Osteoarthritis in Helsinki: Treatment by Stage
For knees, hips and other joints with arthrosis: SVF cell therapy and PRP. We check the stage from your X-rays or MRI at no cost
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 osteoarthritis
(arthrosis)?
Osteoarthritis — also known as arthrosis — is a chronic disease in which joint cartilage steadily wears thin. Cartilage acts as a cushion, so as it breaks down the bones begin to rub, leading to pain, stiffness and less movement. It is degenerative in nature rather than inflammatory, but flare-ups with swelling still occur.
Typically the condition affects the joints that take the most strain — the knee (gonarthrosis) and hip (coxarthrosis), plus the ankle and small joints of the hand. It is most effective to treat at early and moderate stages, while the joint surfaces are not yet badly damaged; at a late stage the doctor will tell you openly whether joint replacement makes more sense.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large joints and small joints — having reviewed your scans, the doctor chooses which joint, which method and how many injections
Elbow
Overuse or sports strain causing pain; worn joint surfaces
Hand and wrist joints
Small joints of the fingers and wrist: pain and stiffness
Knee
Worn cartilage, meniscus problems, pain after walking and on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Wear of the joint and the tendons around it, painful arm raising
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
We take a small sample of your adipose tissue and process it to isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that take part in tissue repair. It is combined with your own plasma and injected into the affected joint.
At early and moderate stages of osteoarthritis it is used mainly to reduce friction between the joint surfaces and slow cartilage wear.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Platelet- and growth-factor-rich plasma is separated from a small amount of your blood and then injected into the joint, helping to calm inflammation and create better conditions for tissue repair.
It is frequently used for mild osteoarthritis, and combined with SVF when a stronger effect is required.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined, your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed, and the doctor decides if the procedure is right for you. Any scans you have can be sent prior to the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A small amount of venous blood is drawn, to be processed later into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — around 30 ml — is obtained through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed.
Processing in a centrifuge
The centrifuge spins the sample until it separates into layers; the isolated stromal vascular fraction is then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material goes straight into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps position it precisely.
Follow-up
No crutches, no stay in hospital. The doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and watches how your joint responds.
Consultation and scan review
The joint is examined, your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed, and the doctor decides if the procedure is right for you. Any scans you have can be sent prior to the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A small amount of venous blood is drawn, to be processed later into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
With local anaesthetic, a small amount of adipose tissue — around 30 ml — is obtained through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, and no stitches are needed.
Processing in a centrifuge
The centrifuge spins the sample until it separates into layers; the isolated stromal vascular fraction is then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material goes straight into the affected joint; ultrasound guidance helps position it precisely.
Follow-up
No crutches, no stay in hospital. The doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and watches how your joint responds.
Follow-up visits
Through follow-up visits the doctor sees how the joint responds and adjusts the plan accordingly — pain usually settles over the first month, mobility improves across about three months, and around six months are needed for the full effect.
Conditions we treat
A doctor decides whether the treatment suits you after examining you and reviewing 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: inflammation of the skin over the joint to be treated, 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
Same-day discharge is typical, and most people are back to normal daily activity in a day or two; small dressings cover the puncture sites. The joint may ache a little more in week one — an expected reaction. Pain usually eases across the first month, mobility and activity improve over about three months, and the full effect develops over around six months. The duration varies from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, so a fixed result cannot be promised. Keeping a healthy weight and exercising regularly with the joint in mind helps it last.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
We aim to preserve your own joint rather than replace it, with treatment that avoids surgery
Your own tissue
Just your blood and your adipose tissue — no synthetic material and nothing from donors
No crutches
Punctures, not incisions; local anaesthetic; no prolonged rehabilitation
Second opinion
Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge
Support after the procedure
We follow the result and keep in touch after the procedure, not only on the day of the injection
Osteoarthritis treatment prices
Because the cost varies with the joint, the osteoarthritis stage and the method, 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 osteoarthritis in simple terms?
It means gradual wear of the cartilage on the ends of the bones in a joint. With thinning cartilage the joint loses cushioning, bones rub against each other and pain, stiffness and crunching set in — a degenerative, not an inflammatory, condition.
Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
Frequently yes, if treatment is not delayed. With SVF and PRP injections the aim is pain relief and cartilage support without an operation. Joint replacement remains the last option, used when the joint is already destroyed.
How soon will I notice a result?
For many patients, first changes come 2–3 weeks after the procedure; a stable result forms over about six months and may last from several months up to several years, depending on the person. Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that needs an ongoing plan, not one injection.
At which stage does the treatment work best?
Early and moderate stages are the target. Milder stages usually give a quicker and longer-lasting effect and may lower the need for regular hyaluronic acid injections. When the joint space has almost disappeared, at the most advanced stage, no lasting effect can be expected.
Which joints are most often affected?
The knees, hips and ankles, which bear the most load, and the spine and small joints of the hand. We use regenerative treatment for all of these joints.
What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?
Left alone, it usually progresses: pain becomes constant, the range of movement shrinks, the joint may become deformed and walking can be difficult. Early diagnosis, exercise, weight control and a doctor's guidance make a real difference.
Which tests and scans are needed?
An X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage, while MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues. Ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid in the joint, and blood tests help rule out inflammatory diseases. Existing results can be reviewed by the doctor free of charge.
How is osteoarthritis different from arthritis?
With osteoarthritis the cartilage wears down: you get aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest. With arthritis there is inflammation: pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. The treatment approach is different, so diagnosis comes first.
Can I get a consultation about my case?
Of course. A doctor reviews your X-rays, MRI or test results free of charge, assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and suggests a non-surgical plan when it is appropriate — just send them.
Can I exercise with osteoarthritis?
Yes — and it is recommended. The right activity strengthens the muscles that take load off the joint, improves cartilage nutrition and keeps you mobile. Good choices are swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga; avoid jumping, running on hard surfaces, heavy lifting and sudden movements.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Everything about arthrosis treatment in Helsinki
Cartilage works as a shock absorber. When it thins, the bones start to rub against each other, and the joint becomes painful and less mobile. Osteoarthritis in Helsinki is a degenerative condition rather than an inflammatory one, although flare-ups with swelling happen.
Blood tests help rule out inflammatory conditions before treatment. If you are a patient from Helsinki, the doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed so you can prepare.
Book a free consultation in Helsinki to find out whether SVF or PRP could slow your osteoarthritis. The doctor names the price after examining the joint.
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