Autologous Stem Cell Application (SVF) for Joints

Cellthera's flagship regenerative procedure, applying a patient's own mesenchymal stem cells contained in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue to a damaged joint. In a single day the clinic harvests roughly 50 ml of fat by mini-liposuction under local anaesthetic, takes a blood sample, isolates and concentrates the cells in its own SÚKL-licensed tissue facility using the founder's patented method, and re-injects the cell preparation directly into the affected joint. It is offered for osteoarthritis, cartilage defects, meniscus, tendon and ligament injuries and other degenerative or overload conditions, as a non-surgical alternative for patients who want to use their own cells. The whole sequence is performed at the Brno facility, where extraction, processing and injection happen on the same visit.

Autologous stem cell application uses the regenerative cells found in a patient's own fat. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is the cell-rich portion left after fat is broken down, and it contains mesenchymal stem cells along with growth factors that are associated with reduced inflammation and support for cartilage and soft-tissue repair. Cellthera was founded around this approach: its founder holds a European patent for isolating stem cells from adipose and connective tissue, and the clinic runs an in-house tissue establishment approved by the Czech State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) under Act 296/2008 Coll. for handling these cells. The procedure is typically completed in a single day. After a free initial consultation and screening, about 50 ml of fat is harvested through a small mini-liposuction under local anaesthetic, and a blood sample is taken to prepare plasma. The fat and blood are processed in the clinic's own laboratory to isolate and concentrate the SVF, which is then injected directly into the affected joint or joints — up to four joints can be treated in one sitting. The injection is the same regenerative material derived from the patient, so there is no donor or synthetic implant. Most people return home the same day; the harvest site and treated joint may be tender for a few days. The treatment is chosen by people with osteoarthritis, chondropathy or chondromalacia, cartilage defects, meniscus, tendon and ligament injuries, tendinitis, enthesopathies such as tennis or golfer's elbow and heel spur, rheumatoid arthritis, and those recovering from injury, surgery or sports overload who prefer a regenerative option to joint replacement. It is usually a one-time procedure, though grade-3 (severe) cases may be advised to have up to three applications spaced months apart. The clinic screens for contraindications such as active infection and malignancy before proceeding. Patient-reported outcomes on the clinic's stories page describe pain relief building over weeks to a couple of months and a return to activities such as hiking, biking and skiing; results are individual and are presented as patient experiences rather than guarantees.