Methods of Rejuvenation: Treatment Using Growth Factors and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) (Part 5)

A new procedure that is suitable especially for local rejuvenation of your skin, but also for other local treatments is the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained from your own blood. PRP is a concentrate consisting of platelets which is extracted from a small amount of blood.

PRP is very rich in growth factors, which could cause the regeneration of skin and tissue. The PRP gets injected directly into the treated body areas. Right there the growth factors contained in the PRP activate your body’s own stem cells and induce a local regeneration. Thereby skin can be rejuvenated and hair growth can be stimulated in case of thinning hair.

PRP naturally contains just a limited amount of growth factors, wherefore the treatment should be repeated.

The combination with other treatments is possible in order to intensify the effect of a stem cell treatment or a treatment with synthetic growth factors. Especially good skin rejuvenation results can be achieved by a combination of PRP with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Read more about other methods of rejuvenation

Knee Problems in Overweight and Diabetes: Removing Sugar Deposits Using Alpha Lipoic Acid (Part 3)

As we are speaking about diabetes: The pathologically elevated blood sugar level causes sugar deposits in the organs and tissues that accelerate the aging process and, for example, can cause nerve problems (diabetic polyneuropathy).

Infusion therapy with alpha lipoic acid manages to remove harmful sugar deposits from the organs and tissues and thus helps to prevent damage to cells and organs.

Let’s see if our patient shows sufficient initiative in re-establishing his health!

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Knee Problems in Overweight and Diabetes: Stem Cell Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis (Part 2)

The fat harvested during liposuction on the “problem areas” of the overweight patient contains numerous stem cells which we can isolate and inject at the damaged joint. The stem cells would have a regenerative effect and could lead to an improvement in symptoms within a few weeks.

As our patient is suffering from diabetes, the stem cells obtained from his fat can also be used for intravenous stem cell therapy in order to stimulate regeneration of the organs damaged by diabetes. Stem cell therapy is carried out immediately after liposuction. Since the treatment is done under gentle local anesthesia, the therapy can be performed on an outpatient basis.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Knee Problems in Overweight and Diabetes: Weight Loss and Liposuction (Part 1)

Today I got consulted by a 56 year-old overweight entrepreneur who is suffering from severe joint deterioration of his knee. The pressure on the joints caused by overweight leads to premature wear of the cartilage. His diabetes (type 2) is probably the result of a diet rich in starch and sugar. How will we help him?

The first step is weight reduction. A comprehensive blood analysis can reveal hormonal imbalances which could hinder weight loss. If this is the case, rebalancing using bioidentical hormones together with a reduced-calorie Paleolithic diet is recommendable. In addition, special dietary supplements can help in losing weight.

Weight loss can often facilitated by liposuction of diet-resistant “problem areas” of the body. Adipose tissue produces the hormone estrogen which promotes fat deposition and is available in excess in many overweight people. In addition, gentle microcannular liposuction can improve regression of the skin and reduce the formation of unwanted skin pockets.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Myers’ Cocktail Helps in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

One of my patients, a well-known Viennese entrepreneur, suffers from chronic fatigue. Hormonal deficiencies and too much stress are the reasons. His hormonal analysis is currently in progress and will be used as a basis to balance out hormonal imbalances with bioidentical hormones (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, BHRT).

As an “emergency measure” he regularly receives a special Myers’ Cocktail administered intravenously in my office, which makes him feel fit and resilient. Myers’ Cocktail consists of a special composition that contains magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin C, etc.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Autologous Fat Injections (Lipofilling) in the Face in Young Patients?

I was just asked by a young woman:

Can you tell me at what age autologous fat injections can be performed? Is there an age limit? Would the skin age faster than normal if the treatment is done at young age?

My answer: Autologous fat injections (lipofilling) are possible at any age and have no influence on skin aging. They can even be applied in very young patients in case of irregularities such as tissue defects. However, aesthetic fat injections, for example, under the cheeks, are useful only in an age in which age-related defects appear.

It is nevertheless usually better to treat these age-related defects with bioidentical hormones (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, BHRT) because they are caused by hormonal deficiencies. Stem cells (stem cell suspension) isolated from fat obtained by liposuction can – regardless of the patient’s age – be used to treat sun damages and generally improve the skin quality.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Methods of Rejuvenation: Extension of Telomeres (Part 4)

Telomeres are sections of our chromosomes that determine the life span of the individual cell. The longer they are, the longer the cell’s ability to divide and thereby replace lost cells of the body. With each cell division the telomeres get a bit shorter, until they are finally completely depleted.

