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Osteoarthritis Treatment in Preston

Arthrosis of the knee, hip or another joint treated with SVF cells and PRP. Your X-rays or MRI are reviewed free of charge to confirm the stage

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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 osteoarthritis
(arthrosis)?

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition, also referred to as arthrosis, in which the joint's cartilage thins and erodes step by step. As the cushioning layer fails, bones start rubbing together — the source of pain, stiffness and a reduced range of movement. It is a wear-related, degenerative disease; swollen flare-ups can still appear.

  • 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 this treatment is right for you is a doctor's decision, made after an examination and a scan review

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, flu or fever, or inflamed skin over the joint planned for treatment

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

The doctor examines your joint, looks through your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides whether the procedure is right for you. If you already have scans, you can send them ahead of the visit.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

A small blood sample is taken from a vein, and platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is later made from it.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

A small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. There is no need for stitches.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the 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 crutches, no stay in hospital. The doctor keeps in contact after the procedure and watches 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

Your own blood and adipose tissue only; donor and synthetic material are not used

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.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

The typical indication is early or moderate osteoarthritis: the aim is slower cartilage wear and less friction between the surfaces of the joint.

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

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.

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

In mild osteoarthritis it is used often; to get a stronger effect it is 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

Both large and small joints — after reviewing your scans, the doctor selects the joint, the method and how many injections you need

  • KneeKneeStairs and walking cause pain; cartilage wear and meniscus problems
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderLifting the arm hurts; the joint and surrounding tendons are worn
  • ElbowElbowJoint surface wear and pain after overloading or sports strain
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiff, painful small joints in the fingers and the wrist
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

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

Your own tissue

Your own blood and adipose tissue only; donor and synthetic material are not used

No crutches

No crutches

Punctures, not incisions; local anaesthetic; no prolonged rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

Send your X-rays, MRI or reports and a doctor will give an independent assessment free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We follow the result and keep in touch after the procedure, not only on 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

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Request a free call

Price

Osteoarthritis treatment prices

The stage of osteoarthritis, the joint and the method all affect the cost, so it is named after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Osteoarthritis treatment in Preston: what you should know

Knee and hip osteoarthritis are the most common reasons patients from Preston consider joint replacement. SVF and PRP therapy is a way to try to delay or avoid surgery while the joint can still be preserved.

The procedure does not require crutches or a hospital stay. Patients from Preston return to normal daily activity within a day or two and receive recommendations on load for the first weeks.

Patients from Preston can start with a free review of their scans: the doctor assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and tells you whether non-surgical treatment makes sense. The price is named at the consultation.

What the national numbers say about joints in Preston

Preston is the administrative centre of Lancashire, in North West England. At the 2021 census the city itself had 147,835 residents. The City of Preston district counted 156,411 in 2023, and the wider built-up area is recorded at 313,322. Behind these totals are very different age groups, and they matter for a condition like osteoarthritis.

The NHS describes osteoarthritis as the most common type of arthritis in the UK. The risk rises with age. It is higher in women than in men, and higher in people with obesity or a previous joint injury. A GP may suspect the condition in anyone aged 45 or older. Arthritis UK, in its 2026 report on musculoskeletal health, says that over 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis. In a city of this size, then, aching knees and stiff hips are part of ordinary statistics, and a diagnosis does not mean something unusual has happened to you.

Osteoarthritis is the slow, chronic wear of the cartilage that lines a joint. Healthy cartilage softens impact. When it thins, the bones start to rub, and the joint hurts, stiffens and moves less. Flare-ups with swelling can happen, but this is a degenerative disease rather than an inflammatory one. That difference matters when you describe your symptoms. Aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest point towards osteoarthritis. Pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint suggest an inflamed joint, which is a different problem with a different approach.

The knees and hips are affected most, because they carry the greatest load. The ankle and the small joints of the hand follow. Our doctors treat all of these with injections of your own tissue. The treatment is aimed at the early and moderate stages, before the joint surfaces are badly worn. The doctor decides after seeing your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound whether it suits you.

Cold, damp months and the stiff joint

The weather station at Preston Moor Park, which sits 33 m above sea level, gives a clear picture for 1971-2000. January is the coldest month, with a mean maximum of 6.9 °C and a mean minimum of 1.7 °C. July is the warmest, with a mean maximum of 19.8 °C and a minimum of 12.2 °C. August follows closely at 19.5 °C. Across the whole year the mean maximum is 13.0 °C and the mean minimum 6.4 °C.

