Cells
Cell-based injections are an innovative, non-surgical therapy aimed at repairing and regenerating damaged tissues in joints and soft tissues.
At a glance
About
This method is commonly used for patients with chronic conditions
Effective
Referrals
Not Needed
Booking
Instant-book option available
Cost
-
Lincolnshire £ 14,995
Nature of cell therapy
Cell-based therapy is a regenerative treatment aimed at repairing and restoring damaged joint tissues using the body’s own healing mechanisms. In conditions like osteoarthritis or cartilage degeneration, the cells within the joint lose their ability to regenerate effectively, resulting in pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
Common causes of knee damage suitable for cell therapy
Knee joint problems addressed by cell therapy usually arise from progressive wear and structural damage, including:
Degenerative conditions: Osteoarthritis and age-related joint wear reduce the body’s ability to maintain cartilage health.
Previous injuries: Trauma, ligament tears, or meniscus injuries can initiate long-term joint deterioration.
Repetitive stress: Overuse through sports or physical work contributes to cellular breakdown in the joint.
Obesity: Excess weight accelerates joint wear and impairs the healing response.
Genetic predisposition: Some individuals are more prone to early joint degeneration due to inherited factors.
Diagnosing knee conditions for cell therapy
Diagnosing joint degeneration starts with a comprehensive clinical assessment. Patients typically report chronic pain, stiffness, or reduced joint mobility. Symptoms may be accompanied by swelling, instability, or clicking sensations.
The physical exam focuses on range of motion, tenderness, and joint alignment. To confirm a diagnosis and guide treatment, imaging such as MRI or X-ray is used to evaluate cartilage quality, inflammation, or tissue damage. If conventional treatments have not worked, and imaging supports tissue loss or degeneration, cell-based therapies may be recommended to promote healing and delay surgical intervention.
Suitable for
Early-stage Osteoarthritis
Chondromalacia
Treatment overview
Cell therapy is a minimally invasive procedure typically performed on an outpatient basis. The process begins with harvesting regenerative cells—commonly from bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissue—using a small needle under local anaesthesia. These cells are then processed and concentrated before being carefully injected into the affected joint or soft tissue using imaging guidance. The entire procedure usually takes under an hour, and patients can often return to light activities the same day. Over the following weeks, the injected cells work to reduce inflammation, support tissue repair, and improve overall joint function.
Following the procedure, most patients experience minimal discomfort and can resume normal daily activities within a few days, although high-impact exercises should be avoided initially. A personalised rehabilitation plan may be recommended to optimise healing and long-term outcomes.
Benefits
Supports tissue regeneration
Reduces inflammation and pain
Delays or avoids surgery
Reduces pain
Improves joint function and mobility
How to Pay
We offer a range of flexible payment options to make your treatment experience smooth and stress-free.
Paying for Yourself (Preferred Option)
Most patients choose to self-fund their treatment. We accept:
- Bank Transfers
- Credit/Debit Cards
- Cash (in person only)
Instalment Plans
We’ve partnered with GoCardless to offer interest-free instalment options. You can easily set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost of your treatment over time.
Finance Options
Looking for a financing plan? You can apply through Kandoo, our trusted finance partner.
- Instant online decision
- No impact on your credit score
- Multiple lenders for competitive rates
Private Medical Insurance (Limited Availability)
We work with a small number of approved insurance providers. However, due to restrictions from many insurers, not all treatments are covered. Please check with your insurer and speak to our team before booking to avoid disappointment.
The booking process
Online booking/call
Use our Calendly to book an initial consultation, or give us a call.
01
consultation
If you are a new patient, our doctors might arrange a consultation before treatment.
02
Treatment
You will be booked in for treatment.
03
Follow up
Our doctors might arrange a follow-up consultation, to check your response to treatment.
04
Discharge
Once your doctor is happy with your recovery, you will be discharged. After discharge, we are always here for further questions or support, should you need it.
05
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the procedure take?
The injection process takes around 30–60 minutes. Recovery is generally fast, with minimal downtime.
Are there side effects?
Since the treatment uses your own cells, side effects are minimal. Mild soreness at the injection site is possible.
How soon will I see results?
