Stem Cell Therapy
Stem Cell Therapy in Bakersfield, CA
Stem cell therapy — a form of regenerative medicine — uses your body’s own cells to help repair and heal damaged tissue. Learn how it works, what the science says, and whether it may be an option for you at the Joint and Bone Institute of California.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, uses stem cells or their derivatives to help repair, restore, or replace damaged tissues and cells. Stem cells are unique because they can self-renew and develop into specialized cell types. The goal of stem cell therapy is to support your body’s own ability to heal.
At the Joint and Bone Institute of California, our team will help you understand what stem cell therapy involves and have an honest conversation about whether it may be appropriate for your condition.
Autologous vs. allogeneic stem cells.
Stem cell treatments generally fall into two categories, based on where the cells come from:
- Autologous — stem cells are collected directly from your own body, most commonly from fat (adipose tissue) or bone marrow.
- Allogeneic — healthy stem cells are gathered from a screened, unrelated donor.
Our stem cell therapy uses your body’s own cells, harvested from three sources: adipose-derived stem cells from body fat (such as the lower abdomen), bone marrow cells from the iliac crest, and platelet-rich plasma created from blood drawn from a peripheral vein. Using your own stem cells supports healing in a natural way.
How stem cell therapy works at JBI.
Once collected, stem cells are processed and concentrated in the lab, then injected into the affected area to stimulate healing. At our institute, stem cells can be applied to many body sites — the back, hips, shoulders, knees, and other joints.
- The collection process takes about an hour, with light oral sedation to keep you comfortable
- Cells are separated using an advanced centrifuge process
- They are injected into the treatment site under ultrasound guidance or live x-ray guidance
- The earlier the procedure is performed, the better the potential for a beneficial outcome
What the research shows.
Stem cell therapy is a promising and fast-evolving field, and it’s important to understand where the science stands. The most established, FDA-approved stem cell treatments are blood stem cell transplants (bone marrow transplants), which are widely used for blood cancers such as leukemia and for certain immune deficiencies.
Many other applications — including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and macular degeneration — are still being studied through ongoing clinical trials and are considered investigational. Because regenerative medicine is still developing, it’s important to have realistic expectations and to work with experienced physicians who will give you an honest assessment.
Considering stem cell therapy? Talk with our team at the Joint and Bone Institute of California — we’ll give you a straightforward explanation of what it may and may not do for your specific condition.
Learn if stem cell therapy is right for you.
The Joint and Bone Institute of California provides regenerative medicine consultations in Bakersfield and across the Central Valley. Call today for an honest, personalized assessment.
