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

Non-Surgical Joint Treatment in Florence

Free scan review first, then SVF cell therapy or PRP for the knee, hip, shoulder or other joints if they suit you

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?

In regenerative joint therapy, two materials from your own body are used — platelet-rich plasma (PRP), taken from blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), taken from a small adipose tissue sample. Once injected into the affected joint, they work to cut pain and inflammation and support the tissues there.

  • 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

Suitability is decided by a doctor once you have been examined and your scans reviewed

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: skin inflammation over the joint to be treated, a fever, a cold or flu

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

An examination of the joint and a review of your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound results let the doctor decide whether the procedure suits you. Please send any scans you have before the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

We take a small blood sample from a vein. From it, platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is prepared later on.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are required.

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

The prepared material is injected straight into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps to place it precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

There are no crutches and you do not stay in hospital. After the procedure the doctor stays in contact and tracks 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

Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials — nothing donor-derived or synthetic

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a combination of cells involved in tissue repair — is isolated by processing a small sample of your adipose tissue. It is combined with your plasma and injected into the joint that needs treatment.

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

It is typically chosen for more pronounced joint changes, with a longer-lasting result in mind.

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

From a small blood sample, plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is separated and injected into the joint. It helps ease inflammation and creates a better environment for tissues to repair.

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

It is suitable as a separate injection course or in combination 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

Large and small joints can be treated; the doctor settles the joint, the method and the injection count after checking your scans

  • KneeKneeWorn cartilage, meniscus problems, pain on stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderWear of the joint and its tendons, pain when raising the arm
  • ElbowElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overload or sports strain
  • 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

The goal is your own joint kept, not replaced, through treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials — nothing donor-derived or synthetic

No crutches

No crutches

Small punctures in place of incisions, local anaesthetic, no long recovery programme

Second opinion

Second opinion

Forward your X-rays, MRI or reports to get a free, independent assessment from a doctor

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

Beyond the day of the injection, we keep in touch after the procedure and follow your result

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

How much it costs depends on the joint, the method and the stage of the condition — the doctor tells you after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

About non-surgical joint treatment for patients from Florence

Joint treatment in Florence is built around keeping your own joint. Instead of a long rehabilitation after surgery, you get injections under local anaesthetic, no crutches and no hospital stay, and the doctor stays in touch afterwards.

The procedure in Florence takes one day. Blood is taken from a vein for PRP, a small portion of adipose tissue is taken under local anaesthetic without stitches, the material is spun in a centrifuge, and the prepared mix is injected precisely into the affected joint.

How much does joint treatment cost in Florence? The answer comes after the doctor has seen your scans and examined the joint: PRP, SVF or a combination are priced differently. The first consultation is free. Send a request or message us in any messenger.

Hills around a flat basin, and what they ask of the knees

Florence sits at an elevation of 50 m on the Arno, in a basin ringed by the hills of Careggi, Fiesole, Settignano, Arcetri, Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo. The Mugnone, the Ema and the Greve also run through the area. The centre of the city is level. But the districts and roads that climb towards those hills are not, and anyone living on or near a slope meets inclines and steps every day, on the way to a shop, a tram stop or home.

That matters for joints because the knee and the hip are loaded hardest on the way down and on the way up. The knee complaint described in our medical material is "pain climbing stairs or after walking". Other early signs are cartilage wear and meniscus trouble. A resident of a hilly district may notice the problem earlier than someone on flat ground, simply because a slope makes it visible. Hip osteoarthritis tends to show itself differently: groin pain and limited rotation, for example when getting out of a car or putting on socks.

Pain on slopes does not tell you the cause. Osteoarthritis is gradual wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Arthritis is inflammation, with pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, and redness and warmth over the joint. The treatment approach differs, so the diagnosis comes first. A doctor settles it from your examination and your scans, not from a description of the route to your front door.

