Where SVF is isolated from fat,
counted and recorded
Harvested fat does not go straight back to the operating room. At the SC301 Clinic Stem Cell Research Center, SVF (stromal vascular fraction) is isolated and the cell count is checked first; only then does the process move on to injection. This site documents that process and the data it has produced.
- Cell Processing Facility LicenseNo. 139
- Advanced Regenerative Medicine InstitutionNo. 재생-1-0049
- Dedicated R&D DepartmentMinistry of Science and ICT
Background: illustrative image of stem cells under a microscope (AI-generated, Magnific). Not a photo of actual patient cells.
Why isolation was moved out of the operating room
Even from the same fat, the condition of the SVF depends on how little the cells are damaged during isolation. That is why SC301 Clinic does this work in a dedicated space. Air cleanliness, centrifugation conditions, cell counts and storage temperatures are all managed here.
The work is done by hand, following a set protocol, by researchers with master's or doctoral degrees and more than 10 years of experience. For every surgery, the number of cells actually injected and their viability are recorded.
From isolation to storage: 7 pieces of equipment SVF passes through
Arranged in the order SVF moves through them, from the clean area entrance to the liquid nitrogen tank.
Designations, licenses and recognition held by the center
Handling cells takes licenses as much as it takes equipment.
Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution · Cell Processing Facility
Cell Processing Facility License from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (2026); designation as an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (2025).
( 02 )Dedicated R&D department
First registered and recognized as a dedicated R&D department with the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2017. It is run by research staff with master's or doctoral degrees in biology.
What continues after surgery ends
Data has been accumulated in the same sequence since 2007.
Cell counts and viability measured at each surgery are collected together with post-operative follow-up results.
Volume changes before and after surgery are measured with precise 3D checks and quantified.
Analysis results are written up together with the study design.
Results are published after peer review by international journals.
Four papers published based on about 9,000 cases of research data — mean graft retention rate of 77.48% in Annals of Plastic Surgery (2023, SCI-indexed) · a 2020 Oxford University Press journal · 3 fat grafting–related patents. View research
Cell Lab
Measures and records SVF viability and cell viability.
Cell Storage Lab
Stores isolated SVF cryogenically in liquid nitrogen tanks at −196 °C.
Big Data Lab
Analyzes about 9,000 graft retention cases to research predictive models.
SVF fat grafting research notes
Paper reviews and regulatory explainers reviewed by Dr. Shin Dong-jin, Chief Director. 115 articles can be read on a separate blog (blog.medisgate.co.kr, in Korean).
Latest trends in SVF research
Where regenerative medicine is heading, seen through 2025–2026 papers.
Regulation · 2026-10-07 · KoreanWhat is an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution?
Designation requirements and their legal meaning — and what the designation does not mean.
Principles · 2026-09-28 · KoreanThe physiology of graft retention
Mechanisms of swelling and absorption, from day one to week 12.
Process · 2026-09-15 · KoreanThe SVF isolation process
Step-by-step process and video from a cell processing facility.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most about terms, equipment, staff and figures.
See all questionsDoes designation as an Advanced Regenerative Medicine Institution mean the government has recognized the effectiveness of the procedures?
No. It means the facilities, equipment, staff and standard operating procedures meet the legal standards; it does not guarantee the effectiveness of any individual procedure. How to read it correctly
How many steps does SVF isolation take?
Five steps: fat harvesting, purification, SVF isolation, cell counting, and mixing & injection. Isolation alone takes 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. View the isolation process
What fields does the research center study?
Four fields: SVF breast augmentation, facial fat grafting, musculoskeletal pain, and anti-aging & immunity. View research fields
Procedures the research center is involved in
SVF breast augmentation
The field with the most accumulated graft retention data. Surgical information and consultations are on SC301 Clinic's breast surgery pages.
Learn more → FaceFacial fat grafting
SVF-assisted fat grafting for volume restoration and contouring.
StorageSVF storage · cell banking
Cryogenic storage in LN2 tanks at −196 °C.
Skin & scarsSVF scar treatment · Gwang Cellinge
Applying SVF to skin and scar areas.
The hour or so before surgery, and what happens in it
During the 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes it takes to isolate SVF, the cells pass in turn through the clean area, the centrifuge and the cell counter. The research center is where that time is managed and recorded in numbers.