5 Common Types of Regenerative Medicine You Should Know About

Advancements in medicine have significantly improved care delivery. One area that is constantly experiencing advancements in the field of regenerative therapy. Irving TX regenerative medicine harnesses the body’s mechanisms to speed up healing. Regenerative medicine is somewhat new, but practitioners think its possibilities are endless. It treats anything from chronic pain and musculoskeletal injuries to neurological conditions and more. While there are numerous types of regenerative therapy your doctor can use, here are the most common. Continue reading to learn more.

1. Stem Cell Treatments

Stem cell therapy is a regenerative treatment that utilizes a special type of cell to fix injuries. This therapy helps regenerate tissues in the spinal discs. When utilized in regenerative medicine, your doctor draws stem cells from the patient’s blood, fat, or bone marrow.

Your doctor then places the sample into a special machine called a centrifuge to separate the cells they require for regenerative medicine. Your specialist then injects these cells into the areas that need repair.

2. Cartilage Regeneration

One form of regenerative treatment that could help individuals with musculoskeletal concerns is cartilage regeneration. Unlike other body parts, cartilage is slow-healing because it has no blood vessels or constant blood supply. Cartilage regeneration options you can explore include, osteochondral grafting, osteotomy, osteoarticular transfer system (OATS) procedure, and membrane-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI).

3. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP therapy builds on the idea that the platelets and plasma in your blood can repair and heal injuries. PRP therapy is effective in sports medicine to fix tendon injuries. To create platelet-rich plasma, your doctor draws blood from the patient and then spins it in a centrifuge to develop a concentrated solution that is richer in plasma and platelets than regular blood. Your specialist will deliver the solution either through an injection or surgery.

4. Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a form of regenerative treatment that treats injured connective tissues and joints. This regenerative therapy effectively treats whiplash, degenerative disc disease, and whiplash. With prolotherapy, your physician injects a water solution containing substances, such as dextrose and saline, into the damaged area. These injections generally contain a numbing agent, such as lidocaine as well.  

The injections irritate the injury area, triggering the body’s healing response. As a result, the body will develop new connective fibers to repair the damaged tissue and relieve the associated discomfort.

5. Lipogem Therapy

Lipogem therapy is another regenerative therapy that utilizes “source material” from your body’s fat, instead of the blood platelets. Lipogem utilizes a specialized device to create an injectable tissue made from your fat reserves.

Your doctor injects the tissue into the affected joints to support healing and offer cushioning. Patients with mild osteoarthritis and those with sports injuries or other issues affecting ligaments, muscles, and tendons can benefit from Lipogem therapy.

Medical breakthroughs are revolutionizing how doctors can treat injury, pain, and disease. One of the most common new therapies is regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine utilizes various techniques, ranging from stem cell treatment to PRP, and more, to regenerate, replace, or repair damaged tissues, cells, and organs.

These regenerative treatment procedures are not invasive and have a reduced risk of complications as the substances used are from your body. Talk to your doctor about your unique concerns to determine if you are eligible for regenerative therapy. 

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