The topic at hand is about the potential of stem cell therapy to regenerate the anal sphincter, which could possibly eliminate the need for a permanent colostomy. A person shared that their colorectal surgeon mentioned this possibility might be available "in the near future." They are curious if others have heard similar news or have any personal experiences to share.

Here are some insights and advice from the discussion:

1. **Current Use of Stem Cells**: Most applications of stem cell therapy are currently focused on repairing cartilage in areas like knees and hips. The use of stem cells for muscle or organ regrowth, such as the anal sphincter, is not yet common.

2. **Mixed Outcomes**: Experiences with stem cell therapy vary. Some people report full recovery, while others see little to no improvement. For instance, one person mentioned a friend who needed a total hip replacement after only a slight benefit from stem cell injections.

3. **Typical Procedure**: The process often involves taking the patient's own blood, isolating the stem cells, and then injecting them into the target area. This is known as autologous treatment.

4. **High-Profile Example**: Professional golfer Brooks Koepka reportedly had stem cell injections in his knee and was able to return to playing quickly, showing how effective the treatment can be when it works well.

5. **No Published Success Stories for Anal Sphincter Regeneration**: As of now, there are no widely recognized success stories for regenerating the anal sphincter with stem cells. Any significant breakthrough would likely be well-publicized to attract funding.

6. **Suggested Next Steps**:
- Ask your surgeon for specific details about any clinical trials, including the trial name, sponsoring institution, phase, inclusion criteria, expected outcomes, and risks.
- Reach out to leading stem cell research centers like Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, or Cleveland Clinic to inquire about ongoing trials related to colorectal or sphincter repair.
- Keep an eye on ClinicalTrials.gov and major cancer centers for new studies, especially if you are also dealing with colorectal cancer.

7. **Alternative Ideas**: Some mention "cool laser therapy" applied to the shins, which a practitioner claims can stimulate systemic stem cell production. However, there is no specific data available for colorectal applications.