Rainfall is the other half of the story. The annual total is just under 1,000 mm, and more than 1 mm falls on about 150 days a year. October, November and December are the wettest months, with roughly 114 mm, 104 mm and 112 mm. April is the driest at about 52 mm. Snow is modest: about 9 days a year, two each in December, January and February.

None of this proves anything about your own joints. Still, if you notice that stiffness after rest is worse in the dark, wet months, write that down. Note when it appears (first steps after getting up, after sitting at a desk, after a drive) and how long it lasts. Morning stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes is one of the signs doctors associate with inflammatory arthritis, so the length of the stiffness is a useful detail. Send these notes together with your scans. The doctor can use them to separate wear from inflammation. This is the first step in deciding what is appropriate.

Timing also matters when you plan the procedure. The whole procedure is done in one day, and there are no crutches and no hospital stay. Even so, the first week can bring a little more aching in the joint, which is an expected reaction. Many people prefer to choose a calmer stretch of their calendar for this week rather than the busiest one. The bank holidays at the end of 2026 are a good example, with Christmas Day on 25 December and the substitute Boxing Day on 28 December. The coordinators answer round the clock on WhatsApp and Telegram, so questions about timing can be settled without waiting for a working day.

Weight, work and sport: where the load comes from

Osteoarthritis does not appear for one reason. Age, body weight, earlier injuries and the load placed on a joint all play a part. Of these, body weight is the one the NHS data speak to most directly for the North West.

The Health Survey for England 2022, published by NHS Digital, found that 29% of adults were living with obesity. In total, 64% were overweight or living with obesity. The figures differ by region. Obesity ranged from 39% in the North East to 21% in London, and overweight or obesity from 72% in Yorkshire and the Humber to 59% in London. Preston lies in North West England, so these national and regional figures are the right context. They are not a verdict on any individual. The NHS names obesity as one of the factors that raise the risk of osteoarthritis, and the knee and hip carry body weight with every step. The service information we work from says plainly that the length of the effect after treatment depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors. For that reason the doctor will ask about your weight and activity at the consultation.

Work and sport add their own load. The University of Lancashire, formerly UCLan, reported over 33,000 students in 2006. Its UCLan Sports Arena is a 64-acre outdoor sports site. A student population and an active sports calendar mean that many people in their twenties and thirties in Preston play team sport. Old injuries, such as a sprained ankle or a knee ligament, may cause trouble years later. The suitable-patient list for our treatment includes recovery after injuries and surgery, as well as a high load on the joints from sport or physical work. If you were injured years ago and the joint is still sore, say so when you write.

For the active and the heavy-load jobs, the advice on movement is practical. Suitable activity builds the muscles that unload the joint and feeds the cartilage better. Swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking and yoga are good choices. Running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements are better avoided. The Ribble and the Lancaster Canal link give the city flat, soft-surface routes for walking. Whether a particular route suits your joint is a question for the doctor, who will take your scans into account.

NHS pathways, waiting lists and what an online opinion adds

The NHS sets out when a hip replacement may be considered. It is when hip pain and stiffness have a big effect on your life and other treatments have not worked. Osteoarthritis is named as the main reason people reach that point. Rheumatoid arthritis and hip injury are the other reasons listed. For weight loss surgery, the NHS may offer it when BMI is 40 or more. It may also be offered at a BMI of 35 to 40 if there is a condition that might improve with weight loss, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or arthritis. The person must agree to lifestyle changes and check-ups, and availability varies across areas of the UK. The NHS also states that cosmetic procedures are not routinely provided, with some exceptions for health reasons.

Waiting is a real part of the picture. According to NHS England's press notice of 10 September 2026, 7.3 million referral-to-treatment pathways were waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2026. That is around 6.2 million unique patients. Of these, 111,379 had waited more than 52 weeks. These are national totals, and they say nothing about how long a particular joint pathway in Preston takes. They do show that many people spend months with a painful joint while waiting for an appointment or an operation.

An online consultation does not replace your GP or an NHS specialist. It gives you an extra, independent look at your scans while you wait. You send your X-ray, MRI or ultrasound, and a doctor reviews them free of charge. The doctor assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and says whether treatment without surgery is appropriate. If the joint is already badly worn, the doctor will tell you honestly that a replacement is the more realistic option. In that case you will have a clearer view of the situation before you decide what to ask your NHS team.

The treatment has no cure to promise. It aims to ease pain, slow cartilage wear and reduce friction between the joint surfaces. Your own blood and adipose tissue are the only materials used, and nothing donor or synthetic. The steps are:

- A small amount of blood is taken from a vein to prepare platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

- Under local anaesthetic, the doctor collects roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, with no stitches.

