Regenerative Arthritis Care in Tucson
SVF cell therapy and PRP for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints, used within arthritis care once a doctor has reviewed your tests and 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?
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 may help ease inflammation and pain and support the tissues within the joint, yet they are no substitute for a rheumatologist's care of a systemic disease. We do not carry out the procedure during an active joint infection or a severe flare — the doctor first confirms which arthritis you have and picks 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
Small joints as well as large — the doctor reviews your scans and then chooses the joint, the method and how many injections to give
Elbow
Pain after overuse or sports strain, wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness and pain in the small joints of the fingers and wrist
Knee
Meniscus issues and cartilage wear, with pain after walking or on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain when raising the arm, wear of the joint and surrounding tendons
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
Your adipose tissue, in a small sample, is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a combination of cells engaged in tissue repair. The affected joint then receives it by injection, together with your own plasma.
Its effect on local inflammation and tissue repair is why it is used in inflammatory arthritis, after the acute flare has settled.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Your blood, in a small amount, provides plasma rich in platelets and growth factors; injected into the joint, it helps ease inflammation and creates better conditions for repair of the tissues.
It may be recommended for rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis as one part of the overall treatment plan.
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
Through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen, and under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken. Stitches are not needed.
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 go without crutches or a hospital stay, while the doctor keeps in touch after the procedure 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
Through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen, and under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken. Stitches are not needed.
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 go without crutches or a hospital stay, while the doctor keeps in touch after the procedure and follows 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
The treatment is only offered once a doctor has examined you and reviewed your scans and found it suitable
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, flu or a cold, or inflamed skin over the joint being 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
Keeping your natural joint rather than having it replaced: treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
No synthetic or donor material is involved — only your own adipose tissue and blood
No crutches
No long rehabilitation — just punctures instead of incisions and local anaesthetic
Second opinion
A doctor will give you an independent assessment free of charge — just send 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
Price depends on the joint, the method and your type of arthritis, and 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?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and 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?
Psoriatic arthritis is chronic and, for now, cannot be cured completely. Treatment therefore aims at long remission, controlling inflammation and preventing the joints from deforming. Regenerative injections may be one part of that plan.
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 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 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.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Joint injections — PRP and SVF too — are not given in pregnancy, as it is a contraindication. A rheumatologist and an obstetrician decide on arthritis treatment during pregnancy together.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. Your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results are reviewed by a doctor free of charge, and you will hear whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis.
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.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
What Tucson residents ask about arthritis
PRP and SVF can help reduce inflammation and pain and support the tissues inside the joint. For patients from Tucson with systemic disease, they complement, but do not replace, care from a rheumatologist.
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 Tucson after the examination.
The price depends on how many joints are treated and on the method. For patients from Tucson, the doctor explains the plan and the cost at a free consultation.
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