At R3 Stem Cell, we offer stem cell therapy in San Francisco, California, as part of regenerative medicine for joint pain and limited mobility. Our treatments may use Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from donated umbilical cord tissue. The FDA has not approved these products for this use; individual results vary.
San Francisco asks a lot of your joints. The climb up from the Muni stop. The Filbert Steps. That last block of Fillmore that never seems to end. When your knee or hip starts to gripe on every hill, the city gets smaller fast.
Maybe you’ve done the physical therapy, the cortisone shot, and the ice packs. Maybe a surgeon said the word “replacement,” and you want to know your other options first. R3 Stem Cell offers stem cell therapy, exosome therapy, and PRP to adults throughout the San Francisco area. We’ll give you the facts in “PLAIN ENGLISH,” including the parts some clinics skip.
Lots of San Francisco patients spend the week at a laptop in SoMa. Then the weekend means a long run in Golden Gate Park or a bike ride over the bridge. That mix is hard on a body. Here’s where people tell us it hurts:
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Search “stem cell therapy near me” here and you’ll get a mixed bag. It helps to sort it out.
Hospital transplant care:UCSF and other big hospitals use bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants for blood cancers and some blood disorders. If that’s you, start with your cancer care team.
Clinical trials:In 2004, California voters passed Proposition 71. It set up the state’s stem cell agency, CIRM, with $3 billion for cell research. Voters added $5.5 billion more in 2020. UCSF joined CIRM’s network of trial clinics in 2017.
Private cell clinics:This is where R3 fits. Care is elective and paid out of pocket. It focuses mostly on pain and movement, plus anti-aging and orthopedic regenerative care.
Stem cell therapy is part of the rapidly growing field of regenerative medicine. Many R3 treatments use Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSCs). They come from Wharton’s jelly, the soft tissue inside an umbilical cord that a mom donates after birth.
We don’t use embryonic stem cells. And MSCs aren’t pluripotent stem cells, the kind that can turn into almost any cell in the body. Lab work in cell biology suggests MSCs act mostly by sending signals. Those signals may calm swelling and help repair.
Some clinics take cells from your own bone marrow or fat. That means a harvest step first. With donor cells, you skip it.
Exosome therapy in San Francisco is even newer. Exosomes are tiny packets that cells send out to carry messages. They hold no living cells, and the research is early.
Stem cell and exosome products are FDA-regulated, and the relationship between stem cells and the FDA can be confusing. The FDA okayed its first product made from this cell type in December 2024. It’s called Ryoncil, and it’s for a serious problem some kids face after a transplant. The FDA has not approved the products we use for the uses on this page.
California law says providers must give you this notice before your first treatment:
“THIS NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED TO YOU UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW. This health care practitioner performs one or more stem cell therapies that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. You are encouraged to consult with your primary care physician prior to undergoing a stem cell therapy.”
We agree. Talk to your own doctor too.
Your plan depends on your goals, your health, and what we find at your visit. Your stem cell doctor may talk with you about:
Looking for a PRP injection in San Francisco? It’s the most common choice on this list, and lots of local sports doctors offer it. Stem cell injections in San Francisco are usually quick office visits. You go home the same day. Many people keep up their physical therapy after.
Some Bay Area folks travel as medical tourists to Mexico or Panama for stem cell care. R3 also runs clinics in Mexico, so we hear about medical tourism a lot. Rules, products, and follow-up care differ by country. If you’re thinking about a trip, call us first. We’ll walk you through how stem cell therapy in the USA vs. Mexico compares, with “NO SALES PITCH.”
Cell clinics in San Francisco vary a lot. Bring this list to every visit, ours included:
A clinic that can’t answer these clearly isn’t worth your money.
Stem cell treatment isn’t right for everyone. Active cancer, an active infection, or pregnancy may rule it out. If your joint is badly worn, surgery may be the better choice, and we’ll tell you so.
Good candidates usually have a clear source of pain and a plan to stay active. They also have goals they can measure, like walking to the Ferry Building without a break.
At R3, most treatment plans for San Francisco patients fall between $3,500 and $15,000. Your price depends on the type of treatment, how many areas we treat, and how many visits you need. Insurance usually doesn’t cover stem cell or exosome therapy, so ask us about stem cell therapy financing.
You’ll get your full price in writing before anything happens. “NO SURPRISES.”
Want to know if you’re a candidate? Call+1 (844) GET-STEM to book a consultation.
Maybe you were searching for a San Francisco stem cell treatment center and landed here. Whether you live in the Mission, the Sunset, Noe Valley, the Richmond, or over the bridge in Marin, the first step is the same.
Call+1 (844) GET-STEM. Tell us what hurts and what you’ve tried. We’ll tell you honestly if regenerative medicine in San Francisco makes sense for you. You can also visit r3stemcell.com.
California requires health care providers who offer stem cell therapies the FDA has not approved to give patients a written notice before the first treatment. The notice says the therapy is not FDA-approved and encourages patients to talk with their primary care physician first. Ask any San Francisco clinic for this notice.
Hospital stem cell transplants use bone marrow or blood stem cells to treat blood cancers and certain blood disorders. Private clinic stem cell therapy is elective, paid out of pocket, and mostly used for joint pain, sports injuries, and mobility. The two use different cells, follow different rules, and serve different patients.
Many R3 Stem Cell treatments use Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSCs) from Wharton’s jelly, the soft tissue inside a donated umbilical cord. We do not use embryonic stem cells. MSCs are not pluripotent; lab research suggests they act mainly by sending signals to nearby tissue and the immune system.
At R3 Stem Cell, most treatment plans for San Francisco patients cost between $3,500 and $15,000. The price depends on the type of treatment, the number of areas treated, and the number of visits. Insurance usually doesn’t cover stem cell or exosome therapy, so plan to pay out of pocket.
Possibly. California’s stem cell agency, CIRM, funds the Alpha Stem Cell Clinic network, and UCSF joined it in 2017. Most of these trials focus on specific diseases and have strict entry rules. You can search for open studies near San Francisco at ClinicalTrials.gov and discuss them with your doctor.
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*Outcomes will vary between individuals. No claims are being made with regenerative therapies. The FDA considers stem cell therapy experimental. See our THERAPY COMMITMENT HERE.
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Stem cell therapy is considered experimental and is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it is not FDA-approved. R3 Stem Cell does not offer stem cell therapy as a cure for any medical condition. No statements made on this site have been evaluated or approved by the FDA. This site does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Reliance on any information provided by R3 Stem Cell, its employees, others appearing on this website at the invitation of R3 Stem Cell, or other visitors to the website is solely at your own risk. R3 Stem Cell does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on this website. R3 Stem Cell is not responsible for the outcome of your procedure. The FDA considers stem cell therapy experimental at this point.
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