Non-Surgical Osteoarthritis Treatment in Tokyo
Cell therapy (SVF) plus PRP for arthrosis of the knee, hip and beyond. Send your X-rays or MRI — the stage review costs nothing
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, which doctors also call arthrosis, is a chronic process of cartilage thinning and wearing away inside a joint. The cartilage is there to absorb shock, and as it deteriorates the bones rub together, producing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. It is degenerative rather than inflammatory, although flares with swelling occur.
Most often it hits the most heavily loaded joints — knee (gonarthrosis) and hip (coxarthrosis) — along with the ankle and the small hand joints. Early and moderate stages respond best, before serious damage to the joint surfaces; at an advanced stage the doctor will be honest with you if replacing the joint is the more realistic path.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
We treat large and small joints; the doctor picks the joint, method and injection count once your scans are reviewed
Elbow
Wear of joint surfaces, pain after heavy use or sports strain
Hand and wrist joints
Finger and wrist small joints affected by pain and stiffness
Knee
Pain on stairs and after walks, cartilage wear, meniscus issues
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Wear of the joint and nearby tendons, pain when lifting the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
The method uses the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of cells that support tissue repair, isolated by processing a small sample of your adipose tissue. It is injected into the affected joint along with your own plasma.
Most often it is applied in early and moderate osteoarthritis, helping slow the wear of cartilage and reduce friction in the joint.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
Plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is obtained from a small volume of your blood and injected into the joint, where it helps calm inflammation and improves 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
Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount. Later, platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is prepared from it.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Local anaesthetic is used while a small portion of adipose tissue, about 30 ml, is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. The site needs no stitches.
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.
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
You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows the joint's response.
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
Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount. Later, platelet-rich plasma containing growth factors is prepared from it.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
Local anaesthetic is used while a small portion of adipose tissue, about 30 ml, is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. The site needs no stitches.
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.
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
You go without crutches and without a hospital stay; the doctor keeps in touch afterwards and follows the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
Follow-up appointments let the doctor monitor the joint and adjust the plan. As a rule, pain eases in the first month, mobility improves over about three months and the full effect develops over around six months.
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: flu or a cold, fever, or skin inflammation over the joint being treated
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 go home the same day and return to normal daily activity within a day or two; the puncture sites are covered with small dressings. During the first week the joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect develops over around six months. 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. Keeping a healthy weight and regular, joint-friendly exercise help the result last longer.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Your own joint is kept, not replaced — we treat without surgery
Your own tissue
Nothing synthetic, nothing from donors — only your own blood and adipose tissue are used
No crutches
No long rehabilitation: local anaesthetic and punctures instead of incisions
Second opinion
Send your reports, X-rays or MRI, and a doctor will independently assess them free of charge
Support after the procedure
We remain in touch after the procedure and track the outcome, not merely on the injection day
Osteoarthritis treatment prices
The doctor quotes the cost after the consultation, as it depends on the joint, the method and the stage of osteoarthritis
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?
The cartilage that covers the bone ends in a joint slowly wears away. Once it thins, cushioning is lost, bone rubs on bone and pain, stiffness and crunching appear. This is a degenerative condition, not an inflammatory one.
Can hip osteoarthritis be treated without surgery?
Many patients can, if treatment is not delayed. The aim of SVF and PRP injections is to ease pain and support the cartilage without an operation, and joint replacement is the last option — for a joint already destroyed.
How soon will I notice a result?
Many people notice early changes 2–3 weeks after the procedure, while a stable result forms over about six months and lasts from several months to several years depending on the person. Osteoarthritis is chronic, so an ongoing plan is needed 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?
Heavily loaded joints — the knees, hips and ankles — together with the spine and small hand joints. All of them can be treated with regenerative treatment.
What happens if osteoarthritis is left untreated?
Generally it progresses — constant pain, increasingly limited movement, a possibly deformed joint and trouble walking. What makes a real difference is early diagnosis, weight control, exercise and working with a doctor.
Which tests and scans are needed?
The main tool is an X-ray, showing the stage. For detail on cartilage and soft tissues there is MRI; ultrasound reveals inflammation and fluid in the joint; blood tests help rule out inflammatory conditions. The doctor can look at results you already have free of charge.
How is osteoarthritis different from arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is about cartilage wear: pain that aches on movement, crunching, stiffness after rest. Arthritis is about inflammation: pain at rest and at night, swelling, redness and warmth over the joint. Because treatment is different, the diagnosis comes first.
Can I get a consultation about my case?
Yes — a doctor will review your X-rays, MRI or test results free of charge after you send them, assess the stage of osteoarthritis and suggest a non-surgical plan where it is appropriate.
Can I exercise with osteoarthritis?
Yes — exercise is encouraged. The right activity builds the muscles that take the load off the joint, improves how the cartilage is nourished and keeps you mobile. Try swimming, water aerobics, cycling, Nordic walking or yoga, and avoid running on hard ground, jumping, heavy lifting and sudden movements.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
How osteoarthritis is treated without surgery for Tokyo residents
Knee and hip osteoarthritis are the most common reasons patients from Tokyo consider joint replacement. SVF and PRP therapy is a way to try to delay or avoid surgery while the joint can still be preserved.
PRP is often used for mild osteoarthritis, and SVF with PRP when a stronger effect is needed. The method and the number of injections are chosen for each patient in Tokyo after the examination.
The cost of osteoarthritis treatment depends on the joint, the stage and the method, so the price is set at the consultation. For patients from Tokyo, the first consultation and review of your scans are free. Leave your name and phone number to book.
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