Frequently Asked Questions

Why are people doing this?

Individuals are “banking” their body fat (and the stem cells within it) for use in future cosmetic and regenerative medical treatments.

Whether you use your cells days later or decades from now, preserving cells today means you’re saving younger cells to use when you’re older. As they are YOUR cells, there is no risk of rejection. No foreign substances or objects have to be introduced into your body. By storing healthy cells today, you can avoid undergoing extra liposuction procedures in the future. Now, you can save your youthful cells of today to use whenever you’d like to, or whenever you need to.

Stem cells are in fat?

You may have heard of stem cells being in other sources, such as bone marrow and embryos, but stem cells are also in fat. Actually, fat has the highest concentration of stem and regenerative cells – containing 500 times the amount found in bone marrow.

How do I know if my doctor can do this?

In order for you to bank your cells with us, you need to have your procedure performed by a doctor in our provider network. See the list of approved BioLife banking physicians.

If your doctor is not on this list, he or she may become a BioLife provider through a simple process. Tell your doctor you’d like to bank cells with BioLife. Your doctor may easily connect with us in the For Physicians section of this website.

Do I need to communicate with BioLife to set things up or does my doctor do that?

Your doctor will communicate with us. Once we have your cells, you will be issued a card with all your information (and ours) should you need to contact us.

Do I have to have a special procedure done? Is it safe?

Your cells are removed through an ordinary liposuction procedure without any increased risk. This procedure may be performed alone or in conjunction with other surgeries.

Can other people use my cells?

No. Each person may only use his or her own cells.

How do I know you won’t lose my cells or get them mixed up with someone else’s?

Before your cells are removed, we are preparing for their arrival. As soon as we are notified of your upcoming procedure, we ship a special kit to your doctor intended for your cells.

Immediately after removal of cells, your doctor’s office labels each item containing your cells and put them in the kit that is already carefully labeled for return shipping to us from your doctor. Upon arrival at our facilities, we monitor your cells through the BioLife Cell Bank proprietary tracking system that uses bar codes. The system is designed to ensure that each patient’s cells are kept safe and secure, exclusively for the use of that patient.

Where are my cells stored?

Your cells are stored in a cryogenic preservation tank at our facility in Dallas, Texas.

What if there is a power outage at the storage facility? Will my cells be impacted?

Cells are kept cold with liquid nitrogen which does not require electrical power. So, your cells would be maintained at a safe temperature even in the event of an electrical outage that lasts for several days.

How long can my cells be stored?

Because your cells will be stored in a state of suspended animation with cryopreservation, the potency is maintained for years and is, theoretically, indefinite.

What is cryopreservation?

Cryopreservation is a process where cells are preserved by cooling at very low temperatures.

How much does it cost?

Each person requires procedures and services tailored to his or her physical needs and goals. Please consult with your doctor for the package that is right for you.

Pricing for fat processing and one year of storage often begins around $1,699.  (Payment plans are available.) Each additional year, the fee for storage can be as low as $10 a month.

What about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)?

BioLife is registered with the FDA as a processing bank and is in full compliance with their regulations and guidance including current Good Tissue Practice (cGTP). Additionally, our acquisition kits comply with regulations regarding the transport of tissue across state and international lines and may be sent to and from BioLife Cell Bank and our providers throughout the United States and Canada.

Find a BioLife provider/doctor and make an appointment.