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SVF and PRP Joint Therapy in Takoradi

Cell therapy (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma for knee, hip and shoulder joints and beyond, plus a free look at your scans first

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?

Material from your own body is at the heart of regenerative joint treatment — PRP, a platelet-rich plasma derived from blood, and SVF, the stromal vascular fraction derived from a small sample of adipose tissue. Placed into the affected joint by injection, it reduces pain and inflammation and supports the joint's 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

Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of 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 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

Your joint is examined and the doctor studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to judge whether the procedure is suitable. Existing scans can be sent before the appointment.

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

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

The sample is centrifuged and divides into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated from it and mixed with platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The finished material is injected into the affected joint itself, guided by ultrasound so that it lands precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No crutches and no hospital stay. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure and follows 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

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 tends to be used when the joint is more visibly changed and a longer-lasting effect is being sought.

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

Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is separated from a small amount of your blood and injected into the joint. It helps calm inflammation and creates better conditions for tissue repair.

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

It can be a course of injections on its own or be 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

From large joints to small ones: the doctor picks the joint, the technique and the injection count after studying your scans

  • KneeKneePain on stairs and after walking, meniscus problems, cartilage wear
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain when you raise your arm, worn joint and surrounding tendons
  • ElbowElbowOveruse or sports-related pain and wear of the 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

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

No crutches

No crutches

Instead of incisions, punctures under local anaesthetic, and no long rehabilitation afterwards

Second opinion

Second opinion

A doctor gives a free, independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send us

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

After the procedure we keep in touch and follow the result, not only 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

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

What Takoradi residents ask about joint treatment

Knee problems are the most familiar reason to seek help: cartilage wear, meniscus damage, pain on stairs and after walking. Patients from Takoradi with hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow or wrist pain follow the same path — scan review, examination and a clear plan.

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 Takoradi after the examination and scan review.

Do not put off joint pain for years. Book a free consultation in Takoradi: 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.

Joint treatment for residents of Takoradi: what the online consultation covers

Takoradi is the Western Region's largest city, an industrial and commercial centre with 245,382 people at the 2021 census. Many of its residents spend their working lives on their feet, lifting, climbing, kneeling or standing on hard surfaces. Knees and hips carry that load every day, so questions about joint pain come up often, from port and shipyard workers to market traders, teachers and fishing families.

City Medical Centre works with Takoradi patients through a free online consultation. You do not need to arrange anything locally before the first conversation. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so a shift worker who finishes late or a trader who is free only after the market closes can write at a convenient moment and get an answer.

The consultation covers the whole range of joint care: conservative treatment, arthroscopy for the knee and joint replacement for the knee and hip. The aim of the first conversation is to understand which of these actually fits your situation, rather than to push you toward surgery. Many people begin by asking whether they need an operation at all, and an honest answer sometimes starts with a plan that does not involve surgery.

Recognising arthritis and other causes of joint pain

A person in Takoradi who wakes with stiff, aching knees will often put it down to age, heavy work or the damp season. Sometimes that is correct, but arthritis is a separate matter. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Pain that appears only after a long day of walking and eases with rest points more toward wear and strain.

The causes of arthritis vary. They include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each needs a different approach, which is why a clear description of your symptoms matters at the start. When you write to the coordinators, note which joint hurts, whether the pain wakes you at night, how long the morning stiffness lasts, and whether the joint is swollen or warm.

The coordinator will not make a diagnosis from a message. Their job is to collect the facts, ask for existing results such as X-ray images or laboratory tests, and pass them to the specialist. Photos of the swollen joint and a short list of the medicines you already take are useful. If you have been told in a local facility that you have gout or psoriasis, mention it, because it changes how the specialist reads the picture.

Climate of Takoradi and how it affects recovery

Takoradi has a tropical savanna climate with a wet and a dry season, and it is hot all year. The average annual high is 28 °C and the average annual low is 22.2 °C. The hottest period runs from January to May. The dry season is short, from December to March, and the wet season falls between May and June, with June the wettest month at an average of 346 mm of rain.

