Joint Pain Treatment in Athens
PRP and SVF cell therapy for the knee, hip, shoulder and more. We review your scans free of charge before any decision
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 regenerative
joint treatment?
The treatment is regenerative and uses only what your body supplies: PRP (platelet-rich plasma from the blood) and SVF (the stromal vascular fraction from a small piece of adipose tissue). Injected into the joint that hurts, it aims to calm inflammation, ease pain and support the tissue within.
Suitable for people with joint pain who would rather avoid or postpone surgery, or who were told a joint replacement is inevitable. The earlier the condition, the better the odds of a lasting effect — something the doctor judges from your scans.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large and small joints — the doctor chooses the joint, the method and the number of injections after reviewing your scans
Elbow
Joint surface wear and pain after overload or sports strain
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness and pain in the small joints of the fingers and wrist
Knee
Cartilage wearing down, meniscus problems, pain after walking or on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Worn joint and surrounding tendons, pain when lifting the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
The method starts with a small adipose tissue sample, which is processed to separate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells active in tissue repair. With your own plasma added, it is injected into the affected joint.
This option is usually picked for more advanced changes in the joint, when the goal is an effect that lasts longer.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
A little of your blood is enough to separate platelet-rich plasma full of growth factors. Injected into the joint, it calms inflammation and improves conditions for tissue repair.
It can be given as its own course of injections or combined with SVF.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
Your joint is examined and the doctor studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to judge whether the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent before the appointment.
Blood sample for PRP
A small volume of blood is drawn from a vein, which is later turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
A small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. There is no need for stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
Spinning the sample in a centrifuge separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to 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
No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
Your joint is examined and the doctor studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to judge whether the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent before the appointment.
Blood sample for PRP
A small volume of blood is drawn from a vein, which is later turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
A small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. There is no need for stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
Spinning the sample in a centrifuge separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and added to 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
No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your joint responds.
Follow-up visits
Check-ups after the procedure show the doctor how the joint responds, so the plan can be adjusted — typically pain eases in the first month, mobility improves within about three months and the full effect develops over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Your suitability for the treatment is decided by a doctor following an examination and a scan review
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, fever, inflamed skin above the joint 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
Small dressings go over the puncture sites and, in most cases, you go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two. During the first week a little more aching in the joint is an expected reaction. Pain usually eases over the first month; mobility and activity improve over around three months; the full effect develops over about six months. Duration differs between individuals, depending on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no fixed result can be promised by anyone. The doctor gives individual advice on exercise and load for the first weeks.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Our aim is to keep your own joint, not replace it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
We use nothing but your own blood and adipose tissue, with no donor or synthetic material
No crutches
Done through punctures instead of incisions, under local anaesthetic, without long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Share your X-rays, MRI or reports, and a doctor will give an independent opinion free of charge
Support after the procedure
We follow the result after the procedure and stay in contact, not only on the day of the injection
Joint treatment prices
How much it costs depends on the joint, the method and the stage of the condition — the doctor tells you 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 the difference between PRP and SVF?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from your blood, while SVF is a cell fraction taken from a small adipose tissue sample. Because they work differently, they are often combined to strengthen the regenerative effect in the joint.
Is the treatment safe?
With both methods the tissue is your own, so the chance of rejection or an allergic reaction is very low. Any injection can bring temporary pain, swelling or bruising, and infection is rare. The doctor talks you through the risks in your case at the consultation.
How long does the effect last?
Duration is individual. PRP often works for several months to about a year, while SVF may last longer. It depends on the stage of the condition and your body, which is why no one can promise a fixed result.
Who should not have the procedure?
Contraindications include cancer, acute infections, blood clotting disorders, pregnancy and a flare-up of a serious chronic illness; in these cases the procedure is not performed. The doctor checks this at the consultation.
Can coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis) be managed without surgery?
At early stages, pain can be reduced and movement improved with PRP or SVF injections combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy. Should the joint already be badly damaged, a replacement may be more realistic — the doctor tells you honestly after looking at your scans.
Can avascular necrosis of the hip be treated?
At an early stage (1–2), SVF therapy may help support the blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. Surgery is usually required at later stages.
Why try to avoid joint replacement?
With early or moderate changes, trying to keep your own joint first is often the sensible path — a replacement means major surgery, lengthy rehabilitation, risks such as infection and implants that might eventually be redone.
Can I get a second opinion on my scans?
Yes — just send whatever X-rays, MRI, CT or medical reports you have. The review by a doctor costs nothing, and you learn whether the procedure could suit you and what else is needed.
How soon can I return to normal life?
Normally within a day or two. You will not need crutches or long rehabilitation, and the doctor gives you load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks.
Does the treatment help with shoulder pain?
PRP is used for problems with the shoulder joint and rotator cuff, while SVF may be considered for more advanced shoulder arthritis. Whether it suits you depends on what causes the pain, which the doctor establishes first.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Everything about regenerative joint treatment in Athens
SVF and PRP work in different ways. PRP helps calm inflammation and creates better conditions for repair; SVF contains cells involved in tissue repair and is chosen when changes are more pronounced. For patients from Athens, the doctor often combines the two.
It starts with a consultation: the doctor examines the joint and reviews your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound. Then a small blood sample and an adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Athens, everything is done in one day.
Book a free consultation in Athens to find out whether regenerative joint treatment suits you. The doctor names the price after examining the joint and reviewing your scans.
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