It's hard to imagine plastic surgery without synthetic implants. But, thanks to some savvy scientists, patients may be able to have plastic surgery without the "plastic." How so? If all goes according to plan, stem cells will be used to grow a number of new body parts such as breasts or skin.

To comprehend this new technique, it is important to understand what stem cells are. Stem cells are cells that can develop into many different cell types in the body. They can divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), when a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell or a brain cell.

Up until recently, stem cells have only been researched to treat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease. How so? Instead of waiting for an organ donor, scientists would be able to take stem cells to grow a new heart or healthy, non-cancerous cells for patients with cancer. The same may hold true for people seeking plastic or reconstructive surgery.

"We are starting to see clinical trials with stem cells for reconstructive surgery," said J. Peter Rubin, MD, in a recent interview on stem cell therapy on "Good Morning America (GMA)." "A group from Japan reported on enriching liposuctioned fat with fat-derived stem cells and using the material successfully for breast enlargement."

Dr. Rubin is co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Adipose Stem Cell Center, a division of the school's plastic surgery/school of medicine in Pennsylvania. Here, he and his colleagues are conducting American clinical trials to see whether or not they can use a woman's own stem cells to form a natural looking breast during post-cancer breast reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy.

Stem cells show potentially positive results in other areas as well. Denis English, the editor in chief of the journal Stem Cells and Development and director of cell biology at the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair at the University of South Florida in Tampa recently appeared on GMA discussing stem cell use. "Hair follicular stem cells, tooth stem cells and skin stem cells all show therapeutic promise," he said. "These can restore hair to a bald man, teeth to those in need and skin to scarred patients."

Right now, however, this type of stem cell therapy is still in the experimental stage. Researchers say it may not be available for wide-spread use for another 20-30 years. Part of the reason for that delay is the controversy on how stem cells are obtained.

There are three main types of stem cells: adult, cord blood and embryonic. Embryonic stem cells are considered most desirable and promising in stem cell research because they can be used to develop many parts of the body. Adult and cord blood stem cells can only be used for specific areas of the body. However, embryonic stem cells can only be obtained by destroying the human embryo and/or through therapeutic cloning. Pro-life advocates are strongly opposed to the use of embryonic stem cells because they say this is a destruction of a human life. On the other hand, many proponents of stem cell use, say the embryo is not yet a human life, so there is nothing to worry about.

Currently, its usage depends on the laws implemented in each, individual country. In the United States, President George Bush has allowed its use under strict guidelines and limitations. Despite the controversy, most stem cell and plastic surgery doctors agree its use will be based upon life-threatening need.

"Applications to rejuvenation or enhanced personal appearance are much harder to justify at this point," said Dr. Daniel Salomon of the department of molecular and experimental medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA, in a GMA interview.