Results vary, but most patients notice improvements within 4 to 12 weeks after treatment
Injection Treatment Comparison
Explore the key differences between leading injection therapies used in joint, tendon, and cartilage care. Compare their effectiveness, uses, recovery time, and potential drawbacks to help guide your treatment decisions.
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injection | Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, joint lubrication | ⭐⭐⭐ | Lubricates joints, reduces friction, and relieves pain in osteoarthritis. | Immediate return to daily activities, effects last 3-12 months.
| Short-term relief, effects wear off over time; does not regenerate cartilage.
|
Cartilage Matrix Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cartilage Matrix Injection | Moderate to severe cartilage damage, osteoarthritis, surgical augmentation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Provides a structural scaffold to support cartilage repair and regeneration. | Minimal downtime, improvement in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | May lead to mild inflammation or combination with other therapies for best results |
Arthrosamid Injection (Hydrogel)
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection | Tendon injuries, mild arthritis, post-surgical healing. | ⭐⭐⭐ | Uses growthregfactors from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Work well on ligaments and tendons. | Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | Not very effective for established Arthritis. Unless combined with other treatments. |
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection | Tendon injuries, mild arthritis, post-surgical healing. | ⭐⭐⭐ | Uses growthregfactors from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Work well on ligaments and tendons. | Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | Not very effective for established Arthritis. Unless combined with other treatments. |
mFAT (Microfragmented Adipose Tissue) Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mFAT (Microfragmented Adipose Tissue) Injection | Moderate to severe arthritis, joint degeneration, soft tissue repair | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fat-derived stem cells injected into joints to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. | Light activity immediately, pain relief in 2-4 weeks, lasting 6-24 months | Requires minor liposuction to harvest fat; may not be as effective in severe arthritis |
BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) Injection | Fracture healing. Previously used for cartilage regeneration; less preferred due to inconsistent results | ⭐⭐ | Bone marrow cells injected for potential cartilage repair, but effectiveness varies. | Minimal restrictions, noticeable effects in 3 months, full benefits in 6-12 months. | Inconsistent results, Very invasive; less preferred compared to other regenerative options. |
Cortisone (Steroid) Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cortisone (Steroid) Injection | Severe inflammation, advanced arthritis pain management (short-term use only) | ⭐
(Anti-Inflammatory) | Powerful anti-inflammatory, provides temporary pain relief but accelerates joint degeneration. | Immediate pain relief, but potential long-term cartilage damage. Best when mixed with PRP & HA to reduce toxicity. | Toxic to cartilage; long-term use can accelerate joint degeneration. |
Exosome Injection
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exosome Injection | Early-stage arthritis, tendon injuries, inflammation modulation, post-surgical recovery. | ⭐⭐⭐ | Delivers signaling molecules that promote regeneration, reduce inflammation, and support healing at a cellular level. | Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 3-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | Still experimental; effectiveness varies depending on the condition treated. |
Injection Type | Best For | Effectiveness (⭐ out of 5) | What It Does | Recovery Time | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injection | Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, joint lubrication | ⭐⭐⭐ | Lubricates joints, reduces friction, and relieves pain in osteoarthritis. | Immediate return to daily activities, effects last 3-12 months.
| Short-term relief, effects wear off over time; does not regenerate cartilage.
