花了2000万后她悔不当初，“干细胞美容”是不是智商税？

Core Viewpoint - The rise of "stem cell beauty" treatments has led to significant consumer spending and legal disputes, highlighting a broader market issue of unregulated practices and misleading claims in the beauty industry [1][21][22]. Group 1: Consumer Experiences and Financial Impact - A case study reveals that an individual spent over 20 million yuan on stem cell beauty treatments, leading to a lawsuit against the beauty clinic for unlicensed medical practices [1][22]. - The financial burden escalated over time, with reported expenditures of 300 million yuan in 2021 and 700 million yuan in 2023 for various stem cell treatments [3][23]. - Another individual reported spending nearly 4 million yuan on a single stem cell injection, only to discover that the recommending friend received a 50% kickback, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the treatments [7][25]. Group 2: Regulatory Response and Industry Standards - The National Health Commission emphasized that stem cell and gene therapies must be conducted by qualified medical institutions, prohibiting beauty salons from offering such services [21][22]. - Despite regulatory efforts, the market remains flooded with unapproved stem cell products, with many lacking legitimate scientific backing and being marketed with exaggerated claims [9][11][27]. - As of 2023, no stem cell products for beauty injections have received national approval, and the majority of clinical trials focus on serious medical conditions rather than cosmetic applications [11][31]. Group 3: Scientific and Medical Context - Stem cell technology is still in the early stages of research and requires rigorous validation before being applied in clinical settings, particularly for cosmetic purposes [10][14][33]. - The FDA has approved specific stem cell therapies for limited medical conditions, indicating a cautious approach to the commercialization of stem cell treatments [10][28]. - Experts warn against the commercialization of stem cell technology without a comprehensive understanding of its implications, stressing the need for consumer protection and regulatory oversight [15][33][36].