Did you know that your body loses millions of cells every minute? Yes, every minute! It’s true, and while that might sound a bit concerning, thanks to your stem cells, this process happens pretty effectively.
Stem cells are unique. Unlike other cells, they can transform into any cell your body tells them to be—whether it’s muscle, skin, or another type of tissue that needs repair. Without them, your body would never be able to repair everyday wear and tear, recover from injuries, or keep up with regular maintenance like tissue regeneration.
However, as we age, the number and activity of stem cells decrease. Other factors like chronic illness, environmental toxins, or an unhealthy lifestyle can also interfere with stem cell function. Plus, sometimes your body needs more stem cells than it can produce to heal properly.
What’s the fix? You could turn to “traditional” treatments, but many of those can be invasive, while others merely “mask” the symptoms and don’t heal the root cause. Why not let your body heal itself? At its core, that’s what regenerative medicine, like stem cell therapy, is all about—supporting the body’s natural healing abilities.
In this article, we’ll explore this popular field that’s making headlines, the different types of stem cell treatments available, who can benefit, and important safety considerations before proceeding.
What Are Stem Cells?
Before you can understand what stem cell therapy is and how it can help with common health issues such as joint pain and injuries, it’s important to understand what stem cells are and what they do in the body.
Stem cells are a unique type of cell that are essentially blank, meaning they haven’t yet specialized into a specific cell type. They can be anything your body needs them to be.
You have stem cells throughout your body, primarily in your bone marrow, fat, and skin. They aren’t the same as other cells, like your skin cells or muscle cells, which are specialized, meaning they are limited to specific functions.
Stem cells are unspecified and have the ability to transform into different types of cells based on what your body needs. They are the only cells in your body that can do this.
Stem cells are also regenerative, meaning they can repair damaged tissue—another ability most other cells lack. For example, muscle cells are designed to contract and help your body move—that’s it. They are limited to functioning within muscle tissue and cannot divide or regenerate new muscle tissue to repair the damage.
Skin cells are another example. They do have regenerative abilities, but only to a limited extent—they cannot regenerate indefinitely or repair severe damage on their own. They also can only maintain the skin, nothing else.
That’s where stem cells come in. Whether it’s muscle cells, skin cells, nerve cells, or any other type of cell, stem cells can step in and be whatever type of cell your body needs to repair and regenerate.
Essentially, a stem cell’s job is to remain on standby. When tissue is diseased or damaged, your body sends out chemical signals for help. The stem cells detect the distress call, migrate to the affected area, “read” the specific needs of the damaged tissue, and then transform into the necessary type of cell to assist in repair and regeneration.
Stem cells are crucial for the body’s natural healing and maintenance processes. The problem? As we age, our supply of stem cells decreases and becomes less active. This explains why we have more joint pain and why injuries take longer to heal as we get older—our body’s natural repair system slows down.
Stem cells can also decline due to chronic illness, exposure to environmental toxins, and unhealthy lifestyle habits. Additionally, some health conditions require more stem cells than your body naturally has available or can activate at one time.
That’s where advancements in regenerative medicine, like stem cell therapy, become beneficial.
What is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells have been used in medicine for decades, helping to treat certain cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.
In more recent years, regenerative medicine has become a hot topic for medical researchers as they explore stem cells’ potential in managing more common issues like muscle injuries, joint problems, and the appearance and health of skin and hair.
Stem cell therapy, often referred to as regenerative medicine, is a process where stem cells or their derivatives are used to promote the repair response of diseased, dysfunctional, or injured tissues. Essentially, stem cell therapy taps into the body’s natural ability to regenerate and heal itself to address injuries, health conditions, and more.
Notice we said “the” body, not “your” body. Yes, your own stem cells can be used in some forms of stem cell therapy, but in many cases, donor cells are used, usually collected from outside sources, such as perinatal tissue.
When your own stem cells are used, it’s called autologous stem cell therapy. This process involves harvesting stem cells, usually from your bone marrow or fat tissue, which are then reinjected into the area needing treatment. Autologous stem cell therapy is often used in advanced medical settings for conditions such as autoimmune diseases or specific orthopedic injuries.