If you live in Florence and your joints hurt on stairs or after a walk, an online consultation gives you a first answer without a trip to a specialist. You send an X-ray, an MRI or an ultrasound report. The coordinator replies on WhatsApp or Telegram at any hour, and the doctor reviews the scans free of charge. After that the doctor says whether regenerative treatment with your own blood and adipose tissue is worth considering, or whether something else is needed first.

Cold, damp and stiff joints: reading the Florentine year

Many people say their joints complain in damp, cold weather. We do not claim that weather causes joint disease. It is still useful to know what the Florentine year looks like, because it shapes when you notice symptoms and when you can plan a procedure.

The 1991-2020 weather record for Florence shows two extremes. In January the mean high is 11.2 °C and the mean low 2.1 °C, and there are about 28.5 days a year with a minimum below freezing. January is also the most humid month, at 71.5% relative humidity, against 60.6% in July. Rain falls on 84.7 days a year, adding up to 788 mm. November is the wettest month with 115.3 mm, followed by October with 105.1 mm. At the other end, July averages a high of 32.3 °C and a low of 18.4 °C, with only 24.6 mm of rain. On average 71 days a year reach 30 °C or more.

The sunniest month is July with 313.1 hours, and the dullest is January with 93.0. Short, dim winter days tend to mean less time outdoors. Stiffness after rest, which is typical of osteoarthritis, is easy to notice when you have sat still on a cold morning and then stand up. A short written note of when it is worst, in the morning, after a long evening or after rain, helps the doctor at the consultation. It does not replace scans.

For planning, the practical point is that a few conditions are temporary reasons to postpone the procedure: skin inflammation over the joint to be treated, a fever, a cold or flu. The cold season brings colds and flu, so it can help to book the consultation early. The review of scans and the plan can then be settled while you are well, and the date of the injection fixed for a healthy week. Summer heat is not a medical barrier in itself, but follow the doctor's advice on load and exercise in the first weeks after the procedure.

Age, weight and activity: who is asking about joints

Italy has one of the longest life expectancies in the OECD: 83.4 years in 2018, the fourth highest. A long life means a joint has to work for a long time, and cartilage wear is one of the most common reasons people look for help. The country spent 9.7% of GDP on health in 2020, so medical care is something people are used to using, and a second opinion is a natural thing to want.

Weight and movement matter for joints too. The national ISTAT survey for 2023 found that 46.3% of adults were overweight or obese (34.6% overweight, 11.8% obese, up from 10.3% in 2013), and 35% of people aged 3 and over were sedentary. These are national figures, with no regional split for Tuscany. They show the general picture rather than Florence specifically. Our treatment material states clearly that how long an effect lasts depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, and that no one can promise a fixed result. So weight and activity are part of the conversation, not a side remark.

Florence also has a young population. The University of Florence has about 50,000 students, and over 8,000 more come to study in US programmes. Students do not usually come to mind when joints are discussed, but recovery after injuries and surgery is one of the reasons for treatment, and so is high load from sport or physical work. Calcio Fiorentino is played in June in Piazza Santa Croce between four teams from the city's quartieri, with two semi-finals and a final on 24 June. ACF Fiorentina was formed in 1926, and the stadium holds 47,282. In a city this attached to football, ankles, knees and menisci are an everyday topic. For the ankle, the typical complaint is pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries.

The public system, waiting lists and a private online route

Italy's national health service, the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale), was established in 1978 and provides universal coverage to citizens and residents. It runs on a regional basis, and national Essential Levels of Care (LEA) define what must be provided. For a Florence resident this means that the first steps in joint care, such as a specialist visit and imaging, normally go through the regional system.

Waiting times are the usual complaint. In the big public facilities the wait is usually up to a few months, and in private facilities contracted with the SSN usually up to a few weeks. We found no official waiting-list figure, so treat these as general descriptions. Specialist visits carry a co-pay, with exemptions by age (over 65, under 6), income or chronic illness. Check your own exemption with your regional provider.

