Innovative Lipogems: A Natural Alternative to Surgery

Your body is unique. Musculoskeletal injuries and chronic conditions, such as arthritis, can restrict your mobility and inhibit your daily life. And the best way to treat these issues can vary from person to person.

Conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and medications, can help some people with musculoskeletal issues, but not others. And for years, if conservative treatments didn’t help, the only other option was surgery.

However, the Lipogems® system has revolutionized the treatment of musculoskeletal issues. This FDA-cleared, minimally invasive system uses the healing properties in your own fat to spur healing in injured parts of your body.

Kristopher Downing, MD, Daniel Brereton, DO, and our team at Upper Extremity Specialists of Synergy Orthopedic Specialists Medical Group are proud to bring this natural alternative to patients suffering joint pain and soft tissue injuries.

What does the Lipogems system do?

The minimally invasive Lipogems system harnesses the healing properties in a person’s fat to treat joint and soft tissue injuries.

This treatment is especially helpful to people who find themselves in the “treatment gap.” The “treatment gap” is used to describe a situation where a person’s condition is too severe to be treated with conservative options — such as anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, or physical therapy — but the person is not ready to consider invasive surgery.

You could be a candidate for the Lipogems system if you:

While fat cells naturally provide cushioning and support for the body, they also contain anywhere from 100-500 times more reparative cells than other tissues. And to top it off, fat’s healing benefits don’t decline with age. When used in specific areas, such as an arthritic joint or damaged soft tissue, fat cells can support tissue healing and repair.

The Lipogems system offers regenerative benefits for people of all ages. Whether you’re a busy professional or a professional athlete, the Lipogems system can stimulate healing and may reduce your need for invasive orthopedic surgery.

What happens in a Lipogems procedure?

We can help you determine if a Lipogems treatment is right for you with a comprehensive physical exam and a review of your medical history. If you choose a Lipogems treatment, it’s a one-time procedure that can take as little as one hour in the office.

Treatment

First, we extract a sample of fat from a fatty area of your body, such as your abdomen or buttocks. The fat is then sterilized and processed in an airtight saline system, which breaks down the fat into microfragments. 

We then inject the microfragments into your treatment area using a very small needle. Depending on your needs, our team can administer injections into multiple treatment areas in just one session.

Recovery

Because the Lipogems system uses cells from your own body, the risk of infection or rejection is very low. Recovery times will vary based on your unique treatment plan, but we generally recommend avoiding strenuous activity for 1-2 weeks after your procedure. 

You can return to your daily activities and normal exercise routine slowly, and be sure to attend any follow-up appointments at Upper Extremity Specialists.

When conservative treatment isn’t enough to manage your pain, you may not have to turn to surgery. The Lipogems system may be able to help you. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Upper Extremity Specialists today.

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