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Knee and Hip Treatment in Palma Without Surgery

We treat the knee, hip, shoulder and other joints with SVF and PRP. Before anything is decided, your scans are reviewed at no cost

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?

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

Examination and scan review come first; then the doctor decides whether the treatment suits you

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 or flu, fever, inflamed skin above 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

The doctor examines the joint, reviews your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure suits you. If you already have scans, you can send them before the visit.

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

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 centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The centrifuge separates the sample into layers, the stromal vascular fraction is isolated, and it is then mixed with 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

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

Nothing from donors and nothing synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

SVF (stromal vascular fraction) is a mixture of cells involved in tissue repair, isolated from a small sample of your adipose tissue. Combined with plasma from your own body, it is injected directly 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 small amount of your blood is processed to separate plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, which is then injected into the joint. It helps settle inflammation and gives the tissues better conditions for repair.

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

It may be given alone as a course of injections or combined 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

We treat large and small joints — which joint, which method and how many injections is decided by the doctor after a scan review

  • KneeKneeMeniscus trouble, worn cartilage, pain when using stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain when you raise your arm, worn joint and surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowAching after strain from sport or overuse, joint surface wear
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsSmall joints of the wrist and fingers that are stiff and sore
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

No surgery: our work is about keeping your own joint, not swapping it for an implant

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Nothing from donors and nothing synthetic — only your own blood and adipose tissue

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic and punctures in place of incisions mean 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

Contact continues after the procedure — we track the result, not just the injection itself

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

The price depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method, so the doctor gives 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 Palma: a short guide

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 Palma, the doctor often combines the two.

Over about three months mobility and activity usually improve, and the full effect develops over around six months. How long it lasts depends on the stage of the condition, body weight and activity, so no one can promise a fixed result to patients in Palma.

Patients from Palma can start with a free second opinion: send your X-rays, MRI, CT or reports, and a doctor will tell you whether SVF or PRP could help. The price of treatment is named at the consultation.

Joints in a coastal city at sea level

Palma sits at an altitude of 13 m in the middle of the bay of Palma, on the south coast of Mallorca. The municipality covers 208.63 km2 and had 438,234 inhabitants in 2024, which makes it the eighth largest in Spain. To the east lies the fertile plain of Es Pla. To the north and west the city borders the Serra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range. Joint pain here usually has little to do with steep streets. It comes from the ordinary load of a city where people walk, cycle and use stairs every day.

Knee pain is a good example. The medical text we work from describes knee complaints as pain when climbing stairs or after walking, cartilage wear and meniscus trouble. Hip complaints appear as groin pain and limited rotation. Shoulder pain shows up when raising the arm. None of these needs a mountain. Stairs in an apartment block, a long walk along the seafront or a shift on your feet are enough to bring them out.

Regenerative treatment is meant for the stage when painkillers help only for a short time and you want to put off or avoid joint replacement. PRP comes from your own blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) comes from a small sample of your own adipose tissue. The material goes into the joint by injection under ultrasound guidance. The chance of a lasting effect is higher at earlier stages, and the doctor judges the stage from your scans, not from how loudly the joint complains.

If you live in Palma, the first step is easy to take from home. You can send X-ray, MRI or ultrasound images to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram, who answer round the clock. The doctor will study them during an online consultation and tell you whether treatment without surgery suits your joint.

Damp winters, dry summers and what they mean for stiff joints

The climate is classed as hot semi-arid. Over 1991–2020 the annual mean at the Puerto de Palma station was 18.5 °C. The coldest months are January and February, with highs of 15.7 °C and lows of 8.5 °C and 8.4 °C. July and August are the warmest, with highs of 29.7 °C and 30.2 °C and lows of 22.4 °C and 23.0 °C. Mean relative humidity is 72 %. Some people with arthrosis notice more morning stiffness when it is cool and damp. The medical text does not claim that weather causes arthrosis, and we do not claim it either. It does list stiffness after rest as a typical sign of cartilage wear.

