Joint Treatment for Patients from Lisbon
Cell therapy (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma for knee, hip and shoulder joints and beyond, plus a free look at your scans 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 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.
This treatment suits people with painful joints who would like to avoid or delay surgery, or who have been told that only a joint replacement will help. The earlier the stage, the better the prospect of a lasting result — the doctor judges this 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
Treatment covers large and small joints, with the joint, the method and the number of injections chosen after the doctor reviews your scans
Elbow
Pain from overuse or sports strain, worn joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Small joints of the wrist and fingers that are stiff and sore
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
Pain when you raise your arm, worn joint and surrounding tendons
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
A small sample of adipose tissue is taken and processed to obtain the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. Mixed with your own plasma, it is then injected into the affected joint.
The usual reason to choose it: more pronounced changes in the joint and the goal of a longer-lasting effect.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors comes from a small amount of your blood; once injected into the joint, it helps reduce inflammation and sets up better conditions for tissue repair.
It can be used on its own as a course of injections, or together with SVF.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor assesses the joint in person and reviews X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, then decides if you are a candidate for the procedure. Scans you have can be sent before the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is collected through a puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh under local anaesthetic. The puncture needs no stitches.
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.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The material, once prepared, is injected directly into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Afterwards there are no crutches and no hospital stay, and the doctor keeps in touch to follow how the joint is responding.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor assesses the joint in person and reviews X-rays, MRI or ultrasound, then decides if you are a candidate for the procedure. Scans you have can be sent before the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
About 30 ml of adipose tissue is collected through a puncture on the abdomen or the inner thigh under local anaesthetic. The puncture needs no stitches.
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.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The material, once prepared, is injected directly into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Afterwards there are no crutches and no hospital stay, and the doctor keeps in touch to follow how the joint is responding.
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
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: fever, a cold or the flu, inflammation of the skin over 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
Most patients return home that same day and get back to their usual daily activity in a day or two, with small dressings on the puncture sites. It is an expected reaction for the joint to ache slightly more in the first week. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity get better, and over around six months the full effect develops. How long it lasts is individual — the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors all play a part — and no one can promise a fixed result. In the first weeks, your doctor advises you individually on exercise and load.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We work on keeping your own joint rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials — nothing donor-derived or synthetic
No crutches
Local anaesthetic and punctures in place of incisions mean no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge
Support after the procedure
We stay in touch after the procedure and follow the result, not just the day of the injection
Joint treatment prices
The joint, the method and the stage of the condition determine the cost, so it is set 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?
Your own tissue is used in both methods, which keeps the risk of rejection or an allergic reaction very low. Any injection may cause temporary pain, swelling or bruising; infection is rare. The doctor explains your individual risks at the consultation.
How long does the effect last?
Each case differs. A PRP effect often lasts from several months to around a year, and an SVF effect can last longer. It depends on your body and the stage of the condition, so no one can promise you a fixed result.
Who should not have the procedure?
The doctor checks at the consultation that you have no cancer, acute infection or blood clotting disorder, are not pregnant and are not in a flare-up of a serious chronic illness — in these cases the procedure is not done.
Can hip osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis) be treated without surgery?
At early stages, PRP or SVF injections combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy can reduce pain and improve movement. If the joint is already badly damaged, replacement may be the more realistic option — the doctor will tell you honestly after seeing your scans.
Can avascular necrosis of the hip be treated?
SVF therapy at early stages (1–2) may be considered to support blood flow to the femoral head and push back the need for joint replacement. Later stages generally need surgery.
Why try to avoid joint replacement?
Replacement is major surgery that brings long rehabilitation, risks including infection, and implants that may eventually need redoing. So with early or moderate changes it often makes sense to first try preserving your own joint.
Can I get a second opinion on my scans?
Of course. Send the X-rays, MRI, CT or medical reports you have; a doctor reviews them free and tells you if the procedure could suit you and what further steps may be needed.
How soon can I return to normal life?
Usually a day or two is enough. There is no long rehabilitation and no crutches, and in the first weeks you follow the doctor's recommendations on load and exercise.
Does the treatment help with shoulder pain?
PRP is used for problems of the shoulder joint and the rotator cuff, and SVF may be considered for more advanced arthritis of the shoulder. Whether it suits you depends on the cause of the pain, which the doctor establishes first.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
How SVF and PRP therapy works for Lisbon residents
The method relies on your own tissue only, so there is no donor or synthetic material. Plasma is prepared from a small blood sample, and SVF from about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken through a puncture. This is how non-surgical joint treatment works for everyone in Lisbon.
PRP can be given as a course of injections or together with SVF. The number of injections and the method are chosen individually for each patient from Lisbon after the examination and scan review.
Book a free consultation in Lisbon 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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