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Non-Surgical Joint Treatment in Nantes

Regenerative SVF and PRP injections for knees, hips, shoulders and other joints, with your scans checked free beforehand

Consultation and review of your scansFree

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

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What it is

What is regenerative
joint treatment?

Regenerative care for joints is based on your own material. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained from blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a small amount of adipose tissue; the doctor then injects it into the affected joint to reduce pain and inflammation and to support its internal 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

A doctor decides whether the treatment suits you after examining you and reviewing 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 cold, flu or fever, skin inflammation above the joint being 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

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

A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is later prepared from it.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Under local anaesthetic the doctor takes roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a small puncture in the abdomen or inner thigh; stitches are not needed.

Processing in a centrifuge4

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.

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

You need neither crutches nor a hospital stay. The doctor remains in contact afterwards and watches how the joint responds.

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

We use nothing but your own blood and adipose tissue, with no donor or synthetic material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of your adipose tissue, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated — cells that are involved in tissue repair. This fraction, combined with your plasma, is injected into the affected joint.

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

More marked changes in the joint and the wish for a longer-lasting effect are the usual reasons to choose it.

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

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.

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

A course of injections can be done with it alone, or it can be paired 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

Both large and small joints are treated; the joint, the method and the number of injections are chosen by the doctor once your scans are reviewed

  • KneeKneeMeniscus problems, cartilage wear and pain on stairs or after a walk
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain on raising the arm and wear of the joint and nearby tendons
  • ElbowElbowPain following overuse or sports strain, wear of joint surfaces
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsPain and stiffness affecting the small finger and wrist joints
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

We focus on preserving your own joint instead of replacing it, without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

We use nothing but your own blood and adipose tissue, with no donor or synthetic material

No crutches

No crutches

No incisions — just punctures under local anaesthetic, with no long rehabilitation

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

We follow the result after the procedure and stay in contact, not only on the day of the injection

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

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Request a free call

Price

Joint treatment prices

Cost varies with the joint, the stage of the condition and the method; the doctor names it after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Joint treatment in Nantes: what you should know

Joint treatment in Nantes 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.

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 Nantes, everything is done in one day.

Do not put off joint pain for years. Book a free consultation in Nantes: the doctor reviews your scans, assesses the stage and suggests a non-surgical plan if it is appropriate. The price is set at the consultation.

A gentle landscape that still asks a lot of knees and hips

Nantes is not a hilly city. The lowest points along the Loire sit at about 2 m above sea level, the Butte Sainte-Anne reaches 38 m, and the highest point in the northwest is around 52 m. Nobody here climbs steep slopes to reach the shops. Joints still take a daily load, though, and it comes from other sources: the tram network of 43.5 km on three lines, the steps up to platforms and bridges, and long walks along the Loire, the Erdre and the Sèvre Nantaise.

That kind of steady, moderate load is what patients tend to describe when they write to us. Pain on stairs, a knee that aches after a long walk, or a hip that gets stiff after sitting are all complaints the programme is built around. In regenerative treatment of the knee, the doctor looks at cartilage wear and meniscus trouble. For the hip, the typical picture is early osteoarthritis with groin pain and limited rotation.

A flat map does not make the problem smaller. A joint that tolerates a level street can still protest on a staircase, and that is often the first sign that something has started to wear. If this sounds familiar, send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram. The doctor will review the scans free of charge and say whether treatment without surgery could suit you.

Bicycles, parks and the joints of an active city

Nantes has a strong everyday cycling culture. The Bicloo bike-sharing scheme alone counts 880 bicycles at 103 stations, and green space covers 41% of the city, with 100 public parks over 218 ha. For many residents that means regular cycling, running and walking on soft ground, which is generally good news for mobility.

Activity can also bring overuse. The service we describe covers the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle and the small joints of the hand and wrist. Aching in the elbow after strain from sport or repetitive work, a shoulder that hurts when you raise the arm, or an ankle that stays stiff after an old sprain are all joints the doctor can assess from your scans. Recovery after injuries and surgery is also on the list of conditions we treat.

Football is part of the local rhythm too: the Stade de la Beaujoire seats 37,473, and FC Nantes has won eight league titles. Players and amateur sportspeople share one concern, which is how to keep playing without losing the joint. Regenerative treatment does not replace training advice. After the procedure the doctor gives recommendations on load and exercise for the first weeks, and the coordinator stays in touch while you follow them.

Damp winters and what they change in how a joint feels

Nantes has an oceanic climate. Its annual relative humidity is 81%, and in December it rises to 89%. December is also the wettest month, at 101.0 mm of rain on 13.5 rainy days, against 7.1 rainy days in July. Daytime highs in January average 9.3 °C and lows 3.4 °C, and sunshine drops to 77.6 hours in December, compared with 232.6 hours in August.

