bout with breast cancer, necessitating removal of 65 percent of one breast. She underwent radiation treatment but declined chemo in favor of treatment with iscador, a mistletoe extract that some believe helps to boost the immune system.
Somers was left with a DD cup on one side and barely a B on the other. To simulate the appearance of her iconic DD breasts, Somers wore a prosthetic to push up the ravished breast - a good solution except for times when the prosthetic traveled north to land around her waist. Still, Somers did not opt for implants or a TRAM flap reconstruction. Her reasoning was that something better would come along.
And it did………maybe. Somers now has a luscious new breast, comprised of her own fat and stem cells, and she’s making TV appearances, recommending stem cell breast reconstruction.
Here’s the procedure that Somers underwent: a plastic surgeon removed fat from Somers's stomach via liposuction. He then harvested stem cells from half of the fat and combined them with the remaining amount of fat. The mixture was injected back into Somers's right breast until it filled a C cup. Somers then had her left breast reduced from a DD to match her right breast.
Oprah put it best when she said, "Many people write Suzanne off as a quackadoo, but she just might be a pioneer.” Somers is basically saying, “Why undergo breast reconstruction when your own breast can be injected with your own fat and your own stem cells?” Although you can’t argue with her reasoning, she is providing celebrity endorsement for a procedure that is in its infancy.
Somers helped launch a clinical trial in stem cell breast reconstruction that was approved by an independent medical board. Although stem cell breast reconstruction has existed in Japan for a decade, Somers took an active role in bringing it to America. Now, 10 more patients have been accepted to the trial, which is taking place at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.
In December 2011, Somers appeared on the Dr. Oz show to educate women about this procedure. Her goal was to share a treatment that has made her very happy and her sincerity in helping other women with breast cancer was evident. The problem is that a celebrity medical endorsement is not necessarily a green light. The danger is that American women buy into Somers’ image of glowing health and follow her lead without understanding all the issues.
To maintain a balanced presentation, Dr. Oz also invited a medical expert. Dr. Peter Rubin, Chief of plastic Surgery and stem cell research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recently led a joint task force representing the two leading plastic surgery associations, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, to deal with claims about stem cells and clinical practices using stem cells that have not been backed by scientific evidence.
Rubin, while a stem cell optimist, still urges caution (for now) regarding stem cell breast augmentation or reconstruction. He spoke with People Magazine, February 13, 2012, outlining two major problems: 1) stem cells may have the potential to stimulate the growth of cancer cells, as demonstrated in some animal testing, and 2) like any breast surgery; the procedure may interfere with cancer screening.
Rubin’s yellow light does not mean “never,” it means “slow down and be cautious.” He warned against celebrity endorsements, urging consumer caution when considering stem cell therapies. “The biggest problem encountered with fat grafting is that fat can lose volume or be absorbed by the body over time leaving less of an affect from the original treatment.” Though optimistic about stem cell-based technologies for breast reconstruction, Rubin advocates approaching the topic cautiously and with great respect for patient safety. Basically, the limited scientific research available today on stem cell cosmetic procedures does not substantiate current marketing claims. Until we gather more data based on scientific research, the jury is out. Rubin praises the fact that the surgeons doing this therapy are working under an approved clinical trial. “We need to generate the solid medical evidence to support these new therapies in clinical trials approved by Institutional Review Boards, the ethical board responsible for safe research at hospitals,” he says.
Here is Rubin’s advice regarding stem cell-based plastic surgery procedures: 1) be wary of advertising claims with very little scientific data to back them up, 2) if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, 3) many stem cell therapies should be done as part of approved trials until more scientific evidence is available, and 4) if you would like more information about a stem-cell based cosmetic procedure, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon who can put all the information out there in perspective.
As for Somers, we can only admire the sincerity of her outreach to American women and wish her continuing health and beauty.
Suzanne Somers pioneers stem cell breast reconstruction
In March 2009, a healthy, radiant Somers invited Oprah viewers into her kitchen. The goal was to witness Somers’ morning routine. Viewers who expected a ThighMaster demo were in for a surprise. Instead, Somers rubbed estrogen and progesterone on the inside of her upper arm, injected estriol into her vagina (off camera) and ingested 40 pills, leaving 20 over for the PM. She admitted to Fox News that the routine makes her seem “like some kind of fanatic,” but she says it has helped her beat the “Seven Dwarfs of Menopause: Itchy, B**chy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful and All Dried Up.”
