1Consultation 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.
SVF and PRP Joint Therapy in Zagreb
Cell therapy (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma for knee, hip and shoulder joints and beyond, plus a free look at your scans first
Consultation and review of your scansFree
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What it is
What is regenerative
joint treatment?
Regenerative care for joints is based on your own material. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained from blood, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from a small amount of adipose tissue; the doctor then injects it into the affected joint to reduce pain and inflammation and to support its internal tissues.
It is an option for people with joint pain who want to avoid or postpone surgery, or who have been told that joint replacement is the only choice. The earlier the stage of the condition, the better the chance of a lasting effect — the doctor assesses this from your scans.
- No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
- Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
- Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Who the treatment suits
Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of your scans
Suitable
- 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
- Cancer
- Pregnancy
- Blood clotting disorders
- Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
- Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
- Temporary contraindications: having a fever, a cold or flu, or 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 meWhat we treat
Conditions we treat
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions- Second opinionA doctor will independently assess your X-rays, MRI or reports free of charge once you send them
How it works
How the procedure goes: step by step
1
2Blood sample for PRP
Blood is drawn from a vein — only a small amount. Later, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is made from it.
3Adipose tissue sample
Around 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a single puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and the site needs no stitches.
4Processing 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.
5Injection into the joint
The material, once prepared, is injected directly into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps place it precisely.
6Follow-up
No stay in hospital and no crutches are needed. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure to see how the joint responds.
Book a consultation
Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation
Results
After the procedure
1 week
The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.
1 month
The pain usually eases.
~3 months
Mobility and activity improve.
~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
Processing a small sample of adipose tissue yields the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a blend of cells that help tissue repair. The doctor combines it with your plasma and injects it into the problem joint.
It is usually chosen when the changes in the joint are more pronounced and a longer-lasting effect is the goal.
- 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 little of your blood is enough to separate platelet-rich plasma full of growth factors. Injected into the joint, it calms inflammation and improves conditions for tissue repair.
It can be given as its own 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
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
KneePain climbing stairs or after walking, cartilage wear, meniscus trouble
HipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
ShoulderPain on lifting the arm, wear of the joint and nearby tendons
ElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overload or sports strain
Hand and wrist jointsStiffness and pain in the small joints of the fingers and wrist
AnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Advantages
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Treatment without surgery, aimed at keeping your own joint instead of replacing it
Your own tissue
Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials — nothing donor-derived or synthetic
No crutches
No incisions — just punctures under local anaesthetic, with no long rehabilitation
Second opinion
A doctor will independently assess your X-rays, MRI or reports free of charge once you send them
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
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 callPrice
Joint treatment prices
Pricing depends on the joint, the condition's stage and the method; you learn it from the doctor after the consultation
Consultation and review of your scans
Free
Book — Consultation and review of your scansPRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)
Price at consultation
Book — PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma)Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint
Price at consultation
Book — Cell therapy (SVF + PRP), one joint
FAQ
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
Often, yes. For meniscus damage and knee osteoarthritis, PRP and SVF injections are used to ease pain and support the joint. The doctor reviews your MRI first and says whether this suits you.
The difference: PRP is plasma rich in platelets, obtained from your blood, and SVF is a cell fraction isolated from a little of your adipose tissue. Their mechanisms differ, so they are often combined for a stronger regenerative effect.
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.
Results vary. The effect of PRP often holds for several months to about a year; SVF can keep working longer. How long it lasts depends on the stage of the condition and your own body — no one can promise a fixed result.
The procedure is not performed in people with cancer, acute infections or blood clotting disorders, in pregnancy, or during a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. The doctor checks for this at the consultation.
PRP or SVF injections, combined with exercise therapy and physiotherapy, can reduce pain and improve movement at early stages. If damage to the joint is already severe, replacement may be more realistic — the doctor gives an honest answer after seeing your scans.
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.
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.
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.
Most people return within a day or two. There is no long rehabilitation and no need for crutches; the doctor gives advice on load and exercise for the first weeks.
The doctor first establishes what is causing the pain: PRP is used for shoulder joint and rotator cuff problems, and SVF may be considered for more advanced arthritis of the shoulder. Suitability depends on that cause.
About the conditions
More about these conditions
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.
It is gradual wear of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in a joint. When the cartilage thins, the joint loses its cushioning, the bones rub against each other, and pain, stiffness and crunching appear. It is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one.
Osteoarthritis is wear of the cartilage: aching pain on movement, crunching, stiffness after rest. Arthritis is inflammation: pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. The approach to treatment differs, so the diagnosis comes first.