City Medical Centre · multi-specialty surgery clinicOpen 24/7
EN
Message us on Telegram

Non-Surgical Joint Treatment in Bilbao

Cell therapy (SVF) and PRP for the knee, hip, shoulder and other joints. A free review of your scans before any decision

Consultation and review of your scansFree

Message us on WhatsApp

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

Message our coordinator

Free online consultation · Reply within 15 minutes

Message us on Telegram

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

What it is

What is regenerative
joint treatment?

Everything used in regenerative joint treatment comes from you: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a little adipose tissue. The doctor injects it into the painful joint to lessen inflammation and pain and to support the joint's inner tissues.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

The decision on whether the treatment suits you is made by a doctor, after an examination and a look at your scans

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • 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

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: a fever, a cold or flu, inflamed skin 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 me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

Before anything else, the doctor examines the joint and goes through your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to see if the procedure is suitable. Scans can be sent to us ahead of time.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount, and it is later used to prepare platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge, where it separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with your platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor places the prepared material precisely by injecting it straight into the affected joint.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches, no hospital stay — and after the procedure the doctor keeps in touch to follow the joint's response.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~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

Only your own blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic material is used

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

Your adipose tissue, taken in a small sample, is processed so that the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) can be isolated: a mixture of cells that play a role in tissue repair. Together with your own plasma, it goes into the affected joint.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

It is usually chosen when the changes in the joint are more pronounced and a longer-lasting effect is the goal.

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

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is separated from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint. It helps calm inflammation and creates better conditions for tissue repair.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

Either on its own, as a series of injections, or together with SVF.

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

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

From large joints to small ones: the doctor picks the joint, the technique and the injection count after studying your scans

  • KneeKneeWear of the cartilage, meniscus problems, pain on the stairs and after walks
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on lifting the arm, wear of the joint and nearby tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain caused by overuse or sports strain; worn joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Our aim is to keep your own joint, not replace it — treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Only your own blood and adipose tissue — no donor or synthetic material is used

No crutches

No crutches

Punctures instead of incisions, local anaesthetic, no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We stay in contact once the procedure is over and follow how the result develops

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

By messaging us, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Request a free call

Price

Joint treatment prices

After the consultation the doctor gives the price, which depends on the joint, the stage and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Everything about regenerative joint treatment in Bilbao

If you have been told that joint replacement is the only choice, a second opinion is worth getting. In Bilbao, you can send your scans and reports for a free independent assessment before making any decision about surgery.

Follow-up visits help the doctor see how the joint responds and adjust the plan. In Bilbao, you receive recommendations on load and exercise for the first weeks, and the doctor stays in touch after the procedure.

The cost of joint treatment depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method, so the price is set at the consultation. The initial consultation and review of your scans are free for patients from Bilbao. Leave your name and phone number, and a coordinator will contact you.

Between the ría and the 400 m ridges: what the terrain asks of knees and hips

Bilbao is compact. The municipality covers roughly 40.65 km², and its average official altitude is only 19 m, with the lowest and highest points of the built-up area lying between 6 and 32 m. That sounds flat, but the city sits in a basin: the urban area is ringed by two small mountain ranges of about 400 m, and the highest point, Mount Ganeta, reaches 689 m. Anyone who lives here knows that a short distance on the map can still mean a steep climb on foot.

For a knee or a hip with early wear, the gradient matters more than the distance. Going up a slope loads the knee joint, and coming down puts a different strain on the cartilage and the meniscus. The joint review the doctor does during an online consultation starts with exactly this question: when does the pain appear, on climbing, on descending, after a long walk or after sitting still? The answers help to read the scans more accurately.

The ría, formed where the Nervión and the Ibaizábal meet and running for about 15 km, gives the city a long, level axis for walking and cycling. Level ground is usually kinder to a painful joint than a hillside, and the doctor may discuss with you which kind of activity to keep and which to ease off while the joint is being treated. Specific load recommendations for the first weeks after the procedure are given individually; no general rule fits everyone.

