Non-Surgical Joint Treatment in Thembisa
PRP and SVF cell therapy for many joints, from knee and hip to shoulder. First step: a free review of your imaging
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?
Instead of implants or foreign substances, regenerative joint treatment uses you as the source: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your blood and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a small adipose tissue sample. It is injected into the troubled joint to lower pain and inflammation and support the tissues inside.
For someone with joint pain who wants to avoid surgery or delay it, or who has been told replacement is the only choice, this is worth considering. The doctor reviews your scans to assess the stage — earlier stages give a better chance of a lasting result.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
From large joints to small ones: the doctor picks the joint, the technique and the injection count after studying your scans
Elbow
Pain caused by overuse or sports strain; worn joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Pain and stiffness in the small joints of the wrist and fingers
Knee
Pain on stairs and after walking, meniscus problems, cartilage wear
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Pain on lifting the arm, wear of the joint and nearby 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
The doctor separates plasma rich in platelets and growth factors from a small amount of your blood and injects it into the joint. This helps to calm inflammation and supports tissue repair.
It can be given as its own course of injections or combined with SVF.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor examines your joint, looks at your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 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.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
With ultrasound guiding the needle, the prepared material is injected directly and precisely into the affected joint.
Follow-up
No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor examines your joint, looks at your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure is right for you. Scans you already have can be sent ahead of the visit.
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.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
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 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.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
With ultrasound guiding the needle, the prepared material is injected directly and precisely into the affected joint.
Follow-up
No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your joint responds.
Follow-up visits
The plan is adjusted at follow-up visits, where the doctor sees how the joint is responding. Pain tends to ease within the first month, mobility improves over about three months, and the full effect develops over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Only after an examination and a review of your scans does the doctor decide whether the treatment suits you
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
The puncture sites are covered with small dressings, and most patients go home the same day, returning to normal daily life within a day or two. A little extra aching in the joint during the first week is an expected reaction. Pain generally eases in the first month, mobility and activity improve over about three months, and the full effect develops over around six months. How long the effect lasts differs from person to person — it depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, and no one can promise a fixed result. For the first weeks, the doctor gives you individual advice on exercise and load.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Rather than replacing the joint, we work to keep your own — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Just your blood and your adipose tissue; donor and synthetic materials are not used
No crutches
Local anaesthetic, punctures instead of incisions, and no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
A doctor gives a free, independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send us
Support after the procedure
Our care goes beyond the day of the injection: we stay in touch and follow the result
Joint treatment prices
After the consultation the doctor gives the price, which depends on the joint, the stage and the method
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?
One is plasma, one is cells: PRP is platelet-rich plasma from your blood, SVF a cell fraction from a small adipose tissue sample. As they act in different ways, doctors often combine them to boost 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?
There is no single answer. The effect of PRP often lasts several months to about a year, and SVF can last longer. Duration depends on your body and the stage of the condition, and no one can promise a fixed result.
Who should not have the procedure?
We do not perform the procedure in cases of cancer, acute infection, blood clotting disorders, pregnancy or a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks all of this at the consultation.
Can I treat hip osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis) without surgery?
At an early stage, combining PRP or SVF injections with exercise therapy and physiotherapy can reduce pain and help movement. When the joint is already badly damaged, replacement may be more realistic, and the doctor will say so honestly after seeing your scans.
Can avascular necrosis of the hip be treated?
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.
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?
Yes. Your X-rays, MRI, CT or medical reports are reviewed by a doctor free of charge, and you will hear whether the procedure could suit you and what else may be needed.
How soon can I return to normal life?
Usually in a day or two. There are no crutches and no long rehabilitation; for the first weeks the doctor gives recommendations on load and exercise.
Does the treatment help with shoulder pain?
For shoulder joint and rotator cuff problems PRP is used, and for more advanced arthritis of the shoulder SVF may be considered. Suitability depends on the cause of your pain, and the doctor identifies that first.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
What Thembisa residents ask about joint treatment
Regenerative joint treatment uses material from your own body: platelet-rich plasma from blood and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a small sample of adipose tissue. For patients from Thembisa, it is an option to ease pain and inflammation and support the tissues inside the joint without an operation.
Before the procedure, the doctor tells you which tests are needed. If you already have X-rays, MRI or ultrasound results, patients from Thembisa can send them in advance and receive a preliminary answer on whether the treatment could suit them.
Book a free consultation in Thembisa 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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