Osteoarthritis in Sofia: Treatment by Stage
PRP and SVF cell therapy for the knee, hip and other arthritic joints, plus a free X-ray or MRI review to see which stage you are at
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)?
With osteoarthritis (arthrosis), the cartilage that lines a joint gradually wears away over time. This cartilage is the joint's shock absorber, and when it is lost the bones rub against each other, causing pain, stiffness and limited mobility. The condition is degenerative, not inflammatory, although it can flare up with swelling.
Osteoarthritis usually develops in the most heavily loaded joints, such as the knee (gonarthrosis) and hip (coxarthrosis), and also in the ankle and small hand joints. It is treated most effectively at early and moderate stages, before the joint surfaces are badly damaged; if the stage is advanced, the doctor will honestly tell you when joint replacement is more realistic.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
Large and small joints — the doctor chooses the joint, the method and the number of injections after reviewing your scans
Elbow
Wear of the joint surfaces and pain after overuse or sports strain
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness and aching in the fingers' and wrist's small joints
Knee
Cartilage wearing down, meniscus problems, pain on stairs and after a walk
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Joint and tendon wear around it, pain on lifting the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
A little of your adipose tissue is taken and processed so that the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) can be separated: cells that help tissues repair. This is combined with your own plasma and injected into the joint affected by the disease.
Doctors use it chiefly in early and moderate osteoarthritis, aiming to slow cartilage wear and cut friction between the joint surfaces.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Taken from a small amount of your blood, plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is injected into the joint. There it helps calm inflammation and sets up better conditions for tissue repair.
It is often applied in mild osteoarthritis, and alongside SVF when a stronger effect is called for.
How the procedure goes: step by step
Consultation and scan review
The doctor checks the joint, studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides if this procedure fits your case. If scans are already done, send them before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A small volume of venous blood is collected; from it, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen under local anaesthetic. No stitches are needed.
Processing in a centrifuge
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Crutches and a hospital stay are not required. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure, following the joint's response.
Consultation and scan review
The doctor checks the joint, studies your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound and decides if this procedure fits your case. If scans are already done, send them before the visit.
Blood sample for PRP
A small volume of venous blood is collected; from it, platelet-rich plasma with growth factors is prepared later on.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is taken through a puncture on the inner thigh or abdomen under local anaesthetic. No stitches are needed.
Processing in a centrifuge
In a centrifuge the sample separates into layers; the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and combined with the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
The prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint under ultrasound guidance, which helps place it precisely.
Follow-up
Crutches and a hospital stay are not required. The doctor stays in touch after the procedure, following the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
The doctor uses follow-up visits to see how the joint responds and to fine-tune the plan. Typically pain eases over the first month, movement improves over about three months and the full effect builds over around six months.
Conditions we treat
The doctor decides on suitability once you have been examined and your scans have been reviewed
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: a raised temperature, a cold or flu, inflamed skin above the target joint
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
Most people leave on the day of the procedure and get back to daily routines within a day or two, with small dressings covering the puncture sites. A little extra aching in the first week is an expected reaction. The pain usually eases over the first month; mobility and activity improve over about three months; the full effect develops over around six months. How long it lasts is individual, shaped by the stage, body weight, activity and other factors — nobody can promise a fixed result. A healthy weight and regular joint-friendly exercise help the result last longer.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Our focus is saving your own joint, not replacing it — through treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
Only your own adipose tissue and blood — no synthetic or donor material
No crutches
Local anaesthetic and small punctures in place of incisions — no long recovery programme or rehabilitation
Second opinion
Get a free, independent doctor's assessment of your X-rays, MRI or reports — simply send them over
Support after the procedure
The result is followed after the procedure too; we stay in touch, not only on the day of the injection
Osteoarthritis treatment prices
Cost varies with the stage of osteoarthritis, the joint and the method — the doctor states 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?
In a joint, the ends of the bones are covered with cartilage, and in this condition it gradually wears. When it thins, the joint's cushioning goes, the bones rub together and pain, stiffness and crunching follow. The condition is degenerative, not inflammatory.
Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
In many cases it can be, provided treatment starts in time. The goal of SVF and PRP injections is to ease pain and support cartilage without an operation; replacing the joint is the last resort once it is destroyed.
How soon will I notice a result?
The first changes are often noticed 2–3 weeks after the procedure. Over about six months a stable result forms, lasting anywhere from several months to several years depending on the individual. Osteoarthritis is chronic and calls for an ongoing plan rather than one injection.
At which stage does the treatment work best?
When osteoarthritis is at an early or moderate stage. A milder stage generally brings a faster, longer-lasting effect and may reduce the need for regular hyaluronic acid injections; at the most advanced stage, with almost no joint space left, a lasting effect cannot be expected.
Which joints are most often affected?
Load-bearing joints are most at risk: knees, hips, ankles — and also the spine and small hand joints. Regenerative treatment is used across all of these joints.
What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?
As a rule it progresses, so pain becomes constant, movement more limited, the joint may deform and walking can be hard. Early diagnosis, weight control, exercise and working with your doctor make a real difference.
Which tests and scans are needed?
An X-ray is the primary method, and it shows the stage. MRI details the cartilage and soft tissues, ultrasound shows joint fluid and inflammation, and blood tests help to rule out inflammatory conditions. If you already have test results, the doctor will review them free of charge.
How is osteoarthritis different from arthritis?
Osteoarthritis means worn cartilage — aching pain when moving, crunching, stiffness after rest. Arthritis means inflammation — pain at night and at rest, swelling, redness, warmth over the joint. As the approach to treatment differs, the diagnosis comes first.
Can I get a consultation about my case?
Yes. Send us your X-rays, MRI or test results and a doctor will review them free of charge, assess the stage of osteoarthritis and propose a non-surgical plan where appropriate.
Can I exercise with osteoarthritis?
You can, and you should. Suitable activity builds the muscles that unload the joint, feeds the cartilage better and keeps you moving. Choose swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking or yoga, and avoid running on hard surfaces, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Osteoarthritis treatment in Sofia: a short guide
Treatment of osteoarthritis in Sofia uses your own tissue: plasma from a small blood sample and the stromal vascular fraction from a small sample of adipose tissue. There is no donor or synthetic material.
Treatment starts with a consultation and a review of your X-rays or MRI to assess the stage. Then blood and a small adipose tissue sample are taken, processed in a centrifuge and injected into the joint under ultrasound guidance. For patients from Sofia, it is done in one day.
Book a free consultation in Sofia to find out whether SVF or PRP could slow your osteoarthritis. The doctor names the price after examining the joint.
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