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SVF and PRP Joint Therapy in Welkom

Free scan review first, then SVF cell therapy or PRP for the knee, hip, shoulder or other joints if they suit you

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 fever, a cold or flu, inflamed skin over 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

The nurse takes a small amount of venous blood; platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared from it afterwards.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

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.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample goes into a centrifuge, where it separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with your platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

No hospital stay and no crutches. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how your 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

No donor or synthetic material: only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

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.

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

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

Used by itself as an injection course, or together 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

Large and small joints — the doctor chooses the joint, the method and the number of injections after reviewing your scans

  • KneeKneeMeniscus trouble, worn cartilage, pain when using stairs or after walking
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderPain lifting the arm, worn tendons around the joint and the joint itself
  • ElbowElbowPain after overload or sports strain, worn surfaces of the joint
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsAching and stiffness in the small wrist and finger joints
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

The goal is your own joint kept, not replaced, through treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

No donor or synthetic material: only your own blood and adipose tissue are used

No crutches

No crutches

Punctures, not incisions; local anaesthetic; no prolonged rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Free of charge: a doctor's independent assessment of the X-rays, MRI or reports you send

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

Our care goes beyond the day of the injection: we stay in touch and follow the result

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

The cost is named by the doctor after the consultation, since it depends on the joint, the stage of the condition and the method

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Everything about regenerative joint treatment in Welkom

If you have been told that joint replacement is the only choice, a second opinion is worth getting. In Welkom, you can send your scans and reports for a free independent assessment before making any decision about surgery.

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 Welkom, everything is done in one day.

The price depends on how many joints are treated and which method is chosen. For patients from Welkom, the doctor explains the plan and the cost at the consultation, which is free.

Welkom and joint health: why knees and hips matter here

Welkom is a city in the Free State province of South Africa, about 140 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein. It was laid out on a farm of the same name after gold was discovered in the region and was proclaimed a town in 1948. It is also called Circle City and City Within A Garden. The 2011 census recorded a population of 64,130 people for Welkom proper, and the city belongs to the Matjhabeng Municipality in the Lejweleputswa District. For anyone living with a painful knee or hip, this history matters, because it explains the kind of work and daily load many residents have carried for years.

Mining, agriculture, driving, standing at a workplace, lifting and long days on hard floors all put steady stress on the knees and hips. Add the family habit of playing rugby or cricket at weekends, and a joint problem can start as a small ache that people simply live with. A patient from Welkom who finally asks about treatment is often someone who has already adapted their life around the pain: avoiding stairs, giving up long walks, sitting out the match.

This text explains how joint treatment is usually structured: conservative care first, arthroscopy for selected problems, and joint replacement when the damage is advanced. It then ties each step to the realities of life in Welkom. The aim is that a patient can prepare good questions before the online consultation with our coordinators, who are available around the clock on Telegram and Telegram.

Climate in Welkom and what it means for recovery

Welkom normally receives about 401 mm to 550 mm of rain a year, mostly in mid-summer. January is the wettest month at about 70 mm, and July is the driest, with almost none. Average daily maximum temperatures run from 17 °C in June to 29 °C in January, and in July the nights drop to around 0 °C on average. This is a region of real seasonal contrast, and each season affects recovery after a knee or hip procedure in a different way.

In the hot summer months the main concerns are swelling and skin comfort. Heat widens the blood vessels and the leg can swell more by the end of the day, so patients are usually advised to keep the leg raised when resting and to wear the compression garment the surgeon prescribes. Direct sun on a healing scar is best avoided, and loose, light clothing over the joint helps. Summer thunderstorms can make surfaces slippery, which matters when walking with crutches or a frame.

In the cold winter months stiffness is the issue. Cold nights make joints feel tighter in the morning, and patients may be tempted to stay in bed or on the sofa. Gentle movement exercises given by the physiotherapist remain important, and warm indoor spaces help. Dry winter air and dust on windy days call for keeping the floor at home clear and clean, to reduce the chance of tripping while mobility is limited. General advice only: your own surgeon decides what is right for your case.

Conservative care: the first step for most patients

Most people with knee or hip pain start with conservative care, and in Welkom this is usually the right place to begin as well. It means a proper diagnosis, an assessment of the cause, guided exercise, activity changes and attention to body weight. The WHO describes excess weight as a health factor that affects many body systems, and for the knees and hips it simply means more load on every step. Realistic changes to food and daily movement are therefore part of joint treatment, not an extra.

Food culture in Welkom is built around maize, beef, poultry and sunflower products, which fits the agricultural character of the region as part of the Maize Triangle. Family braais and large shared meals are a pleasure, and nobody needs to give them up. What helps is planning portions, balancing the plate and keeping protein sufficient during recovery. Our coordinators can arrange for you to discuss nutrition during the online consultation.

Conservative care also includes finding out whether the pain is mechanical wear or inflammation. 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. Causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. If these signs sound familiar, tell the doctor early, because inflammatory arthritis is treated differently from simple wear.

Early-stage options and the role of SVF therapy

For some hip problems, particularly those involving the blood supply of the femoral head, there are options that aim to delay surgery. 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 matters to patients in Welkom who are still working or playing sport and want to postpone a major operation if the medical picture allows it.

SVF therapy uses the patient's own tissue. 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 patient does not need to plan a long absence from work for this step, although the surgeon will still give instructions for the days that follow.

The stage of the disease is decided from your scans and examination, not from how much pain you feel. Many people are surprised to learn that a hip can be significantly damaged while the pain is moderate. Sending recent imaging reports before the online consultation helps the doctor tell you honestly whether you are in the early window or whether surgery is the more sensible direction.

