Implants that feel and look like natural breasts, without the risk of rupture, leakage or interference with breast cancer scans, could be created from stem cells – immature cells with the ability to change into any type of body cell under the right conditions – says the team, led by Dr Jeremy Mao from the University of Illinois in Chicago.

For their study, the researchers took a line of human cells from the bone marrow of a healthy, young woman. The cells were cultured with chemicals to encourage them to grow into fat cells and then placed in a hydrogel "scaffold", which can be moulded into any shape or size.

Once placed on such scaffolds, the cells were implanted under the skin of eight mice. After 4 weeks, the implants were removed and examination revealed that the cells had completely differentiated into fat cells and the moulded shape had been retained.

The scientists acknowledge that the research is still in its early stages, but has the potential to completely change breast and other reconstructive surgery, including that of the face.

Dr Mao says further research is needed to identify the ideal density of cells needed for the implant, the rate at which the scaffold will degrade and any potential interactions between the implanted cells and surrounding tissues.

"Much of how fast this will progress is a matter of regulatory issues that are hard to predict," said Dr Mao. "But the technology should be mature within a decade."

The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington D.C.