By Dr. Eunice Park
Since opening over the summer, AIREM Hamptons has quickly become more than a spa—it has evolved into a gathering place for curated wellness experiences and community-building events. From intimate panel discussions to culinary collaborations and beauty-focused events, the Water Mill location has offered a fresh hub for connection and well-being out East.
AIREM is continuing to expand its cutting-edge regenerative aesthetic offerings, adding radiofrequency microneedling paired with topical skin boosters such as exosomes or secretomes, which leverages the patient’s own stem cells, to its repertoire.
Stem cell therapies are not broadly authorized for use in the U.S., and the FDA has approved only a limited number of such treatments, primarily for serious conditions like certain blood cancers and immune disorders. Stem cells—especially when isolated and manipulated outside the body—fall under the category of biologic drugs, according to the FDA. This means they require extensive clinical trials to prove safety and efficacy before they can be approved for widespread use. The regulatory concern primarily revolves around the potential for uncontrolled cell growth, contamination or unintended side effects.
While there’s exciting research happening, the FDA is cautious—and rightly so—about ensuring patients are protected. Until more data supports consistent safety and results, stem cell-enhanced procedures remain tightly restricted. There are, however, stem cell treatments available in the U.S. I’m very excited to offer stem cell-derived topical therapy at my practice through a partnership with Acorn Biolabs. AIREM was the first practice on Long Island to bring in this new technology.
Acorn Biolabs, a cutting-edge biotechnology company specializing in personalized regenerative medicine, offers a unique, noninvasive service that allows individuals to preserve their own stem cells for future therapeutic use. By collecting hair follicles—an abundant source of stem cells—and cryogenically preserving them at minus 196 C, Acorn effectively halts the aging process of those cells, keeping them viable for future applications in regenerative treatments.
At AIREM, we collect approximately 50 hair follicles from the patient and send them to the Acorn lab. Patients then have the option to bank their stem cells for future use, particularly as new advancements become available and are approved in the U.S. Because stem cells are more potent the younger you are, early banking is ideal—especially for those interested in future aesthetic or therapeutic applications.
We’re also integrating this technology into our treatments. At AIREM, we use a custom stem cell serum—called secretomes—derived from each patient’s own preserved cells. Once prepared and shipped back to us, it’s applied as part of post-procedure care to accelerate healing and enhance results. We also incorporate this serum into advanced hair restoration treatments to help stimulate new hair growth. airem.com