For anyone recovering after arthroscopy or joint replacement, this climate raises practical points. Heat encourages swelling in the legs, so the compression garments and elevation your surgeon prescribes need to be followed carefully, and breathable fabrics are more comfortable than heavy ones. Wounds and dressings should be kept clean and dry, which is harder in warm, humid weather, so ask the surgeon how to manage sweat and how often to change dressings.

The rainy months bring wet, slippery ground. In the first weeks after a knee or hip operation, when you may use crutches or a walker, wet steps, muddy lanes and flooded roadsides are a real hazard of falling. Plan your routes, wear shoes with a firm grip, and ask a family member to help in the worst weather. Humidity peaks in August after the rains and is lowest in December, which is worth knowing if you are choosing a season, since drier air is usually more comfortable for dressings and skin.

Sea and sun are part of life on this coast. Do not go into the sea, a pool or any open water until the surgeon confirms that the wound has healed. Strong sun on a healing scar should be avoided: cover the area with clothing and discuss sun protection with the doctor.

Choosing the season for treatment

There is no single correct month, and the decision depends on your joint, your work and your family calendar. Still, the climate of Takoradi offers a few points to weigh. The dry months from December to March are easier for moving around on crutches because the roads and steps are less slippery. They also come close to the hottest period, which begins in January, so swelling and comfort under compression garments need attention.

The wet season around May and June is cooler in the sense of frequent rain, but the ground is wet and travel within the city can be slow. If your home has uneven steps or an unpaved approach, that matters more than the temperature. A good question for the surgeon is which season is easier for you personally, given the type of procedure and where you live.

Festivals also shape plans. The Kundum and Ankos festivals are celebrated in the city, and family gatherings tend to be large and busy, with long periods of standing, dancing and walking. If you are planning joint replacement, think about whether you want to be fully recovered for such an occasion, and tell the coordinator the dates so that the schedule can take them into account without rushing your recovery.

Work, study and sport during and after treatment

Takoradi's economy rests on its harbour, fishing, timber, cocoa processing, shipbuilding, railway repair and, more recently, the oil industry. Many of these jobs involve climbing, carrying and long periods of standing. When discussing treatment, describe your job precisely. An office worker and a person who works on a ship or at a fishing harbour will have very different needs for return to work, and the surgeon can only advise on this if he knows what your day looks like.

For heavy or physical work, ask directly which tasks you must avoid at first, when light duties are possible and when full duties might be considered. Do not rely on a general answer. If your employer offers lighter tasks for a time, tell the coordinator, because it can change how soon you can return.

Students at the city's senior high schools, Takoradi Technical University and the other colleges should think about the academic calendar. Sitting for long periods with a stiff knee can be uncomfortable, and moving between classes or hostels on crutches takes planning. Choose a time with fewer exams and attendance demands if you can.

Sport is part of local life. Football is followed closely in a city with two stadiums and several teams, and many residents play on weekends. Ask the surgeon when walking, cycling or swimming may be resumed and which sports to avoid or approach gradually after a replacement. Pool and sport timing must come from the surgeon's instructions for your own case, not from friends who had a different procedure.

Conservative care, SVF therapy and surgical options

Treatment is usually considered in steps. Conservative care comes first where it is suitable: an assessment of the cause, guidance on load and movement, and a plan to support the joint. Arthroscopy is a keyhole procedure used for certain problems inside the knee. Joint replacement is considered when the damage is advanced and other methods no longer help enough.

For the hip there is an additional option at an early stage. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. This distinction is why an early consultation matters: a person in Takoradi who waits years with a painful hip may lose the chance to use a gentler approach.

The SVF procedure is simple to describe. Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. Ask the specialist whether your case fits this approach, what is expected from it and what it cannot do. It is not a replacement for surgery in advanced disease, and a candid specialist will tell you so.

Body weight is another factor to discuss. The World Health Organization treats overweight and obesity as a significant health problem, and extra weight adds load to the knees and hips. The surgeon may talk to you about weight, food and activity as part of the plan, which is a practical matter and not a judgement.