- The sample is spun in a centrifuge, and the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is isolated and blended with the plasma.

- The material is injected into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance.

Afterwards the doctor stays in touch and follows how the joint responds.

Getting your file ready before the first message

Good preparation makes the free consultation more useful. The first step is to gather what you already have. An X-ray remains the main method and shows the stage. 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. If your GP or an NHS department has already arranged any of these, you do not need to repeat them before writing to us. The coordinator will ask for what you have, and the doctor reviews existing results free of charge.

Next, write a short history. Say which joint hurts and how long it has done so. Mention whether painkillers help for more than a short time, whether there was an injury, and what makes it worse or better. Say whether the stiffness lasts more than 30 minutes in the morning, and whether there is swelling, redness or warmth.

Check also the list of things that rule treatment out or delay it. Cancer, pregnancy, blood clotting disorders, acute infections (including infection in or near the joint) and a flare-up of a serious chronic illness mean the treatment is not suitable. A raised temperature, a cold or flu, or inflamed skin above the target joint are temporary reasons to wait. If any of these applies, tell the coordinator at the start.

Finally, think about the weeks after the injection. The service information gives an approximate timeline. In the first week the joint may ache a little more. Around one month, the pain usually eases. By about three months mobility and activity improve, and at around six months the full effect develops. These timings are averages for guidance, and no one can promise a fixed result. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so it needs an ongoing plan, not a one-off injection. Plan your exercise, your weight and your follow-up with that in mind.

Does the cold, wet weather in Preston make osteoarthritis worse?

The weather records for Preston Moor Park show a coldest month of January, with a mean maximum of 6.9 °C and a mean minimum of 1.7 °C. October to December are the wettest months. These facts describe the climate, and they do not prove an effect on cartilage. Osteoarthritis is the gradual wear of cartilage, and it is not caused by weather. If your joint feels stiffer in the colder months, note when it happens and for how long, and send this with your scans. The doctor will take it into account during the consultation.

I live in Lancashire and my GP has already sent me for an X-ray. Can I use that for the free review?

Yes. Existing X-ray, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results can be sent to the coordinator on WhatsApp or Telegram, and a doctor reviews them free of charge. The doctor assesses the stage of osteoarthritis and says whether treatment without surgery suits you. You do not need to repeat tests that were done recently.

Can this treatment replace a place on an NHS waiting list?

No, and we would not suggest it. NHS England reported 7.3 million pathways waiting to start treatment at the end of July 2026, so many people wait a long time. An online review gives you a second opinion on your scans while you wait. If the doctor thinks the joint is too worn for injections, he or she will tell you honestly that a replacement is the more realistic option. In that case your existing NHS route remains the right one. Treatment with your own blood and adipose tissue is intended for early and moderate stages.

Does body weight affect whether the treatment can work?

It affects the outcome. The NHS lists obesity among the factors that raise the risk of osteoarthritis, and the Health Survey for England 2022 found 29% of adults living with obesity, with regional differences. Our service information says the length of the effect depends on the stage, body weight, activity and other factors. The doctor will ask about your weight and activity at the consultation. Controlling weight and regular suitable exercise make a real difference alongside any injection.

I play sport for a university or local team. Can the treatment help an old injury?

Recovery after injuries and surgery is on the list of situations where the treatment may be suitable, as is a high load on the joints from sport or physical work. The doctor decides after reviewing your scans. If you have had a meniscus problem or a sprained ankle that still hurts, send the reports and scans. Treatment aims to ease pain and support the cartilage. It does not promise a return to full-contact sport.

Is it better to have the procedure outside the busy holiday period?

That depends on your own calendar. The procedure is done in one day, with no crutches and no hospital stay. The first week can bring a little more aching in the joint, which is an expected reaction. In 2026 the bank holidays at the end of the year are Christmas Day on 25 December and the substitute Boxing Day on 28 December. Coordinators answer round the clock, so you can discuss timing at any hour.

How do I know if my pain is osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis?

Osteoarthritis typically brings aching pain on movement, crunching and stiffness after rest. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint, with pain at rest and at night, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and warmth. The NHS says a GP may suspect osteoarthritis in people aged 45 or older. Diagnosis comes first because the approach differs. Scans, blood tests and the doctor's examination help to tell them apart.

Which tests should I have ready before I write?

An X-ray is the main method and shows the stage. MRI gives a detailed picture of cartilage and soft tissues, ultrasound shows inflammation and fluid, and blood tests help rule out inflammatory diseases. Send whatever you already have. The coordinator will tell you if anything else is needed.