Non-Surgical Joint Treatment in Sarajevo
Cell therapy (SVF) and PRP for the knee, hip, shoulder and other joints. A free review of your scans before any decision
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?
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.
It can help if your joints hurt and you want to put off or avoid surgery, or if you have heard that replacement is your only choice. Chances of a lasting effect are higher at earlier stages of the condition, and your doctor assesses the stage from the scans.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large or small, each joint is assessed on your scans first — then the doctor chooses the method and how many injections are needed
Elbow
Overuse or sports-related pain and wear of the joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Stiff, painful small joints in the fingers and wrist
Knee
Cartilage wear, meniscus problems, pain on stairs and after walking
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain lifting the arm, worn tendons around the joint and the joint itself
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
A small sample of your adipose tissue is processed to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a mix of cells involved in tissue repair. Combined with your own plasma, it is injected into the affected joint.
It is usually chosen when the changes in the joint are more pronounced and a longer-lasting effect is the goal.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Platelet- and growth-factor-rich plasma is obtained from a little of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves the conditions for tissue repair.
It may be given alone as a course of injections or combined with SVF.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor checks your joint, reviews the X-ray, MRI or ultrasound and makes the decision on whether the procedure is suitable for you. If scans already exist, you can send them before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it later.
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
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint, using ultrasound to place it precisely.
Follow-up
You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and follows your joint's progress.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor checks your joint, reviews the X-ray, MRI or ultrasound and makes the decision on whether the procedure is suitable for you. If scans already exist, you can send them before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A little blood is drawn from a vein; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it later.
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
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is then isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The doctor injects the prepared material directly into the affected joint, using ultrasound to place it precisely.
Follow-up
You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and follows your joint's progress.
Follow-up visits
During follow-up visits the doctor checks the joint's response and adapts the plan: pain usually subsides in the first month, movement improves over about three months and the full effect develops over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of 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: inflamed skin over the treatment joint, fever, a cold or flu
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
Small dressings go over the puncture sites and, in most cases, you go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two. During the first week a little more aching in the joint is an expected reaction. Pain usually eases over the first month; mobility and activity improve over around three months; the full effect develops over about six months. Duration differs between individuals, depending on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no fixed result can be promised by anyone. The doctor gives individual advice on exercise and load for the first weeks.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Our aim is to keep your own joint, not replace it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Only your own blood and adipose tissue are used — no donor or synthetic material
No crutches
Punctures, not incisions; local anaesthetic; no prolonged rehabilitation
Second opinion
Share your X-rays, MRI or reports, and a doctor will give an independent opinion free of charge
Support after the procedure
We remain in contact after the procedure and track the result, not just the injection day
Joint treatment prices
The cost depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method, so the doctor names it 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?
PRP means platelet-rich plasma prepared from your own blood; SVF means a cell fraction isolated from a small portion of your adipose tissue. Working in different ways, they are often combined for a stronger regenerative effect.
Is the treatment safe?
Both methods use your own tissue, so the risk of rejection or an allergic reaction is very low. As with any injection, temporary pain, swelling or bruising are possible, and infection is rare. The doctor explains the risks for your case at the consultation.
How long does the effect last?
It is different for everyone: after PRP the effect frequently lasts from several months to roughly a year, and SVF can give a longer effect. The stage of the condition and your body decide the duration, so no fixed result can be promised.
Who should not have the procedure?
People with cancer, acute infections or blood clotting disorders cannot have the procedure, nor can pregnant women or anyone in a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks this at the consultation.
Is non-surgical treatment possible for hip osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis)?
In the early stages, PRP or SVF injections together with exercise therapy and physiotherapy can ease pain and improve movement. If the joint is already severely damaged, a replacement may be the more realistic choice — the doctor will tell you honestly once they have seen your scans.
Can avascular necrosis of the hip be treated?
When the condition is at an early stage (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay a joint replacement; at later stages surgery is usually required.
Why try to avoid joint replacement?
Replacement means major surgery, a long rehabilitation, risks including infection and implants that may eventually have to be redone. When changes are early or moderate, trying to preserve your own joint first often makes sense.
Can I get a second opinion on my scans?
Yes. Send your X-rays, MRI, CT or medical reports, and a doctor will review them free of charge and tell you whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed.
How soon can I return to normal life?
Typically within a day or two. You need no crutches and no long rehabilitation, and the doctor advises you on exercise and load for the first weeks.
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
Joint treatment in Sarajevo: what you should know
The earlier the stage, the better the chance of a lasting effect. That is why patients from Sarajevo start with a review of their X-rays or MRI: the doctor assesses the joint and tells you honestly whether SVF or PRP is likely to help or whether another option is more realistic.
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 Sarajevo, everything is done in one day.
Patients from Sarajevo 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.
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