Many young women are using stem cell therapy services that cost up to US$10,000 to give their skin a rejuvenated and refreshed look, but doctors have warned them to be prudent when choosing such therapy.

Moreover, such therapy is not allowed by the Health Ministry to be used in Vietnam, doctors said. 

These days, by paying a price ranging from VND100-200 million ($9,600), a woman can receive therapy in which a specific stem cell is injected into their skin to replace the old layer of skin with a new one that is whiter, fresher, and younger. It is said that an underwear model, N.T, has disclosed to the media that she has used stem cell therapy to create her brownish complexion, and that the procedure has made the skin over her whole body whiter and brighter. Some beauty salons say they use stem cells from Switzerland in therapy that includes an injection and three treatments within two months. Treatment of just the face costs VND105 million, while full-body therapy costs at least VND210 million ($10,100). Prices vary according to the condition of the skin. At a beauty shop on Bui Thi Xuan Street in Hanoi, a worker said, “We use French pharmaceuticals and French doctors for services of skin treatment using stem cells provided from Switzerland. Many women have used our services.” The worker said the cost for treatment is VND20 million per treatment. The number of treatments for each patient is decided by doctors and is subject to the condition of skin.Don’t use unlicensed therapies Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department, said that the use of stem cells to whiten or rejuvenate skin, as well as therapies for breast enlargement, are not yet allowed in Vietnam. Therefore, all health facilities, including hospitals, must prevent such operations to avoid possible complications. Health facilities which provide unlicensed services for their customers or provide services beyond their actual ability and conditions must be punished, Khue said. Dr. Mai Trong Khoa, deputy director of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, which is allowed by the Health ministry to use stem cell technology for treatment of joint degeneration disease, called for caution in using genetic technologies, including stem cells, on humans. Khoa warned that “if stem cells are not properly controlled when they are implanted or injected into the human body, they may cause malignant diseases.” For the sake of safety and efficiency, stem cells should be extracted and used under processes that are certified by competent agencies like the Health Ministry, he said, adding that every process that is being studied or is certified by a single hospital or a commercial organization should not be used on humans, Dr Khoa said. "Stem cells, which can be extracted from fat tissues, periphery blood, bone marrow, or umbilical cord blood, must be managed under strict procedures to avoid unforeseen consequences.”