A salon in Kalaha is using bovine stem cells to make its clients look younger.

Helen's Haven of 4819 Kilauea Ave., owned by medi-esthetic specialist Helen Rapoza, is the first salon in Honolulu to offer what she calls "cryo-stem cell therapy" to reverse aging.

The cells are extracted from the amniotic fluid of cows in an organically fed herd in France. This is done in the very early stages of pregnancy.

"The cells do not have the bovine DNA yet," said Rapoza. She said that while the cells are not specific to the cow's genetic composition they do have the DNA information that allows them to convert to human genetic composition.

After extraction from the amniotic fluid of the cows, the cells are cryogenically preserved, put in vials and shipped.

Rapoza applies the cells topically to the damaged skin of clients.

She said that when a new cell comes into contact with an old cell it leads to the reprogramming of the old cell. "Your more mature cells actually increase their activity," she said.

Rapoza said the stem cells are very fragile so she does not rub them into the face but taps them in.

After she finishes each treatment Rapoza advises her client to be very careful. "You don't want to do a lot of rubbing or scrubbing the day of the application because you can disturb the cells and break the little membranes and they won't reproduce," she said. She recommends one session a week for three weeks and then bimonthly for nine months. She recommends one session a week for three weeks and then bimonthly for nine months.

Rapoza's clients have found immediate results in degrees and much better results over a 144-hour period.

Unlike Botox injections, there is no discomfort associated with stem cell treatments. "There's no pain to this," said Rapoza. "Our clients just relax and some even nap." The treatments last about 30 minutes.

Rapoza has posted this YouTube video that shows one of her stem cell treatments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cniQD18vZGI