|
Cartilage Matrix Injection | Moderate to severe cartilage damage, osteoarthritis, surgical augmentation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Provides a structural scaffold to support cartilage repair and regeneration. | Minimal downtime, improvement in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | May lead to mild inflammation or combination with other therapies for best results |
Arthrosamid Injection (Hydrogel) | Moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis, locking in regeneration effects, shielding the synovium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
(Anti-degeneration) | Does not regenerate cartilage but indirectly reduces inflammation and protects the joint. | Immediate return to activities, full effect in 2-4 weeks, lasts 12-24 months | Does not regenerate cartilage, only helps maintain improvements and Side effect profile. |
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection | Tendon injuries, mild arthritis, post-surgical healing. | ⭐⭐⭐ | Uses growthregfactors from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Work well on ligaments and tendons. | Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | Not very effective for established Arthritis. Unless combined with other treatments. |
mFAT (Microfragmented Adipose Tissue) Injection | Moderate to severe arthritis, joint degeneration, soft tissue repair | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fat-derived stem cells injected into joints to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair. | Light activity immediately, pain relief in 2-4 weeks, lasting 6-24 months | Requires minor liposuction to harvest fat; may not be as effective in severe arthritis |
BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) Injection | Fracture healing. Previously used for cartilage regeneration; less preferred due to inconsistent results | ⭐⭐ | Bone marrow cells injected for potential cartilage repair, but effectiveness varies. | Minimal restrictions, noticeable effects in 3 months, full benefits in 6-12 months. | Inconsistent results, Very invasive; less preferred compared to other regenerative options. |
Cortisone (Steroid) Injection | Severe inflammation, advanced arthritis pain management (short-term use only) | ⭐
(Anti-Inflammatory) | Powerful anti-inflammatory, provides temporary pain relief but accelerates joint degeneration. | Immediate pain relief, but potential long-term cartilage damage. Best when mixed with PRP & HA to reduce toxicity. | Toxic to cartilage; long-term use can accelerate joint degeneration. |
Exosome Injection | Early-stage arthritis, tendon injuries, inflammation modulation, post-surgical recovery. | ⭐⭐⭐ | Delivers signaling molecules that promote regeneration, reduce inflammation, and support healing at a cellular level. | Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 3-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months. | Still experimental; effectiveness varies depending on the condition treated. |
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injection
Best For
Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, joint lubrication
What It Does
Lubricates joints, reduces friction, and relieves pain in osteoarthritis.
Recovery Time
Immediate return to daily activities, effects last 3-12 months.
Downside
Short-term relief, effects wear off over time; does not regenerate cartilage.
Cartilage Matrix Injection
Best For
Moderate to severe cartilage damage, osteoarthritis, surgical augmentation
What It Does
Provides a structural scaffold to support cartilage repair and regeneration.
Recovery Time
Minimal downtime, improvement in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months.
Downside
May lead to mild inflammation or combination with other therapies for best results
Arthrosamid Injection (Hydrogel)
Best For
Tendon injuries, mild arthritis, post-surgical healing.
What It Does
Uses growthregfactors from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Work well on ligaments and tendons.
Recovery Time
Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months.
Downside
Not very effective for established Arthritis. Unless combined with other treatments.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection
Best For
Tendon injuries, mild arthritis, post-surgical healing.
What It Does
Uses growthregfactors from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. Work well on ligaments and tendons.
Recovery Time
Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 4-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months.
Downside
Not very effective for established Arthritis. Unless combined with other treatments.
mFAT (Microfragmented Adipose Tissue) Injection
Best For
Moderate to severe arthritis, joint degeneration, soft tissue repair
What It Does
Fat-derived stem cells injected into joints to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair.
Recovery Time
Light activity immediately, pain relief in 2-4 weeks, lasting 6-24 months
Downside
Requires minor liposuction to harvest fat; may not be as effective in severe arthritis
BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate) Injection
Best For
Fracture healing. Previously used for cartilage regeneration; less preferred due to inconsistent results
What It Does
Bone marrow cells injected for potential cartilage repair, but effectiveness varies.
Recovery Time
Minimal restrictions, noticeable effects in 3 months, full benefits in 6-12 months.
Downside
Inconsistent results, Very invasive; less preferred compared to other regenerative options.
Cortisone (Steroid) Injection
Best For
Severe inflammation, advanced arthritis pain management (short-term use only)
What It Does
Powerful anti-inflammatory, provides temporary pain relief but accelerates joint degeneration.
Recovery Time
Immediate pain relief, but potential long-term cartilage damage. Best when mixed with PRP & HA to reduce toxicity.
Downside
Toxic to cartilage; long-term use can accelerate joint degeneration.
Exosome Injection
Best For
Early-stage arthritis, tendon injuries, inflammation modulation, post-surgical recovery.
What It Does
Delivers signaling molecules that promote regeneration, reduce inflammation, and support healing at a cellular level.
Recovery Time
Minimal downtime, improvement seen in 3-6 weeks, lasting 6-12 months.
Downside
Still experimental; effectiveness varies depending on the condition treated.
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