Rain is concentrated in autumn. The annual total is 470.1 mm over 53.6 days. October is the wettest month at 72.6 mm, followed by November at 67.8 mm and September at 60.5 mm. July is the driest at 5.1 mm. Autumn, then, is when wet pavements and slippery steps call for care if a knee or ankle is already unstable. Ankle pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries are among the joint problems the doctor can assess.

Sunshine is plentiful, 2,858 hours a year. July has 353 hours and December only 152. Long bright days make it easy to stay active, and activity is useful for joints. But a sudden jump in walking, tennis or cycling after a quiet winter is a common moment for an old injury to flare up. Tell the doctor about such changes in your routine at the consultation. Load, body weight and activity all affect how long a result lasts, as the service text says plainly.

Some conditions mean the procedure has to wait. A fever, a cold or flu, or skin inflammation over the joint to be treated are temporary contraindications. Winter colds therefore matter when you plan an injection date, and the coordinator will ask about them when arranging the day.

Sea, swimming and gentle movement

Platja de Palma, also known as El Arenal, is the urban beach named in the city's description. The bathing season lasts about six to seven months, from the end of April to the beginning of November. Sea temperature averages 19.5 °C over the year. It is lowest in February at 13.9 °C and highest in August at 26.0 °C, with 22.5 °C in June and 25.0 °C in September.

These figures help when you plan the weeks after a procedure. The text says there is no hospital stay and no crutches. The doctor gives load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks. Whether to go back to swimming and which activities to avoid at first depend on your joint, so do not pick a start date on your own. A week after the procedure the joint may ache a little more, and the text calls this an expected reaction. It is better not to schedule a long swimming session or a hard training day right then.

Water exercise is a common choice for people with sore knees and hips, because the body is partly supported. Ask the doctor whether and when it suits you. In general, PRP or SVF injections work best alongside exercise therapy and physiotherapy for the hip at early stages. The injection is one part of a plan, and movement is another.

What the national health figures say about arthrosis

Spain's 2020 European Health Survey, carried out by the INE, ranks arthrosis as the third most common diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over. It affects 14.4 %. Only hypertension (19.0 %) and high cholesterol (15.3 %) are more common. Low back pain is reported by 13.7 %. In other words, joint and back complaints are a mainstream health issue, not a rare one.

Body weight is part of the picture. The same survey found obesity in 16.0 % of adults (16.5 % of men and 15.5 % of women) and overweight in 37.6 %. In total, 53.6 % are above the weight considered normal. The text on joint treatment lists body weight among the factors that influence how long an effect lasts. This is not a reason to feel judged. It is something the doctor will discuss calmly, because every extra kilogram adds to what the knee and hip carry.

There is encouraging data too. In the Balearic Islands, 82.9 % of people aged 15 and over rated their health positively in 2020, the highest share in Spain. A good general state of health is helpful when planning any procedure. The doctor still decides from your examination and scans, never from statistics.

Arthritis and arthrosis are different conditions, and the difference affects the approach. Arthrosis, or osteoarthritis, is wear of cartilage, with aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest. Arthritis is inflammation, with pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. A correct diagnosis comes first.

Waiting lists and the value of a second opinion on your scans

Public care for joints is part of the national health system, and waiting times are published openly. At the end of 2025 the system as a whole had 853,509 patients on surgical waiting lists, with an average wait of 121 days. 21.6 % had waited more than six months. That first publication was later followed by a rectifying note about data from Castilla-La Mancha, so treat it as an indication.

For joints specifically, the average wait for a hip replacement was 98 days, and 13.7 % of patients exceeded the maximum period of 180 days. For a knee replacement the average was 105 days and 15.9 % exceeded it. Traumatology had the longest wait among specialties for a first outpatient consultation, at 132 days on average.