For more common complaints such as joint pain, pain from injury, aging, or in cases where a person’s stem cells may not be abundant enough or healthy enough to use, donor cells are typically used. This type of stem cell therapy is called allogeneic stem cell therapy and is the method most often used in medical clinics offering regenerative medicine services.
The donor cells, sometimes referred to as Wharton’s jelly, are usually sourced from amniotic fluid or umbilical cords (donated after healthy births). These cells are supplied to medical clinics by biotech companies or other specialized providers. Before they are sold to clinics, the donor cells undergo rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness—or at least, they should.
If you are considering regenerative medicine, this is a crucial point that cannot be overlooked. The sourcing and quality of donor cells matter significantly. A little further down, we’ll discuss the importance of sourcing and the questions you should ask a medical clinic before undergoing stem cell therapy. Don’t skim over that section.
Advancements in Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy got its start in the 1950s when scientists discovered hematopoietic (blood-making) stem cells in bone marrow. By 1968, this led to the first successful bone marrow transplant, offering a way to treat diseases like leukemia and lymphoma by replacing a patient’s damaged blood cells with healthy ones.
As research progressed, scientists began exploring how stem cells could do more than help blood disorders—they wanted to see if they could help heal tissues and reduce inflammation. This eventually led to the discovery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the 1990s, which opened up new possibilities for treating things like osteoarthritis and cartilage repair.
More recent advancements in regenerative medicine led researchers to examine stem-cell-derived therapies for diabetes, with early trials showing promise in creating insulin-producing cells to reduce reliance on injections. Similarly, research is underway to harness stem cells for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Stem cell therapy is now a major focus of regenerative medicine, and potential uses are continuously expanding thanks to ongoing research and innovation. Regenerative medicine is evolving rapidly, bringing natural and effective healing into modern healthcare and helping manage many common health issues.
Who Could Benefit From Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells are being explored for their potential to manage everything from joint pain and soft tissue injuries to more chronic issues like degenerative disk disease. They are also widely used in medical aesthetics, for anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, and hair restoration.
If you have any of the following concerns, you could possibly benefit from stem cell therapy:
Joint Pain
If you have persistent joint pain—whether it’s inflammation, tissue damage, or joint degeneration—stem cell therapy may provide relief due to its potential in regenerating damaged cartilage and reducing inflammation within the joint.
This could not only help with pain but also potentially repair tissue by targeting the root cause of pain and damage. Over time, this can lead to improved mobility, less discomfort, and better joint function.
Injuries
Tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries aren’t limited to athletes—they can happen to anyone due to accidents, overuse, or sudden strain. Similar to how they might help with joint pain, stem cells are believed to assist in repairing damaged tissues by promoting cell regeneration and reducing inflammation.
Stem cells have also shown potential for damage to soft tissues, such as rotator cuff injuries. They may help rebuild and strengthen the affected area, reducing the need for invasive treatments like surgery.
Because stem cells might help promote the growth of healthy tissue, the treatment could also benefit those with slow-healing wound injuries.
Chronic Conditions
Thanks to their regenerative properties, many people are finding relief from a variety of chronic conditions after consistent stem cell therapy treatment. One of the most promising is in providing relief for those with degenerative disc disease or other musculoskeletal disorders.
In degenerative conditions, the body’s natural ability to repair damaged tissue is often compromised. Stem cells can differentiate into various cell types needed for tissue repair and release growth factors that stimulate healing. This is important because degenerative disorders typically involve the progressive breakdown of tissues that the body cannot adequately repair on its own.
Stem cells are also showing promise in helping those with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis. In these conditions, inflammation and cartilage degradation is typically the underlying cause of pain and limited mobility. Stem cell therapy can potentially reduce inflammatory cytokine production, promote cartilage regeneration, and help restore the joint’s functional integrity.
Chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are also being treated with stem cells. These therapies focus on reducing inflammation, promoting healthy skin cell turnover, and soothing persistently irritated skin areas.
