SVF therapy - specialists and information

SVF therapy: fat stem cells against cartilage damage

SVF therapy is a newer treatment method for people with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes damage to the thin layer of articular cartilage in large joints such as the

• Knee
• hip joint and
• shoulder

There are many different causes of cartilage damage

Damage to joint cartilage can be caused by various factors, such as

• Excessive strain
• Accidents or
• Increased abrasion due to misalignments in the joint

In the late stages of the disease, people with advanced osteoarthritis no longer have intact joint cartilage. The joint surfaces rub directly against each other, which leads to inflammation in the joint and surrounding tissue and to severe pain.

Osteoarthritis pain usually begins as initial pain. Those affected always need a moment to get going and for the pain to subside. As osteoarthritis progresses, the pain becomes permanent and leads to considerable restrictions in movement.

Osteoarthritis is a joint disease with sometimes severe pain @ Graphicroyalty /AdobeStock

What is the principle of SVF therapy?

SVF therapy is a regeneration procedure that aims to repair arthritis-related joint cartilage damage using stem cells from the body's own fatty tissue.

The stroma-vascular fraction (SVF), which comes from the fatty tissue, contains a variety of regenerative and anti-inflammatory cells. Including mesenchymal stem cells.

When injected into the joint , the stem cells intervene in tissue regeneration and reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Who is eligible for SVF therapy?

SVF therapy is suitable for people with articular cartilage damage in large joints (hip, knee and shoulder). These people usually suffer from pain and restricted movement.

SVF therapy has anti-inflammatory, regenerative and pain-relieving effects and can even avoid the need for joint replacement surgery . As the stromal-vesicular fractions are the body's own material, SVF therapy is considered to have few side effects.

The SVF therapy procedure

At the beginning of SVF therapy, doctors aspirate a small amount of the body's own fatty tissue. The patient is given a local anesthetic. The SVF therapy specialists prefer to use fat from the abdominal or thigh area.

A centrifuge then processes the fatty tissue to isolate the SVF fraction. Doctors inject the extracted fraction directly into the affected joint. Specialists in SVF therapy then inject platelet-rich plasma, which supplies important growth factors.

The entire procedure takes about an hour - or less. Often only one treatment is necessary, but it can be repeated depending on the severity of the osteoarthritis. how long does the effect of SVF therapy last? how long the treatment works depends on a variety of individual factors. In general, the full effect of SVF therapy sets in around 1-3 months after treatment.

The therapy has a 70 percent chance of success . This is a very high success rate for conservative treatment. It can also be assumed that the effect of SVF therapy can last for years. Regular booster treatments with platelet-rich plasma extend the duration of the effect.

Where do SVF therapy specialists work?

Joint diseases such as osteoarthritis belong to the specialist field of orthopaedics and joint surgery. Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells for joint cartilage regeneration requires a great deal of experience. For this reason, SVF therapy specialists usually work at larger specialized centers.

Above you will find selected SVF therapy specialists and focus centers in Germany that offer articular cartilage regeneration using stem cell injections.