Hello, I am Dr. Hidenori Shimada of Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic in Osaka, Japan.
Stem cell therapy is discussed widely, but the terms can be confusing. This guide explains in plain language what stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells are, why fat tissue is used, and what to consider before a consultation in Osaka. In short, the science is promising and still developing, and whether the treatment suits you must be decided with a doctor.
What Are Stem Cells, and Why Do People Talk About Them?
The human body is made up of roughly 37 trillion cells, and old cells are constantly replaced by new ones. Stem cells are one source of this renewal. They are generally described as having two defining abilities: they can replicate themselves, and they can differentiate into other types of cells. Because of these abilities, they are thought to play a role in maintaining and repairing tissues throughout life.
The number of stem cells in the body is reported to decline with age, and this is one reason regenerative medicine has attracted attention. However, attention is not the same as proof. Whether a particular stem cell treatment helps a particular person depends on many factors, and that judgment belongs in a medical consultation rather than in a general article.
What Are Mesenchymal Stem Cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells, often shortened to MSCs, are somatic stem cells found in tissues such as fat and bone marrow. In addition to differentiating into fat cells, bone cells, and cartilage cells, they have been reported to secrete anti-inflammatory substances and growth factors that may support the repair of damaged tissue. Research and clinical applications are being pursued in many countries.
It helps to keep two ideas separate. First, laboratory and clinical research describes what MSCs can do in specific settings. Second, whether a treatment based on them is suitable for you is a separate question that needs a physician’s assessment. A single study rarely settles the second question, so it is wise to read research summaries with some caution.
Why Is Fat Tissue Used as a Source of Stem Cells?
Mesenchymal stem cells can be collected from bone marrow as well, but bone marrow collection places a considerable burden on the body. Fat tissue is considered to contain more mesenchymal stem cells than bone marrow, and it can be collected through a small incision under local anesthesia. Only a very small amount of fat, about the size of a few grains of rice, is needed in the approach offered at Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic.
Using your own cells is called an autologous approach. Because the cells come from you rather than from a donor, the risk of rejection or allergic reaction is generally considered lower than with donor cells or artificial materials. Lower does not mean absent, and any risk should be discussed with your doctor before you decide.
How Are Your Own Cells Turned Into a Treatment?
In adipose-derived stem cell therapy at Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic, a small amount of your fat tissue is collected as an outpatient procedure. The mesenchymal stem cells it contains are then cultured and expanded at a specialized facility, and the cells are returned to your body by intravenous infusion. Neither collection nor infusion requires hospitalization, so treatment can often be arranged around work or travel.
Infused mesenchymal stem cells have been reported to travel through the bloodstream and accumulate at sites of inflammation or damage, a phenomenon often called homing. This is a research-based description of a mechanism, not a promise of any particular result for an individual patient.
How Is This Treatment Regulated in Japan?
In Japan, regenerative medicine is provided under the Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine. Clinics must submit a regenerative medicine provision plan that has been reviewed by a committee, and they are expected to manage cell processing and treatment safely. This framework is one of the points international patients should understand, because rules differ from country to country.
This treatment is offered as a self-pay (non-insured) service, which means national health insurance does not cover it. Fees, the number of treatments, possible risks and side effects, and whether you are a suitable candidate are all matters to confirm with a doctor at a consultation. It is also not a replacement for standard medical care, and it should be considered alongside your current treatment plan.
What Should You Prepare Before a Consultation in Osaka?
If you are considering a consultation at Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic in Osaka’s Umeda area, a little preparation makes the visit more useful. International patients can also find information pages in several languages, which can help you review the basics before you travel or book.
Consider bringing or preparing the following:
- A summary of your medical history, current diagnoses, and medications
- Questions about costs, the number of visits, and the expected timeline
- Questions about risks, side effects, and what happens if you have concerns after returning home
- Your travel dates and any language support you may need
Treat the consultation as a chance to ask questions, not as a commitment. A responsible clinic will explain the limits of the current evidence as well as the possible benefits, and you are free to take time to decide.
- Know the basicsStem cells and MSCs explained
- Your own fat cellsSmall collection, outpatient
- Japanese regulationSelf-pay under a legal framework
- Decide with a doctorRisks, fees and suitability
This diagram is a conceptual summary of the article content
References
- PubMed: Stem cell-based therapy for human diseases. (2022)
- PubMed: Translational potential of mesenchymal stem cells in regenerative therapies for human diseases: challenges and opportunities. (2024)
- PubMed: Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secretome: Toward Cell-Free Therapeutic Strategies in Regenerative Medicine. (2017)
- PubMed: Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. (2021)
- PubMed: Recent advances in the use of extracellular vesicles from adipose-derived stem cells for regenerative medical therapeutics. (2024)
- PMC: A review of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells' impacts and challenges: metabolic regulation, tumor modulation, immunomodulation, regenerative medicine and genetic engineering therapies. (2025)
- PMC: Adipose-Derived Stem Cells as a Tool in Cell-Based Therapies. (2016)
- PMC: Micro-fragmented adipose tissue-An innovative therapeutic approach: A narrative review. (2025)
- MHLW (Japan): Regenerative Medicine — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
Supervising Physician
Director, Medical Corporation Shimada Clinic
Head of Clinical Practice, Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic
Hidenori Shimada
Graduated from the University of Tokushima Faculty of Medicine in 2005. After his initial residency, he obtained U.S. medical certification (ECFMG) and trained as a sub-intern in general surgery at the University of Washington. After completing the doctoral program at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and working as a researcher at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, he founded Shimada Clinic in 2013. At Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic (https://umekitaclinic.org), he is engaged in a wide range of care, from internal medicine and pediatrics to cell therapy and aesthetic medicine.
* The physician supervision of this article covers its academic content only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific treatment or product.