Indeed, Somers looked beautiful and sexy in spite of a 2001 bout with breast cancer, necessitating removal of 65 percent of one breast. She underwent radiation treatment but declined chemo in favor of treatment with iscador, a mistletoe extract that some believe helps to boost the immune system.
Somers was left with a DD cup on one side and barely a B on the other. To simulate the appearance of her iconic DD breasts, Somers wore a prosthetic to push up the ravished breast - a good solution except for times when the prosthetic traveled north to land around her waist. Still, Somers did not opt for implants or a TRAM flap reconstruction. Her reasoning was that something better would come along.
And it did………maybe. Somers now has a luscious new breast, comprised of her own fat and stem cells, and she’s making TV appearances, recommending stem cell breast reconstruction.
Here’s the procedure that Somers underwent: a plastic surgeon removed fat from Somers's stomach via liposuction. He then harvested stem cells from half of the fat and combined them with the remaining amount of fat. The mixture was injected back into Somers's right breast until it filled a C cup. Somers then had her left breast reduced from a DD to match her right breast.
Oprah put it best when she said, "Many people write Suzanne off as a quackadoo, but she just might be a pioneer.” Somers is basically saying, “Why undergo breast reconstruction when your own breast can be injected with your own fat and your own stem cells?” Although you can’t argue with her reasoning, she is providing celebrity endorsement for a procedure that is in its infancy.
Somers helped launch a clinical trial in stem cell breast reconstruction that was approved by an independent medical board. Although stem cell breast reconstruction has existed in Japan for a decade, Somers took an active role in bringing it to America. Now, 10 more patients have been accepted to the trial, which is taking place at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center.
In December 2011, Somers appeared on the Dr. Oz show to educate women about this procedure. Her goal was to share a treatment that has made her very happy and her sincerity in helping other women with breast cancer was evident. The problem is that a celebrity medical endorsement is not necessarily a green light. The danger is that American women buy into Somers’ image of glowing health and follow her lead without understanding all the issues.
To maintain a balanced presentation, Dr. Oz also invited a medical expert. Dr. Peter Rubin, Chief of plastic Surgery and stem cell research at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, recently led a joint task force representing the two leading plastic surgery associations, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, to deal with claims about stem cells and clinical practices using stem cells that have not been backed by scientific evidence.
Rubin, while a stem cell optimist, still urges caution (for now) regarding stem cell breast augmentation or reconstruction. He spoke with People Magazine, February 13, 2012, outlining two major problems: 1) stem cells may have the potential to stimulate the growth of cancer cells, as demonstrated in some animal testing, and 2) like any breast surgery; the procedure may interfere with cancer screening.
Rubin’s yellow light does not mean “never,” it means “slow down and be cautious.” He warned against celebrity endorsements, urging consumer caution when considering stem cell therapies. “The biggest problem encountered with fat grafting is that fat can lose volume or be absorbed by the body over time leaving less of an affect from the original treatment.” Though optimistic about stem cell-based technologies for breast reconstruction, Rubin advocates approaching the topic cautiously and with great respect for patient safety. Basically, the limited scientific research available today on stem cell cosmetic procedures does not substantiate current marketing claims. Until we gather more data based on scientific research, the jury is out. Rubin praises the fact that the surgeons doing this therapy are working under an approved clinical trial. “We need to generate the solid medical evidence to support these new therapies in clinical trials approved by Institutional Review Boards, the ethical board responsible for safe research at hospitals,” he says.
Here is Rubin’s advice regarding stem cell-based plastic surgery procedures: 1) be wary of advertising claims with very little scientific data to back them up, 2) if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, 3) many stem cell therapies should be done as part of approved trials until more scientific evidence is available, and 4) if you would like more information about a stem-cell based cosmetic procedure, contact a board-certified plastic surgeon who can put all the information out there in perspective.
As for Somers, we can only admire the sincerity of her outreach to American women and wish her continuing health and beauty.