Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Conditions in Tokyo
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?
Arthritis is inflammation of a joint. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness that lasts longer than half an hour, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. The causes vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old 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.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
The doctor looks at your scans and then chooses which joint to treat, which method to use and how many injections — for large and small joints alike
Elbow
Pain brought on by overuse or sporting strain, with wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Finger and wrist small joints that are stiff and painful
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
Wear of the joint and the tendons around it, pain on raising the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
To obtain the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that support tissue repair, a small sample of your adipose tissue is processed. The SVF is combined with your own plasma and injected into the affected joint.
Inflammatory arthritis is one use for it, once the acute flare has settled — because it acts on local inflammation and tissue repair.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is taken from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves the conditions for tissue repair.
It may be advised for rheumatoid or other inflammatory arthritis, always as just one part of the overall plan of treatment.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
Examination of the joint and a review of X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide whether the procedure is suitable for you; scans you already have can be sent beforehand.
Blood sample for PRP
Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount, later to be turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
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 spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Without crutches and without a hospital stay: after the procedure the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's response.
Consultation and scan review
Examination of the joint and a review of X-rays, MRI or ultrasound let the doctor decide whether the procedure is suitable for you; scans you already have can be sent beforehand.
Blood sample for PRP
Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount, later to be turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
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 spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Without crutches and without a hospital stay: after the procedure the doctor stays in touch and follows the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
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
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: skin inflammation over the target joint, or a fever, a cold or 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
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
Your own adipose tissue and blood are the only materials used, never donor or synthetic ones
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
Not just the day of the injection: we stay in touch afterwards and follow how the result develops
Arthritis treatment prices
The cost depends on the joint, the type of arthritis and the method, so the doctor names it after the consultation
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?
PRP is sometimes used in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis to help reduce pain, swelling and local inflammation, since the growth factors released by platelets influence tissue repair and the immune response. It complements your rheumatologist's treatment rather than replacing it.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
Regenerative injections can be one part of the plan for psoriatic arthritis — a chronic disease that cannot currently be cured completely, where the aim is long remission, controlled inflammation and no joint deformity.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
SVF brings cells able to modulate the immune response in the joint and to support repair of damaged tissue. This is an area of ongoing research, so expect the doctor to discuss realistic outcomes for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
If you have an active joint infection, a severe flare, cancer or a blood clotting disorder, or are pregnant, the procedure is not done; the doctor postpones it or offers another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Knee arthritis is an inflammation, driven by an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout, that shows as redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness to the touch. Osteoarthritis means worn cartilage and usually presents as aching pain and a dry crunch on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
Because inflammation keeps the joint's pain receptors stimulated all the time — moving, resting or at night — treatment aimed at reducing it, including PRP and SVF, can ease the pain.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. PRP, SVF and other joint injections are contraindicated during pregnancy; how to treat arthritis while pregnant is decided only together with a rheumatologist and an obstetrician.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. A free review by a doctor of your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results will show whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis — send them to us.
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 Tokyo residents
We work with inflammatory joint conditions of the knee, hand and wrist, shoulder, elbow, hip and ankle. Patients from Tokyo can send their test results and scans for a free review.
The procedure is also not done with cancer, blood clotting disorders or during a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks this for every patient in Tokyo at the consultation.
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 Tokyo, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.
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