Many people say their joints complain more in cold, wet weather. We cannot turn that impression into a medical claim, and no reliable data on it appear in the material we work from. What can be said is practical. When the weather keeps people indoors and less active, stiffness after rest is easier to notice. Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, together with swelling, redness and warmth over the joint, points more towards arthritis, which is inflammation. Aching on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest suggest osteoarthritis, which is wear of the cartilage. The two are treated differently, so the diagnosis comes first.

If you plan treatment for the winter months, remember the temporary contraindications: skin inflammation over the joint to be treated, a fever, a cold or flu. A damp December in Nantes is a season of colds, and the doctor may simply move the procedure by a short time. The consultation itself is online and the coordinator replies around the clock, so you can raise this at any hour and agree a sensible plan.

How French health coverage fits around a decision like this

France describes its health system as covering 99.9% of the population, with the main fund covering 84% of residents. The system generally refunds 70% of most costs, and about 85% of people hold complementary private insurance, known as a mutuelle. Those national figures give a useful backdrop, though some of the data are dated.

What they do not tell you is whether a particular regenerative procedure is reimbursed. The material we rely on does not state that, so we will not guess. The practical step is to ask your insurer and your mutuelle directly, once the doctor has set out the method, the joint and the number of injections. The doctor states the plan and its terms after your scans are reviewed, and the coordinator can give you a written outline to show your insurer.

The consultation and the review of your scans are free, and sending them does not commit you to any procedure. That is useful if you are already inside the French system and waiting for an appointment. Older survey data suggest that around half of specialist appointments happened within a month, while 28% took over two months. These are old figures and should be read with care. Many patients simply want a second opinion while they wait, and that is exactly what the free scan review is for.

Weight, age and the question of replacement

Nantes is the sixth largest city in France, with 327,734 residents, and its metropolitan area has more than a million. It is also a university town, and the University of Nantes goes back to 1460. Nationally, the Obepi 2020 survey found that 17% of French adults were obese, up from 8.5% in 1997, and that 47.3% were overweight or obese. We have no regional split for Nantes, so we do not claim one.

Body weight matters here because it is one of the factors that affect how long the result of treatment lasts, together with the stage of the condition and your level of activity. The doctor is honest about this at the consultation. At earlier stages the chance of a lasting effect is higher. For a joint that is already badly damaged, replacement may be the more realistic option, and you will be told so after your scans are seen.

The reason many people try to preserve their own joint first is simple. Replacement is major surgery with long rehabilitation, carries risks such as infection, and the implant may eventually need to be redone. Regenerative treatment uses only your own blood, for platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and a small sample of adipose tissue of roughly 30 ml, for the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The material is injected under ultrasound guidance, with no hospital stay and no crutches. The effect develops gradually: the joint may ache a little more in the first week, pain usually eases by about a month, mobility improves around three months, and the full effect develops at about six months. Nobody can promise a fixed result.

Can I start the process on a French public holiday?

Yes. France has 11 public holidays, including 1 November, 11 November, 25 December and 1 January. Coordinators answer on WhatsApp and Telegram around the clock, so you can send scans and questions on any of those days. The doctor reviews them in the normal working order.

Will the damp winter in Nantes affect when I should have the procedure?

Weather itself is not a contraindication. A fever, a cold, flu or skin inflammation over the joint are temporary reasons to wait, and these are common in a wet December. The doctor will advise on timing at the consultation.

Does the French health insurance system pay for PRP or SVF?

We cannot say that from the material we work from, so we do not promise it. The national system covers almost the whole population and generally refunds 70% of most costs, but whether this treatment qualifies is for your insurer and mutuelle to confirm. Ask them once the doctor has set out the plan.

Which scans should I send from Nantes?

An X-ray, MRI or ultrasound of the painful joint is what the coordinator will ask for. Written reports are also useful. A doctor reviews them free of charge and tells you whether treatment without surgery suits you and what else may be needed.

I cycle and walk a lot around the city. Can I carry on?

The doctor gives load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks. Normally you can return to daily life within a day or two, with no crutches. How quickly you go back to sport depends on the joint, so ask about your own routine at the consultation.

Does body weight change what the doctor will suggest?

Yes, it is one of the factors that affect how long the result lasts, along with the stage of the condition and your activity. The doctor will take it into account when proposing PRP, SVF or a combination, and will say frankly if replacement looks more realistic.

Is a hip problem treated differently from a knee problem?

The method is the same in principle: material from your own blood or adipose tissue is injected under ultrasound guidance. The doctor decides the joint, the method and the number of injections after checking your scans. Early hip osteoarthritis, with groin pain and limited rotation, is assessed alongside exercise therapy and physiotherapy.

Can the consultation be done in French?

Please ask the coordinator which languages are available when you write on WhatsApp or Telegram. The material we rely on does not list them, so we do not state them here.