City Medical Centre · multi-specialty surgery clinicDaily 10:00–18:00

PRP Therapy for Arthritis in Cape Town

Your case and test results are reviewed by a doctor before PRP and SVF cell therapy is offered as part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and more

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01

No surgery — an injection instead of an operation

02

Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue

03

Ultrasound guidance for every injection

04

Free consultation
and review of your scans

What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?

When a joint becomes inflamed, doctors call it arthritis. Common signs include night and resting pain, morning stiffness longer than half an hour, swelling, and redness with warmth over the joint. It can stem from autoimmune disease (rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis), gout, infection or an earlier injury.

PRP and SVF can help reduce inflammation and pain and support the tissues inside the joint, but they do not replace care from a rheumatologist for a systemic disease. The procedure is not done during an active joint infection or a severe flare — the doctor first confirms the type of arthritis and chooses the right moment.

01

No surgery — an injection instead of an operation

02

Ultrasound guidance for every injection

03

Free consultation and review of your scans

Joints we treat

Both large and small joints — after reviewing your scans, the doctor decides on the joint, the method and how many injections you need

Stockholm-icons / Navigation / Angle-leftCreated with Sketch.
Stockholm-icons / Navigation / Angle-rightCreated with Sketch.

Methods we use

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

A small sample of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a mix of cells involved in tissue repair. Combined with your own plasma, it is injected into the affected joint.

For inflammatory arthritis it is applied after the acute flare has calmed, because of its effect on local inflammation and on tissue repair.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

A small amount of your blood is used to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and gives tissue repair better conditions.

It can be advised for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis, as a single element of the wider treatment plan.

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review

Whether the procedure suits you is decided once the doctor has examined your joint and reviewed your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. If scans already exist, you can send them before visiting.

Blood sample for PRP

A small blood sample is taken from a vein. Later, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from this blood.
 
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.

Adipose tissue sample

Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is removed through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are needed afterwards.

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is placed in a centrifuge, where it splits into layers. From these the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.

Injection into the joint

Using ultrasound guidance to place it precisely, the prepared material is injected directly into the joint that is affected.

Follow-up

There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.

Stockholm-icons / Navigation / Angle-leftCreated with Sketch.
Stockholm-icons / Navigation / Angle-rightCreated with Sketch.

Follow-up visits

After 1 month
3 months
6 months

With follow-up visits the doctor can see how the joint responds and change the plan if needed. As a rule, pain eases in the first month, mobility improves across about three months, and the full effect takes around six months to develop.

Conditions we treat

An examination and a review of your scans come first; then a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you

What we work with

Arthritis

Arthrosis

Avascular necrosis

Osteoarthritis

Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)

Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)

Meniscus pathology and injury

Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery

Inflammatory joint conditions

Contraindications

Cancer

Pregnancy

Blood clotting disorders

Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint

Flare-up of a serious chronic illness

Cancer

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Serious heart, kidney or liver disease

Temporary contraindications: fever, a cold or flu, skin inflammation over the joint to be treated

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

After the procedure

You will most likely go home the same day and resume normal daily life within a day or two, with the punctures covered by small dressings. During the first week the joint may ache a bit more, which is expected. Pain tends to ease across the first month, mobility and activity improve over roughly three months, and the full effect takes around six months to develop. How long it lasts is individual — it depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, and no one can promise a set result. If you see a rheumatologist, talk to them before stopping any prescribed medication.

  1. 1 week
  2. 1 month
  3. ~3 months
  4. ~6 months

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Rather than replacing your joint, we work to keep it — this is treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Nothing donor or synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

No crutches

Local anaesthetic and punctures in place of incisions mean no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Send X-rays, MRI results or reports and a doctor will assess them independently and free of charge

Support after the procedure

We follow your result and stay in touch after the procedure, not just on injection day

Arthritis treatment prices

Since the price depends on the joint, the method and the type of arthritis, the doctor gives it after the consultation

Service

Price

Consultation and review of your scans

Free

PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)


Price at consultation

Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint

 

Price at consultation

 

 

Consultation and review of your scans

Free

PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)

 

Price at consultation

Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint

 

Price at consultation

 

 

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

Message our coordinator

We reply right in the chat — you can send photos

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

Everything about joint inflammation treatment in Cape Town

We work with inflammatory joint conditions of the knee, hand and wrist, shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle. Patients from Cape Town can send their test results and scans for a free review.

PRP may be given as a course of injections or together with SVF. The method and number of injections are chosen for each patient from Cape Town after the examination.

The cost of arthritis treatment depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method, so the price is set at the consultation. For patients from Cape Town, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.

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