Arthritis Treatment for Patients from Lisbon
PRP together with SVF cell therapy supports arthritis care in the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints; first comes a doctor's review of your case
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
Any size of joint, large or small: your scans are reviewed first, then the doctor settles on the joint, the method and the number of injections
Elbow
Wear of the joint surfaces, and pain after overuse or strain from sport
Hand and wrist joints
Painful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Stair and post-walking pain, worn cartilage and meniscus problems
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain lifting the arm, with wear of the joint and its surrounding tendons
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
We take a small sample of your adipose tissue and process it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. It is then combined with your own plasma and 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
Separated from a small volume of your blood, plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is injected into the joint to help calm inflammation and create better conditions for tissue repair.
Recommended in some cases of rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, it is one part of a broader treatment plan.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor decides on the procedure only after examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. You are welcome to send any scans you have before the appointment.
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
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, under local anaesthetic; the puncture needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
The sample goes into a centrifuge and separates into layers; next, 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
After the procedure there is no hospital stay and no need for crutches; the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's progress.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor decides on the procedure only after examining the joint and reviewing your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. You are welcome to send any scans you have before the appointment.
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
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, under local anaesthetic; the puncture needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
The sample goes into a centrifuge and separates into layers; next, 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
After the procedure there is no hospital stay and no need for crutches; the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's progress.
Follow-up visits
The doctor uses follow-up visits to check the joint's response and adjust the plan — typically pain eases during the first month, movement gets better over about three months and the full effect develops across around six months.
Conditions we treat
A doctor decides whether the treatment suits you after examining you and reviewing your scans
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: inflamed skin above the treated joint, fever, a cold or the flu
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
Most people go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two; the puncture sites are covered with small dressings. During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect develops over around six months. How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result. If you are being treated by a rheumatologist, do not stop your prescribed medication without talking to them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We work on keeping your own joint rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue
No crutches
Instead of incisions we use punctures, with local anaesthetic and no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge
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?
In arthritis the joints are inflamed. People usually notice pain at night and at rest, stiffness in the morning that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, and redness and heat over the joint. It can be caused by autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, by infections, by gout or by psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
In rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, PRP may be used to help ease local inflammation, pain and swelling. The growth factors that platelets release affect the immune response and tissue repair. It adds to, but does not replace, the treatment your rheumatologist prescribes.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
At present psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease, cannot be cured completely. Treatment aims at long remission by controlling inflammation and preventing deformity of the joints; regenerative injections may be one part of this plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
The cells in SVF can modulate the immune response locally and support repair of damaged joint tissue. As research in this area continues, the doctor will discuss what you can realistically expect for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done during an active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders. In these cases the doctor postpones the procedure or suggests another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
The difference: knee arthritis is inflammation from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout (redness, warmth, marked swelling, tenderness to touch), while osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage, usually with a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
PRP, SVF and other treatment aimed at reducing inflammation can ease this pain, because inflammation keeps stimulating the joint's pain receptors all the time — at rest, on movement and at night.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. In pregnancy, joint injections such as PRP and SVF are contraindicated, and any arthritis treatment is decided only together with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. A doctor looks at your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood tests free of charge and says whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis — simply send them.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Permanent joint deformity, loss of function, osteoporosis and damage to internal organs such as the heart, lungs and kidneys can follow if it goes untreated. Timely treatment is needed to prevent this.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
How PRP and SVF work in arthritis for Lisbon residents
Regenerative injections are not done during an active joint infection or a severe flare. In Lisbon, the doctor chooses the right moment, usually once the acute inflammation has settled.
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 Lisbon after the examination.
Book a free consultation in Lisbon to find out whether PRP or SVF could help your arthritis. The doctor names the price after examining the joint.
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