1Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined and your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed by the doctor, who then decides if the procedure is suitable. Scans you already hold can be sent before the visit.
Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Conditions in Sapporo
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
Consultation and review of your scansFree
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What it is
What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?
With arthritis, a joint is inflamed. Signs to watch for: pain while resting and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. There are several causes — autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid, psoriatic arthritis), gout, infection or an injury from the past.
PRP and SVF can lessen inflammation and pain and back up the tissues in the joint, but systemic disease remains the rheumatologist's job. The procedure is skipped while there is an active joint infection or a severe flare, and the doctor first confirms the form of arthritis before choosing when to proceed.
- No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
- Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
- Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Who the treatment suits
An examination and a review of your scans come first; then a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you
Suitable
- Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
- Painkillers only help for a short time
- Recovery after injuries and surgery
- You need a second opinion on your scans
- You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
- Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
- High load on the joints — sport or physical work
Not suitable
- Cancer
- Pregnancy
- Blood clotting disorders
- Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
- Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
- Temporary contraindications: a cold, flu or fever, or skin inflammation over the joint to be treated
Not sure the treatment is right for you?
Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.
Find out if it suits meWhat we treat
Conditions we treat
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions- Second opinionFor a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
How it works
How the procedure goes: step by step
1
2Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein, and from it platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is later prepared.
3Adipose tissue sample
With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — about 30 ml — is collected through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen, and no stitches are required.
4Processing in a centrifuge
The stromal vascular fraction is isolated after the sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers, then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
5Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
6Follow-up
There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.
Book a consultation
Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation
Results
After the procedure
1 week
The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.
1 month
The pain usually eases.
~3 months
Mobility and activity improve.
~6 months
The full effect develops.
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.
Comparison
Methods we use
No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue
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.
In cases of inflammatory arthritis it comes in once the acute flare has eased, for its effect on local inflammation and repair of tissue.
- Material
- Your adipose tissue and plasma
- How it is given
- Into the joint, under ultrasound
- Duration
- The whole procedure is done in one day.
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.
Recommended in some cases of rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, it is one part of a broader treatment plan.
- Material
- Your blood from a vein
- How it is given
- Into the joint, under ultrasound
- Duration
- The whole procedure is done in one day.
The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.
At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan
Free consultation
Joints
Joints we treat
After going through your scans, the doctor selects the joint, the method and the number of injections — whether the joint is large or small
KneeWear of the cartilage, problems with the meniscus, pain after walking and on stairs
HipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
ShoulderPain when raising the arm, wear of the joint and surrounding tendons
ElbowPain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist jointsPainful, stiff small joints of the wrist and fingers
AnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Advantages
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We try to keep the joint you have rather than replace it — with treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue
No crutches
Under local anaesthetic, through punctures instead of incisions, with no long rehabilitation afterwards
Second opinion
For a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
Support after the procedure
We remain in contact after the procedure and follow the result, well beyond the injection day
About the clinic
A clinic where you can feel at ease
Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient
Contact us the way that suits you
We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation
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Request a free callPrice
Arthritis treatment prices
The cost depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method, so the doctor names it after the consultation
Consultation and review of your scans
Free
Book — Consultation and review of your scansPRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)
Price at consultation
Book — PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint
Price at consultation
Book — Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint
FAQ
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that is treated by a rheumatologist. PRP and SVF injections do not cure it; once an acute flare has settled, the doctor can assess whether joint injections may ease local 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.
PRP may help with local inflammation, pain and swelling in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis. The platelets release growth factors that affect tissue repair and the immune response. Your rheumatologist's treatment stays in place — PRP complements it and does not replace it.
The aim with psoriatic arthritis, a chronic disease that cannot currently be cured completely, is long remission — controlling inflammation and stopping joint deformity. One part of that plan can be regenerative injections.
In SVF there are cells that can influence the local immune response and help damaged tissue in the joint to repair. The doctor will discuss realistic expectations for your type of arthritis, since research in this area is ongoing.
The doctor postpones the procedure or suggests another option in cases of active joint infection, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders, as it is not done then.
Arthritis of the knee means inflammation — from an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout — with redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness when touched. Osteoarthritis is the wearing of cartilage and typically brings a dry crunch and aching pain on movement.
Inflammation never stops stimulating the pain receptors of the joint, whether you move, rest or sleep at night. Treatment that targets inflammation, including PRP and SVF, can help ease this pain.
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.
Yes — a doctor will look through your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results free of charge and tell you whether regenerative treatment could fit your type of arthritis.
Without treatment the condition can leave the joint permanently deformed, cause loss of function and osteoporosis, and damage internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys; timely treatment prevents these complications.
About the conditions
More about these conditions
It is gradual wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. When the cartilage thins, the joint loses its cushioning, the bones rub against each other, and pain, stiffness and crunching appear. It is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one.
At early stages, PRP or SVF injections combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy can reduce pain and improve movement. If the joint is already badly damaged, replacement may be the more realistic option — the doctor will tell you honestly after seeing your scans.
At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required.