Adipose-Derived Cellular Therapy
Stromal vascular fraction harvested from adipose tissue via minimally invasive technique — used in degenerative joint applications where a concentrated cellular environment supports tissue repair.
What It Is / How It Works
Adipose-Derived Cellular Therapy utilizes the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) — a heterogeneous population of cells obtained from fat tissue harvested via a small-volume lipoaspirate. SVF contains adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), endothelial progenitor cells, macrophages, pericytes, and a rich cytokine milieu. Adipose tissue is an abundant source of regenerative cells, typically yielding higher cell concentrations than bone marrow per volume harvested.
The harvested fat is processed using mechanical or enzymatic digestion to release the SVF, which is then delivered via ultrasound-guided injection to the target joint or tissue. The mechanism of action is primarily paracrine — SVF cells secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines, pro-angiogenic factors, and immunomodulatory signals that create a permissive environment for tissue repair.
Who Is a Candidate
Adipose-derived cellular therapy is generally considered for patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis, or soft-tissue injuries, who have exhausted more conservative injectable and rehabilitative options and who have sufficient adipose tissue available for harvest. As with other autologous orthobiologic procedures, this therapy is offered as part of the physician's individualized clinical judgment rather than as a standardized, one-size-fits-all product, and it is not represented as an FDA-approved drug or stem cell therapeutic.
Patients with active infection, uncontrolled bleeding disorders or anticoagulation that cannot be safely managed, certain active malignancies, and severe or end-stage joint disease better addressed surgically are typically not candidates. Given the heightened regulatory scrutiny this modality has drawn nationally, patients are counseled clearly that the tissue is minimally manipulated and used for homologous function under the same-surgical-procedure framework, and that outcomes vary based on individual biology and the extent of underlying joint damage.
What to Expect
The procedure involves a mini-liposuction, typically performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, to harvest a small volume of the patient's own adipose tissue, most often from the abdomen or flank. This lipoaspirate is then processed on-site to isolate the stromal vascular fraction or adipose-derived cellular component, which is prepared for same-day reinjection into the target joint or tissue under ultrasound guidance.
The full visit, from harvest through processing to injection, generally takes one to two hours. Mild bruising, swelling, or soreness at the liposuction site is common and typically resolves within one to two weeks. As with other biologic injections, a period of modified activity followed by a structured rehabilitation program is generally recommended, individualized to the treated joint and the patient's baseline function.
Evidence Base
- Intra-Articular Injection of Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells or Stromal Vascular Fractions: Are They Effective for Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PMID: 35019764 ↗
- Clinical Safety and Effectiveness of Adipose-Derived Stromal Cell vs Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: 2-Year Results of Parallel Single-Arm Trials. PMID: 35834970 ↗
- Cell-based therapies have disease-modifying effects on osteoarthritis in animal models. A systematic review by the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative. Part 2: bone marrow-derived cell-based injectable therapies. PMID: 36823238 ↗
- Comparative effectiveness of adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in the management of knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis. PMID: 36686284 ↗
- Cell-based versus corticosteroid injections for knee pain in osteoarthritis: a randomized phase 3 trial. PMID: 37919438 ↗
Interested in learning whether this treatment is appropriate for you?
Request a Consultation ↗