Food, family life and daily routine in Takoradi

Takoradi is a coastal city with a strong fishing tradition, and fish is part of everyday meals. After surgery, a balanced diet with enough protein supports healing, and fresh fish, vegetables and fruit fit well into that. Ask the surgeon or coordinator whether any foods or medicines should be avoided, particularly if you take medicines for gout, since diet can matter there.

Family is central to recovery. The city's population is largely Christian, with a Muslim minority, and church and mosque communities are often active in supporting members who are unwell. Many residents have relatives nearby who can help with cooking, carrying and shopping during the first weeks. Decide in advance who will help, because standing at a stove or carrying water is difficult on a healing knee or hip.

Think about your home. Low seats, a bed at a comfortable height, a clear path to the bathroom and a stable chair for the shower all make the first weeks easier. Remove loose mats and keep floors dry, especially in the rainy season. Public transport links Takoradi with other major Ghanaian cities, but ask the surgeon before you take long journeys on public transport soon after an operation, since sitting for hours with a swollen leg is uncomfortable and needs a plan.

Local healthcare is also changing. A 60-bed polyclinic was opened in New Takoradi in June 2024 as an upgrade of an earlier community health facility. For routine checks, dressing changes and blood tests close to home, ask the surgeon what your follow-up needs will be so that you know what can be done locally and what must be reviewed by the specialist you consult online.

Who is a candidate and how the online consultation works

In general terms, people considered for joint treatment are those with persistent pain, stiffness or reduced movement that affects work, sleep or daily tasks, and whose simpler measures have not given enough relief. Contraindications depend on the individual: active infection, certain heart, blood or metabolic conditions, and uncontrolled chronic illness may delay or change the plan. These are matters for the specialist to judge, not for you to assume.

The process is straightforward. You write to the coordinators on Telegram or Telegram at any hour. You describe your symptoms and send any images and test results. The case is passed to a specialist, and you have an online consultation from Takoradi without leaving home. The consultation is free. The specialist explains the options, the stage of the problem and the likely steps.

Prepare your questions beforehand. Useful ones include: which joint and what stage; whether conservative care or SVF therapy is suitable; what anaesthesia is planned; what the rehabilitation looks like; what compression garments and aids I will need; when I can return to my kind of work; when I can resume football, swimming or other sport; and what warning signs should make me contact you quickly. Write the answers down, and ask a relative to join the conversation if you wish.

Is the first consultation really free for patients in Takoradi?

Yes. The online consultation is free, and you take part from your own home. Coordinators are available around the clock (24/7) on Telegram and Telegram, so you can send your first message whenever it suits you.

What information should I send before the consultation?

Describe which joint hurts, how long the problem has lasted, whether you have pain at night or at rest, how long morning stiffness lasts, and whether there is swelling, redness or warmth. Add any X-ray images, test results and a list of your medicines. Photos of a swollen joint can also help.

How do I know if my pain could be arthritis?

Typical signs are pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Only a specialist can say which applies to you.

Is joint replacement always necessary?

No. Treatment depends on the stage. At early stages (1–2) of a hip problem, SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. Conservative care and arthroscopy are also options in suitable cases.

What does the SVF procedure involve?

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. The specialist will tell you whether this approach suits your case.

Does the hot and humid weather in Takoradi matter for recovery?

Yes, in practical ways. Heat can increase swelling, so follow your surgeon's advice on compression garments and elevation, and keep dressings clean and dry. In the rainy months, wet ground raises the risk of slipping while you use crutches or a walker.

Which time of year is better for treatment?

It depends on your joint, work and family plans. The dry season from December to March gives drier ground for walking aids, though January to May is the hottest period. The wet season around May and June is slippery. Discuss your own situation with the surgeon.

When can I go back to work or sport?

This is decided by the surgeon for your particular procedure and job. Tell the coordinator exactly what your work involves, whether it is harbour work, fishing, teaching or office work, and ask when light and full duties and each sport, including swimming, are appropriate.

Can my family take part in the consultation?

Yes. A relative can join the online conversation, help you write down the answers and later support you at home during recovery, with cooking, shopping and moving around safely.