What is regenerative medicine?
Throughout your life, specialized cells in your body called platelets and adult stem cells fill the essential job of keeping you healthy. They activate the healing response and regenerate new cells that repair injured tissues and routinely replace old tissues.
As a regenerative medicine specialist, Dr. Tsoi harvests these cells and turns them into injectable treatments that heal your injuries and alleviate your pain.
How do platelets contribute to regenerative medicine?
Along with red and white blood cells, platelets live in your blood. When you suffer an injury or develop a disease, platelets travel to damaged tissues and release growth factors that:
- Accelerate healing
- Reduce inflammation
- Attract stem cells to the area
- Create support for new cell growth
- Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels
Dr. Tsoi creates PRP in the office by drawing your blood and processing it to separate the platelets and plasma. After you receive a PRP injection, the platelets do their usual job, releasing growth factors that promote healing.
How do stem cells contribute to regenerative medicine?
Stem cells have the extraordinary ability to self-replicate as often as needed. In the process, they create new cells that develop into all the different types of cells your body needs to repair injured tissues.
You have a variety of adult stem cells living in your body. Dr. Tsoi often injects one type called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) because they regenerate musculoskeletal tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, collagen, and skin.
You also have a convenient source of MSCs in your own body fat and bone marrow. Dr. Tsoi can take a small sample of body fat or bone marrow and process it to separate and inject your MSCs.
What health conditions improve with regenerative medicine?
Dr. Tsoi may inject PRP and stem cells alone or together for optimal results. He often uses real-time imaging to perform joint injections, placing your regenerative treatment precisely at the injured tissues.
Both treatments can heal numerous injuries and health conditions. These are a few examples:
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis and tears
- Knee ligament injuries
- Spinal stenosis
- Facet joint syndrome
- Sprains and strains
PRP injections also treat hair loss by triggering new hair growth and slowing down hair loss.
To learn if regenerative medicine can help your condition, call Advanced Wellness & Musculoskeletal Pain Clinic, or book an appointment online today.