The conditions treated with PRP and SVF on the service list include gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis), coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis), meniscus problems and rehabilitation after injuries. A knee that complains on stairs or after walking, or a hip that hurts in the groin and turns less than it used to, are typical reasons to send scans for review.

Rain, sirimiri and stiff mornings: reading the weather without blaming it

The climate here is oceanic. Annual precipitation reaches about 1,158 mm over 124.4 days, so rain is a regular part of the year rather than an occasional event. November is the wettest month, with 171 mm over 13.7 days, followed by January with 130 mm and December with 127 mm. July and August are the driest, at 52–53 mm. Average humidity is 71 %, and the very fine drizzle known locally as sirimiri belongs to this picture.

Winters are mild but not warm. In January and February the average highs are 13.5 and 14.2 °C and the lows 5.3 and 5.1 °C. Sunshine is limited as well: about 1,640 hours a year, only 36 % of the possible total, and just 81 hours in each of December and January against 186 in July. Snow is rare, about 1.7 days a year, though records show extremes in both directions: 44.0 °C on 23 August 2023 and −8.6 °C on 3 February 1963.

Many people with joint pain say that damp, cool days make the joint feel worse. It is worth being careful here: the weather is not a diagnosis, and it does not decide whether PRP or SVF will suit you. What the doctor looks at are your scans, the stage of the condition and your symptoms. What the weather can do is influence your habits. In the wet months it is easy to move less, and a joint that is rarely used often becomes stiffer.

The difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis helps here too. Osteoarthritis is gradual wear of the cartilage: aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest. Arthritis is inflammation: pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. If your symptoms look more like the second description, the diagnosis comes first, because the approach to treatment differs. Keeping a short note of when the pain appears, at rest or on movement, and at what time of day, is useful material for the consultation.

Joint wear in Spanish figures: who is affected and why weight matters

The European Health Survey 2020, published by the national statistics institute, ranks arthrosis as the third most common diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over in Spain. It affects 14.4 % of them, after high blood pressure (19.0 %) and high cholesterol (15.3 %). Low back pain follows at 13.7 %. Joint wear is therefore not a rare complaint but one of the most familiar chronic conditions in the country.

The same survey looks at body weight. Obesity was found in 16.0 % of adults (16.5 % of men and 15.5 % of women), overweight in 37.6 %, and 53.6 % of adults were above what is considered normal weight. Weight is relevant to joints because the knees and hips carry the body's load. The information on the treatment itself states that how long the effect lasts depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. The doctor can discuss this with you frankly, without turning it into a reproach.

Age is another background factor. Bilbao has a municipal population of 347,342 according to the 2024 figures, and about 1,037,847 live in the wider metropolitan area. The city also has a large student community connected with the university, with its Bizkaia campus in Leioa, 11 km from the centre, so the age range of residents is wide. We do not have city-specific data on the age of patients with joint disease, so we do not draw conclusions about it. What matters at an individual level is the stage of the condition, and the doctor assesses that from the scans.

The treatment is chosen with these factors in mind. PRP comes from your own blood, and SVF from a small sample of your own adipose tissue, so no donor or synthetic material is used. Chances of a lasting effect are higher at earlier stages, and for a badly damaged joint the doctor will say honestly if replacement may be the more realistic option.

Waiting for an orthopaedic appointment in the Basque Country: what the national data show

Official health statistics help to put the wait in context. On 31 December 2025 the Basque Country had 24,069 patients waiting for surgery, or 10.81 per 1,000 inhabitants, with an average wait of 64 days, one of the shortest in the national health system. In Traumatology specifically, 6,638 patients were waiting for surgery, with an average of 78 days.

The national picture is longer. For hip prostheses the average wait across the system was 98 days, and 13.7 % of patients exceeded the maximum period of 180 days. For knee prostheses the figures were 105 days and 15.9 %. For outpatient specialist consultations, the average wait was 102 days, and Traumatology had the longest wait for a first consultation, at 132 days. These are national averages, and they say nothing definite about any single person's experience in Bilbao.

