Stem cells are primitive cells that can undergo differentiation to form different types of cells in the body, such as bone, blood, cartilage, etc. These cells are responsible for healing tissue damages by generating new healthy cells. However, with age, the body loses its ability to attract enough stem cells to the site of injury. In this regard, stem cell therapy delivers a high concentration of stem cells to the affected area to promote natural healing.
Unlike embryonic stem cells, which is a controversial topic, adult stem cells used in our clinic can be derived from the patient’s bone marrow or fat deposit. Commonly, bone marrow from the iliac crest bone is used to obtain stem cells from the patient. The concentrated stem cells are then injected at the site of injury to promote repair and regeneration of tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can also be obtained from the patient’s blood, and injected along with the stem cells. It is known that PRP helps stimulate stem cells to start the repair process. Ultrasound guidance is employed to precisely deliver the stem cell mixture at the site.
Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Compared with surgical interventions that are associated with long recovery times, stem cell therapy promotes natural healing with no down time. Moreover, unlike steroid injections with detrimental side effects, stem cell injection is well-tolerated in patients.