What's Involved in Regenerative Orthopedics?

Regenerative medicine is a type of treatment that’s rising rapidly in the world of orthopedics. Why? Because it utilizes your body’s natural ability to heal itself without the need for drugs or surgery.

Orthopedic conditions can be complicated. Illnesses and injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system are often painful and slow to heal, and traditional medications may not be effective for every patient. Regenerative orthopedics utilizes healing substances your body produces to trigger tissue regeneration.

Upper Extremity Specialists, of Synergy Orthopedic Specialists Medical Group, is proud to bring the latest in regenerative orthopedics to our patients. Kristopher Downing, MD, Daniel Brereton, DO, and our team offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and lipoaspirate therapy for a wide range of injuries and chronic conditions.

The benefits of regenerative orthopedics

With regenerative orthopedic therapy, healing elements that your body naturally produces are extracted, prepared, and then injected into the areas of your body that need healing, all without drugs or surgery.

You may be a candidate for regenerative orthopedic therapy if you suffer from:

We offer two methods of regenerative orthopedic therapy: PRP therapy and lipoaspirate therapy. Depending on your condition and needs, we’ll recommend the best type of regenerative therapy for you. Each method has its own benefits, but what’s involved in the process is similar for both.

Step 1: Preparation

The first step with PRP therapy and lipoaspirate therapy is to extract and prepare the healing elements:

PRP therapy

Your blood is made up of several components, one of which is platelets. Platelets contain growth factors, which can help spur healing and tissue regeneration. To perform PRP therapy, your doctor takes a small sample of your blood. Then your doctor spins your blood in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the other components in your blood. 

Lipoaspirate therapy

Lipoaspirate cells are found in fat. They contain high levels of pericytes, which act as messengers within the body to attract healing cells to specific areas. With this treatment, the doctor uses a hollow needle to extract a small amount of cells from fatty tissue in your body.

Step 2: Injection

Once your serum is ready, your doctor injects it in and around the affected areas. Several injections may be necessary, and our team may use an X-ray or ultrasound to guide the needle for optimal results.

Step 3: Recovery

You may have some mild to moderate inflammation following the injections. Inflammation is your body’s natural response during the healing process, but it should dissipate as time goes on.

Your body should begin working to heal the area immediately, and you should notice results in the following weeks and months. Our team may recommend a series of regenerative treatment sessions alongside other orthopedic treatments, such as physical therapy, for the best results.

To find out what regenerative orthopedics may be able to do for you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Upper Extremity Specialists today.

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