Arthroscopy: when keyhole surgery makes sense

Arthroscopy is a keyhole procedure used for selected knee and hip problems, such as certain meniscus injuries, loose fragments or localised damage. It is not a cure for widespread wear, and a good surgeon will say so clearly. For Welkom patients who played rugby or cricket in school or at club level, old sports injuries are a common reason for the question.

Because the incisions are small, patients often expect a very quick return to everything. The realistic message is that the joint still needs a careful rehabilitation plan, with swelling control and graded strengthening. Ask the surgeon what the schedule looks like for walking, driving, desk work and standing work, and what the signs are that you are pushing too fast. The online consultation is the place to settle these questions before you decide.

Patients from a city with a strong sporting tradition tend to ask about returning to the field. The honest answer depends on the kind of damage, the sport and the quality of the rehabilitation. Ask about contact versus non-contact activity, about running on hard ground, and about what the surgeon would regard as a safe path back.

Joint replacement: candidates, limits and planning

Knee or hip replacement is usually considered when pain stays severe despite conservative care, when function is clearly limited and when imaging shows advanced damage. Typical candidates are people whose nights are disturbed by pain, who cannot manage stairs or short walks, and for whom earlier treatment no longer helps. General contraindications include active infection, unstable general health that makes anaesthesia unsafe, and conditions that must be brought under control first. The surgeon will weigh these individually.

Planning matters as much as the operation. Welkom has a mix of public and private hospitals and primary care clinics, and many patients also have a medical aid scheme or other cover to understand. Before deciding, collect your imaging, blood results, list of medicines and a summary of chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Bring these to the online consultation so that the doctor can judge your readiness without guessing.

Preparing the home is a practical task. Many houses in Welkom are single-storey with gardens, which is an advantage after surgery, but steps at the door, loose rugs and low sofas can still be a problem. A raised toilet seat, a firm chair with arms and clear walkways make the first stage of recovery safer. Family members who will help should learn the exercises and warning signs with the patient.

Choosing the season, work, study and family planning

There is no single best month for a joint operation, and the decision should follow your medical need rather than the calendar. Still, the climate of Welkom offers a few useful considerations. Midsummer heat and thunderstorms make swelling and slippery surfaces more tiresome, while cold winter mornings add stiffness. Many patients find the milder transitional months comfortable for the early stage of recovery, but anyone with severe pain should not postpone treatment only for the weather.

Work is the main practical question. Office, administrative and teaching work usually allows an earlier return than heavy physical work, driving long distances or standing for long shifts, and the surgeon decides the timing in each case. If your job is in industry, in agriculture or on the road, ask directly what lifting and standing limits you will have and for how long, and whether a phased return is possible. Students at the local technical colleges, the nursing college or the university campus should ask about sitting for long lectures, carrying a bag and walking between buildings.

Family life also deserves a plan. Weddings, funerals, church gatherings and weekend rugby matches are an important part of social life in Welkom, and it is natural to want to attend them. Tell the surgeon about any date that matters to you, and let the doctor say honestly whether it is realistic. It is better to know in advance than to push the joint on a day when it is not ready.

How the online consultation works from Welkom

You do not need to leave Welkom for the first stage. The consultation is free and online, and our coordinators are available 24/7 on Telegram and Telegram. You write or send a voice message, share your scans, reports and a short history, and the coordinator arranges a conversation with a specialist who reviews the material.

Prepare a few things beforehand: how long the pain has lasted, where it is worst, what makes it better or worse, what treatment you have already tried, and what you want to be able to do again. A short video of you walking, taken from the front and from the side, can be very informative. Write down your questions in advance so that nothing is forgotten during the conversation.

Good questions for the surgeon include: What is the stage of my joint damage? Is conservative care still reasonable? Is arthroscopy suitable or only a temporary measure? What type of anaesthesia is planned? What will rehabilitation involve, and who supervises it near my home? What complications should I watch for? Clear answers to these questions let you decide calmly, without pressure.

Does the online consultation cost anything for patients in Welkom?

No. The first online consultation is free. Coordinators are available around the clock on Telegram and Telegram, so you can write at a time that suits your shift or family routine.

Which documents should I send before the consultation?

Send recent X-ray, MRI or CT reports and images if you have them, blood test results, a list of your medicines and a short description of your symptoms. A short video of your walking also helps the doctor.

How do I know whether my pain is arthritis or simple wear?

Inflammatory arthritis often brings pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Wear usually hurts more with activity. Only an examination and tests can separate the two, so describe your symptoms in detail.

Can SVF therapy replace a hip replacement?

Not in every case. 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. Your scans decide which group you are in.

What is taken for SVF therapy and is it a major procedure?

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.

Does the hot Welkom summer affect recovery?

Heat can increase swelling, so keep the leg raised when resting, wear the compression garment the surgeon prescribes, protect the scar from direct sun and wear light clothing. Follow your own surgeon's instructions, as these are general tips only.

Can I return to rugby, cricket or running after treatment?

It depends on the diagnosis, the type of procedure and your rehabilitation. Ask the surgeon what the stages of return to sport are and which activities to avoid, especially contact sport and running on hard ground.

Who is not a good candidate for joint replacement?

People with active infection or unstable general health may need to be treated or stabilised first. Candidates are usually those with advanced damage and severe pain that conservative care no longer controls. The surgeon decides individually.

Does body weight matter for knee and hip treatment?

Yes. The WHO treats excess weight as a significant health factor, and for the knees and hips it means more load on each step. Realistic changes to food and activity support both conservative care and recovery after surgery.