Why does this matter for an online consultation? Not because it replaces anything in the public system. A free review of existing scans is a way to get a second opinion while you wait for an appointment or are deciding what to do next. You send your X-rays, MRI, CT or reports, the doctor reviews them without charge, and you hear whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed. There is no obligation to book anything afterwards.

Joint replacement is major surgery with a long rehabilitation, and with early or moderate changes it often makes sense to try to preserve your own joint first. The doctor will tell you whether that is realistic for you. If it is not, a clear answer is also useful, as it lets you plan the next steps with the specialists who follow your case.

Getting ready for an online joint consultation from Bilbao

The consultation takes place online, and coordinators answer round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram. In practice it begins with gathering what you already have: X-ray, MRI or ultrasound images and any written reports. Existing scans can be sent in advance, and the coordinator will tell you which ones are most useful for the joint concerned. Large and small joints can be treated, namely the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, the joints of the hand and wrist, and the ankle. The doctor decides on the joint, the method and the number of injections only after checking your scans.

If treatment goes ahead, the procedure follows a clear order. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. For SVF, under local anaesthetic the doctor takes roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a small puncture in the abdomen or inner thigh, and stitches are not needed. The sample is spun in a centrifuge, and the SVF isolated from it is mixed with platelet-rich plasma. The material is then injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. The whole procedure is done in one day, with no hospital stay and no crutches, and the doctor keeps in touch afterwards.

The expected course is described in stages. During the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. After about a month the pain usually eases, mobility and activity improve at around 3 months, and the full effect develops at about 6 months. These timings are averages for guidance, and no one can promise a fixed result.

Some conditions rule the procedure out or postpone it. It is not done in people with cancer, acute infections including infection in or near the joint, blood clotting disorders, during pregnancy or during a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. Temporary reasons to wait include skin inflammation over the joint, a fever, a cold or flu. If you have one of these, say so in the first message so that the coordinator can plan accordingly.

I live in Bilbao and my knee hurts on slopes and stairs. Is that enough to send scans for review?

Yes. Pain on climbing stairs or after walking is one of the typical reasons for sending knee scans. Send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound, and the doctor will review them free of charge and say whether PRP or SVF could suit you. It helps to note when the pain appears: on climbing, on descending, at rest or at night.

Does the damp, rainy weather in Bilbao change the treatment plan?

No. The plan depends on your scans, the stage of the condition and your symptoms, not on the weather. Bilbao has around 124 rainy days a year and humidity averaging 71 %, so some people notice their joints more on such days, but the weather is not a diagnosis. The doctor will discuss which activity to keep and what load is reasonable in the first weeks.

Can I send scans that were done in the Basque public health system?

Yes. Any existing X-ray, MRI, CT or ultrasound images and reports can be sent to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram. The doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you whether the procedure could suit you and whether anything else is needed. Sending them does not commit you to anything.

Waiting times in the region seem fairly short. Why still ask for a second opinion?

The average surgical wait in the Basque Country was 64 days at the end of 2025, and 78 days in Traumatology, which is shorter than the national figures. A wait is only one part of the picture, though. A second opinion on your scans can help you decide, before any appointment, whether an injection-based approach is worth discussing. It costs nothing and carries no obligation to book.

I walk or cycle along the ría every day. Do I need to stop for the treatment?

There is no single answer. The procedure itself needs no hospital stay and no crutches, and most people return to normal life within a day or two. The doctor gives load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks according to the joint treated, so ask about walking and cycling at the consultation.

Is the wet season a bad time to have the procedure?

The service information does not link the timing to the season. What matters are temporary contraindications such as a cold, flu, fever or skin inflammation over the joint. In the damp months, colds are more likely, so tell the coordinator about any such symptoms, and the date can be moved if needed.

Does body weight affect the chances of success?

It can. How long the effect lasts depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. In Spain 53.6 % of adults are above normal weight according to the 2020 national health survey, so this is a common topic. The doctor will discuss it with you plainly and without judgement, as part of the overall plan.

Which joints can be assessed from Bilbao?

The knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, the small joints of the hand and wrist, and the ankle. The doctor decides on the joint, the method and the number of injections after checking your scans.