We cannot tell you from here what the SSN in your region covers for regenerative injections, and we do not claim it covers them. What we can say is that our online consultation and the review of your scans are free, with no obligation to book anything. If your public appointment is months away, you can have a doctor read the images you already hold. The doctor will then tell you whether treatment without surgery could suit you, or whether you should insist on a different kind of care. Seeing the results of a second look may also help you prepare questions for the public specialist.

Making the procedure fit a Florentine calendar

Planning around the calendar is simple in Florence because the days off are clear. Italian national holidays include 1 January, 6 January, Easter Monday, 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 15 August, 4 October, 1 November, 8 December, 25 December and 26 December, and every Sunday is a holiday. Local life adds 24 June, the patron-saint day of St John the Baptist, and the Scoppio del Carro in Piazza del Duomo on Easter Sunday. On such days public offices and many practices are closed. Our coordinators answer round the clock, so a question sent on a holiday evening still gets a reply, and a review of your scans does not wait for a working day.

The procedure itself is short. At the consultation the joint is examined and your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein for PRP. 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 stromal vascular fraction is mixed with platelet-rich plasma. Under ultrasound guidance the material goes into the joint. Everything is done in one day, with no hospital stay and no crutches, and normally you return to ordinary life within a day or two.

After that comes a slow stretch. In the first week the joint may ache a little more, which is an expected reaction. After about a month the pain usually eases, around three months mobility and activity improve, and at about six months the full effect develops. These timings are averages and the doctor confirms them for your case. So if you want to feel better for a particular season, say walking on the hills in spring, count backwards by months rather than weeks, and keep in touch with the coordinator, who follows how your joint responds.

Do the Florence hills really make knee or hip problems more likely?

We cannot say that living on a slope causes joint disease. What the hills do is make symptoms noticeable, because inclines and steps load the knee and hip. Pain on stairs or after a walk is a reason to send your scans for review. The doctor will establish whether the cause is cartilage wear, a meniscus problem or inflammation.

Is it worth doing the procedure in winter, given Florence's cold and damp?

Winter is possible if you are well. A fever, a cold, flu or skin inflammation over the joint are temporary reasons to postpone. January in Florence is humid and cold, with a mean low of 2.1 °C and about 28.5 freezing days a year, so many people simply move the injection to a healthy week. The scan review and plan can be done at any time.

Does the Italian public health service pay for PRP or cell therapy?

We cannot confirm that. The SSN is universal and run regionally, with national Essential Levels of Care, and what a region covers can vary. Ask your regional provider. Our consultation and scan review are free, so you can find out whether the treatment suits you before any decision.

I have a public specialist appointment in a few months. Can I get an opinion sooner?

Yes. Waiting times in big public facilities are usually up to a few months. You can send your existing X-ray, MRI, CT or reports to the coordinator, and the doctor reviews them free of charge. You hear whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed, which can help you prepare for the public appointment.

I play football and had a meniscus injury. Can the injection help?

For meniscus damage and knee osteoarthritis, PRP and SVF injections are used to ease pain and support the joint. The doctor reviews your MRI first. Recovery after injuries and surgery is one of the reasons for treatment, and the doctor will also advise on load and exercise for the first weeks.

Does being overweight change whether treatment will work?

It can affect how long the effect lasts. Duration depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, and no one can promise a fixed result. At the consultation the doctor discusses this honestly, based on your scans.

Can I arrange the consultation on a holiday or Sunday in Florence?

Coordinators reply round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram, including Sundays and national holidays. Send your scans whenever suits you. The doctor's review follows, and you decide on the date of any procedure afterwards.

Which joints can be treated, and how do I know it is not too late?

The knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, the joints of the hand and wrist, and the ankle. Chances of a lasting effect are higher at earlier stages. For a joint already badly damaged, replacement may be more realistic, and the doctor will say so after seeing your scans.