In the Balearic Islands, 17,075 patients were in structural surgical waiting at 31 December 2025, which is 13.62 per 1,000 inhabitants, with an average of 105 days. Traumatology accounted for 3,874 of them, waiting 138 days on average. These numbers describe queues for operations and first visits. They do not describe your own case, and a quick online review of your scans can still be useful while you wait.

An independent opinion on your images costs nothing and commits you to nothing. A doctor will assess your X-rays, MRI, CT or reports once you send them. You hear whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed. For a badly damaged hip, replacement may be the more realistic option, and the doctor will say so honestly. Treatment of this kind does not replace public care. It is an additional route for people at early or moderate stages who want to try keeping their own joint first.

How the online route works from Palma

The consultation is online, so you do not need to arrange a day around a journey. First you message the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram and send your scans. The doctor reviews them and examines the joint during the video consultation. If treatment is suitable, the plan names the joint, the method and the number of injections.

The procedure itself goes in clear steps. A small amount of blood is taken from a vein. Under local anaesthetic, about 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a small puncture in the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed. The samples are spun in a centrifuge, and the SVF 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. PRP alone needs only the blood sample.

After this, the doctor stays in touch and follows how the joint responds. The text gives a general timeline. At one week the joint may ache more. At one month the pain usually eases. At about three months mobility and activity improve, and at about six months the full effect develops. These timings are averages, and the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features.

Several conditions rule treatment out: cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, acute infections (including infection in or near the joint) and a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks all of this at the consultation. If any of it applies to you, say so openly from the first message.

Does Palma's damp autumn affect when I should schedule the procedure?

The procedure does not depend on the season, but your health on the day does. October is the wettest month in Palma, at 72.6 mm of rain, and colds and flu are common as the weather cools. A fever, a cold or flu, and skin inflammation over the joint are temporary contraindications, so the date may need to move. Tell the coordinator about any symptoms before the day is fixed.

Is knee pain on stairs a reason to send my scans?

Yes. Pain when climbing stairs or after walking is one of the typical knee complaints, along with cartilage wear and meniscus trouble. Send the X-ray, MRI or ultrasound you already have. The doctor will assess it and tell you whether PRP or SVF could be considered, or whether something else is needed.

How common is arthrosis in Spain?

In the 2020 European Health Survey, arthrosis was the third most common diagnosed chronic problem among people aged 15 and over, at 14.4 %. Only hypertension and high cholesterol were more frequent. The figure shows that joint wear is widespread, but your own diagnosis comes only from an examination and scans.

Can I treat a joint privately if I am already on a public waiting list?

The service text does not tackle public waiting lists. Practically, you can send your scans for a free second opinion while waiting. The doctor will say whether early or moderate changes make regenerative treatment worth considering, or whether surgery is the more realistic option. Do not cancel any public appointment until you have discussed it with the doctor.

Does body weight matter for joint injections?

It matters for how long the effect lasts. The service text names body weight, activity and the stage of the condition among the factors that influence duration. The 2020 survey found 53.6 % of adults in Spain above normal weight. The doctor will discuss this without judgement, because lower load on a knee or hip supports any treatment.

Can I swim at Platja de Palma after the injection?

There is no hospital stay and no crutches, and the doctor gives load and exercise recommendations for the first weeks. Whether swimming is allowed and when depends on your joint and the method used, so ask at the consultation. Bear in mind that the joint may ache a little more in the first week, which is an expected reaction.

Are cold months harder for people with arthritis or arthrosis?

Winters in Palma are mild, with January and February highs of 15.7 °C and lows around 8.5 °C, but humidity averages 72 %. Some people notice more stiffness after rest in such conditions. The medical text lists stiffness after rest as a sign of arthrosis, and it does not link weather to the cause. If pain at rest or at night comes with swelling and warmth over the joint, that points to inflammation and needs a diagnosis first.

How do I send scans if they are on a disc or only on paper?

Photograph or scan the reports and images clearly and send them to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram. The coordinator will ask for X-ray, MRI or ultrasound, and for any written reports. If something is missing, you will be told what to add before the doctor reviews the case.