Arthritis Treatment in Johannesburg with PRP and SVF
PRP and SVF cell therapy as part of arthritis care for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints. A doctor reviews your case and tests first
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?
Put simply, arthritis is joint inflammation. The joint may hurt at rest and at night, feel stiff each morning for more than half an hour, swell, redden and feel warm. Causes include autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, as well as gout, infection or an old injury.
Used well, PRP and SVF may ease pain and inflammation and support the joint's internal tissues; still, a systemic disease needs a rheumatologist, and the injections do not replace that care. No procedure takes place during an active joint infection or a severe flare — the type of arthritis is confirmed and the moment chosen first.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large or small joints: once your scans are reviewed, the doctor picks the joint, the method and the number of injections
Elbow
Pain brought on by overuse or sporting strain, with wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness with pain in the small joints of the fingers and the wrist
Knee
Worn cartilage, meniscus issues and pain climbing stairs or after a walk
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain on lifting the arm and wear of the joint and nearby tendons
Methods we use
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
The joint receives plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, separated from a small amount of your own blood. It helps inflammation settle and creates better conditions for the tissue to repair.
For rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis it may be suggested as one component of the overall plan of treatment.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
After examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, the doctor decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
No stitches are needed: a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh.
Processing in a centrifuge
Spinning in a centrifuge divides the sample into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and blended with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Direct injection into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance helps the prepared material land exactly where it is needed.
Follow-up
You need neither crutches nor a hospital stay. The doctor stays in contact after the procedure and watches the joint's response.
Consultation and scan review
After examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, the doctor decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
No stitches are needed: a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh.
Processing in a centrifuge
Spinning in a centrifuge divides the sample into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and blended with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Direct injection into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance helps the prepared material land exactly where it is needed.
Follow-up
You need neither crutches nor a hospital stay. The doctor stays in contact after the procedure and watches the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
The plan is adjusted at follow-up visits, where the doctor sees how the joint responds: pain tends to ease over the first month, mobility to improve over about three months, and the full effect to develop over roughly six months.
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: a cold or flu, a fever, or inflamed skin over the joint that is to be treated
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
A same-day return home is usual, and normal daily activity comes back within a day or two; the puncture sites just need small dressings. Some extra aching in the first week is an expected reaction. Expect pain to ease over the first month, mobility and activity to improve over about three months, and the full effect to develop over around six months. The duration is different for everyone and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — a fixed result is something nobody can promise. Patients treated by a rheumatologist should not stop prescribed medication without discussing it with them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Preserving your own joint, not replacing it, is the goal of our treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Only material from your body — your blood and adipose tissue — and nothing synthetic or from a donor
No crutches
No incisions, only punctures; local anaesthetic; no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
For a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
Support after the procedure
We stay in touch after the procedure and follow the result, not just the day of the injection
Arthritis treatment prices
After the consultation the doctor names the cost, which depends on the joint, the arthritis type and the method
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
With arthritis, the joints are affected by inflammation. Typical are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Possible causes: autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
Platelets release growth factors that influence both tissue repair and the immune response, which is why PRP may be used in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis to help reduce local inflammation, pain and swelling. It complements rather than replaces your rheumatologist's prescribed treatment.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
As a chronic disease, psoriatic arthritis cannot yet be cured completely; treatment works towards long remission, controlled inflammation and prevention of joint deformity. Regenerative injections can be part of that plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
Cells contained in SVF may modulate the local immune response and support the repair of damaged tissue in the joint. Because research is ongoing, your doctor will go over realistic expectations for your particular type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done during an active infection of the joint, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders; instead the doctor postpones the procedure or proposes another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Knee arthritis is inflammation caused by gout, an infection or an autoimmune reaction, with redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness to touch. Osteoarthritis is cartilage wear and usually shows as aching pain and a dry crunch on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Inflammation keeps stimulating the pain receptors in the joint all the time — during movement, at rest and at night. Treatment aimed at reducing the inflammation, including PRP and SVF, can ease this pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Joint injections, among them PRP and SVF, are contraindicated in pregnancy. Arthritis care during pregnancy is decided only together with an obstetrician and a rheumatologist.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes — send us your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results. A doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you whether your type of arthritis could suit regenerative treatment.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
If it is not treated, it may cause permanent deformity of the joint, loss of function, osteoporosis and damage to internal organs — the heart, lungs and kidneys among them. Treating it in time helps prevent these complications.
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Other services at our clinic
Arthritis treatment in Johannesburg: what you should know
The causes of arthritis vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old injury. In Johannesburg, the doctor first confirms the type of arthritis, because treatment depends on it.
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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.
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