Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Therapy in California
Everything you want to know about regenerative medicine, stem cell procedures, PRP therapy, and what to expect at R3 Stem Cell California — answered honestly and in plain language.
FAQs on Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapies
Below are answers to the questions we hear most often from patients across Northern and Southern California considering regenerative medicine for the first time. If your question is not answered here, contact us or bring it to your free consultation — your provider will give you a direct, honest answer.
What Is Regenerative Medicine With a Stem Cell Doctor?
Regenerative Medicine with stem cell doctors is treatment that regenerates and repairs damaged body tissue such as tendon, ligament, cartilage and bone. Conventionally, when an injury happens in these tissues and pain results, nonsurgical pain management provides a “band aid” approach to mask pain. And when healing occurs in a tendon or ligament the old fashioned way, it does not end up in a 100% healing back to its “before” state.
The regenerative medicine concept is to shift the treatment paradigm into healing the tissue rather than masking pain. Traditional treatments like steroid injections work well for temporary relief, however, they do not offer healing potential. Regenerative medicine utilizes stem cell based treatments that offer the potential to heal these injuries by providing the body’s building blocks — including growth factors and platelets — that promote natural healing in the body.
At R3 Stem Cell California, providers across Northern and Southern California use this approach to help patients with joint pain, tendon injuries, arthritis, and soft tissue damage find non-surgical alternatives to long-term steroid use or surgery.
What Is a Stem Cell?
Stem cells are produced by the body’s bone marrow and function as a “clean slate.” They have the ability to differentiate into specialized cells based on signals coming from the environment in which they are placed — signals that tell the stem cell which type of cell to become.
A stem cell may become a skin cell, cartilage cell, muscle cell, bone cell, tendon cell, red blood cell, or many others. By supplementing the body’s supply of these cells at the site of damaged tissue, regenerative procedures aim to provide the difference between a suboptimal healing result and one that regenerates closer to the tissue’s original condition.
What Are the Different Kinds of Stem Cells?
There are two basic stem cell types. The first is called unlimited stem cells (also known as embryonic stem cells) — these can turn into any kind of cell. The second type is termed limited stem cells (also known as adult stem cells).
Unlimited stem cells have the potential to become any human cell type and can be replicated outside the body, with applications across many human diseases. Limited stem cells do not share this potential and cannot be replicated outside the body — they must be either frozen or immediately transplanted.
R3 Stem Cell California does not work with embryonic stem cells. All procedures use adult stem cells, which exist in two primary varieties relevant to our treatments:
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells — exist in human bone marrow and are able to differentiate into most cell types.
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) — isolated from adipose tissue, bone marrow, placenta, and other sources. They can differentiate into many different cell types and also assist with the human immune response.
Is Regenerative Medicine Being Used in Clinical Practice?
Yes. Over the past several years, multiple regenerative medicine procedures have entered clinical practice for pain management, orthopedics, sports medicine, cosmetic procedures, and vascular indications. These involve adult stem cells only and are not considered ethically controversial.
The procedures offered at R3 Stem Cell California are:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
- Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Injections
- Fat (Adipose) Derived Stem Cell Injections
- Amniotic Stem Cell Therapy
Medical conditions that may benefit from these procedures include tendonitis, joint arthritis, ligament sprains, bursitis, cartilage defects, SI joint inflammation, facet syndrome, spinal arthritis, and others. See the full list on our Indications page.
More Questions
Stem cell procedures for orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for these indications. PRP is cleared by the FDA as a device used in certain clinical contexts, but is also not FDA-approved as a treatment for specific musculoskeletal indications. No statements or treatments on this website have been evaluated or approved by the FDA.
R3 Stem Cell California discloses this to every patient as part of the consultation and informed consent process. We believe informed patients make better decisions, and transparency about regulatory status is a non-negotiable part of how we operate.
Still Have Questions? Let's Talk.
The best way to get answers specific to your condition is a one-on-one conversation with an R3 Stem Cell California provider. Your free consultation is the right place to start.