If you give the cells a drug that extends the telomeres, the biological potency of the cells obviously increases and the cell lives longer. To date there are no approved drugs for the extension of telomeres, whereas experimental substances such as TA-65 are available, which are manufactured on the basis of TCM herbs. Here, the concentration of the active ingredient (usually extracted from the plant astragalus) is increased, thereby enhancing the regenerating effect that is already well-known from the plant itself.

We test these substances for quite some time in my clinic. However, it requires taking several months until an effect is visible: The skin actually looks younger and revitalized, sun damages of the skin regress and the patient generally feels better. I am confident that this treatment will prevail in the future.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Read more about other methods of rejuvenation

How to Prevent Back Pain

Many of my patients suffer from back pain, which is usually caused by weak muscles in the back as well as in the belly region. Best prevention of back pain is strengthening these muscles by isometric exercises, which can be conveniently done at home twice a week. As an add-on these exercises will create a “six-pack”, something which certainly beats a poke in the eye ;-).

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Sarah Jessica Parker: What Does Carrie Bradshaw Do about Her “Scary Hands“?

Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York – who doesn’t know them? In the famous cult series Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker alias Carrie paints the town red with her best friends. Although they couldn’t be more different in personality, they get along famously. The ambitious columnist Carrie is unhappy in love with Mr. Big, the initial men-hating lawyer Miranda knows only at the end of the series how to appreciate men, Samantha is permanently in search of new sex adventures and Charlotte is showing off with being already married.

16 years by now the first episode of Sex and the City was shot, in 2004 the filming was wrapped up. The American series classic was continued in form of two films in 2008 and 2012. During that long shooting and broadcasting time fans also had the opportunity to follow the actresses’ aging process. Although tiny wrinkles and other aging signs get mellowed by make-up and other tricks, photos of paparazzi are showing us the naked truth.

Sarah’s eye and forehead wrinkles get masked at public events, whereas other parts of her body remain completely untouched. We are talking about her hands. Thick protruding veins are winding upwards the backs of her hands – media even talked about “scary hands”. But are we forced to face up to this?

Body parts that are especially hard to conceal, like our hands, often give away our secret about age. Fortunately modern medicine provides manifold treatments, often completely without the help of synthetic fillers, botox, or lifting surgeries. Treatments with autologous stem cells and stem cell-enriched autologous fat allow for gentle rejuvenation of skin areas of the face, hands, and also the cleavage.

A small amount of autologous fat – often taken from the belly, thighs, or hips – is harvested using thin microcannulas. Subsequently, the stem cells extracted from it get injected either directly into the skin, where they can show a regenerating effect, or in case of severe protruding veins they can be injected together with autologous fat in order to substitute missing subcutaneous volume. That’s the way to make protruding veins disappear. If Sarah Jessica Parker wants to add freshness to her performances on the red carpet, she should make use of the potential of her stem cells.

What Sarah definitely doesn’t need, but is asked for by many other women as an additional treatment, is a facial liposculpture, at which fat is removed from facial areas like cheeks, neck, or chin by special facial microcannulas in order to optimize their shape.

As an alternative to skin treatments with autologous stem cells we can also achieve good results by the use of growth factors from skin cells (Epidermal Growth Factors). These get injected into the skin by a micro-needle derma roller, where they can take their full effect. Because this treatment is very easy to handle, the patient can repeat it for herself after an introduction. The effect is quite of a temporary nature.

Another treatment of the skin that also uses a micro-needle derma roller is treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) extracted from autologous blood, also called vampire lifting. PRP has the potential to regenerate the skin for a certain time and to give her new freshness. By the way, PRP is currently also very trendy in the starlet scene.

Anyway, the famous actress will be back on screen quite soon. Sarah grabbed one of the principal roles in the new crime series Busted and is thus able to celebrate her comeback after a few years break. We have to stay curious if we can admire Sarah with rejuvenated hands soon. First filming began in autumn; this means that we have to take a little patience with the satisfaction of our curiosity until the premiere.

DDr. Heinrich, MD

Ready for the Cold Season with Instant Chi Candies

The winter is coming. Time to enjoy the last days of autumn outdoors in the fresh air. But what to do when one feels a scratchy throat? We recommend to dress warmly and to have Instant Chi Candies at hand.

Instant Chi Candies are produced according to an old recipe of TCM and are made by hand out of extracts of Asian roots combined with tooth-friendly birch sugar (xylitol). Take one drop about 3 to 10 times a day in cold weather, wind, and air conditioning. Instant Chi Candies are available in two flavors: Strong spicy for those of us who like a spicy taste, and the milder flavor Light spicy.

Ordering and further information…

DDr. Heinrich, MD