While research is limited, if you have a chronic autoimmune disorder, stem cell treatments might offer relief due to their ability to help modulate immune responses and reduce inflammatory damage to tissues and organs.
Aesthetics
The aesthetic benefits of stem cell treatments are changing the game in everything from anti-aging treatments and skin rejuvenation solutions to scar reduction and hair restoration.
For anti-aging and overall skin rejuvenation, topical treatments derived from stem cells are being used alongside many popular medical aesthetic treatments to rejuvenate the skin, stimulate collagen production, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
These treatments may also address hyperpigmentation issues. Because stem cells can help encourage the skin to repair itself, topical stem cell therapies can potentially reduce dark spots, age spots, sun damage, and other hyperpigmentation issues.
Hair loss is another aesthetic concern that stem cell therapy may address. Regenerative treatments are becoming increasingly popular for hair restoration, particularly for addressing thinning hair and baldness. These treatments often involve injections into the scalp, which deliver regenerative properties directly to dormant hair follicles, supporting natural hair growth over time.
Scar reduction is another aesthetic application where stem cells are growing in popularity. Whether you have acne scars, a scar from a c-section or an injury, stem cell treatments might help promote the growth of healthy tissue, which can improve the appearance of scars and create a more uniform skin texture.
What to Expect During Skin Cell Therapy Treatment
What happens during a skin cell therapy treatment depends on the type of therapy and your treatment goals.
In regenerative medicine, treatments typically use donor-derived stem cells. This process is relatively simple. However, if your own stem cells are being harvested, there will be additional steps.
The delivery method also plays a role. Stem cell products can be administered topically, intravenously, intraarticularly (into the joints), or intramuscularly (into the muscles).
Here’s a general outline of what to expect during a session where donor cells are being used:
Consultation and Assessment
Before treatment begins, you’ll have a consultation with a qualified medical professional trained in regenerative medicine treatments.
They will assess your skin’s condition and discuss your treatment goals to determine if you’re a good candidate for a regenerative skin cell therapy product and which type of treatment would be most beneficial for you.
If not, they will suggest other possible solutions, such as ozone therapy, exosomes, or possibly IV vitamin therapy, which can be used in many applications beyond immunity and hydration after a night of drinking.
Preparation
If it is determined that you could benefit from regenerative medicine, you should be able to begin treatment right away. Often on the same day as your consultation. However, some things might prevent you from starting treatment that day.
For example, if you have taken any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin, it could interfere with the body’s natural healing process. Your clinician may ask you to avoid these for a few days before treatment.
Or, if you had some alcoholic beverages the night before, your clinician might suggest you schedule for another day since alcohol can interfere with healing and may thin your blood.
Administration of Skin Cells
This step depends on the treatment goal and the specific condition being addressed.
For example, IV drips are commonly used for general healing, such as improving overall tissue health or addressing systemic conditions. This treatment process would be very similar to donating blood or getting IV vitamin therapy.
Your nurse will insert a small needle (IV catheter) into your vein. Then, stem cells are infused into the bloodstream, where they travel to areas that require healing and regeneration.
If stem cells are being administered via injection, which is often the method used for targeting specific areas, like joints or muscles, the process will be similar to any other shot you would receive at a doctor’s office.
The exact steps depend on whether the injection is intramuscular (into the muscle) or intraarticular (into the joint). If it’s an intramuscular injection, the needle will be placed into the muscle at the targeted area, whereas an intraarticular injection involves the injection directly into the joint space.
In some instances, such as an add-on to a facial or laser skin resurfacing treatment, stem cell products might be applied topically. In this case, they are applied directly to the skin by hand or with a specialized device.
Post-Treatment
After treatment, if the skin cell product was administered intravenously or via injection, you may experience some redness, swelling, or minor discomfort in the treated area, which typically subsides within a few days. Topical skin cell products usually don’t cause discomfort, but if irritation occurs, it’s typically mild and temporary.
Post-care instructions will vary based on the type of administration and the area treated. It’s essential to follow any aftercare instructions provided by your clinician.
Some things they might suggest include avoiding direct sun exposure, using specific skin care products, or avoiding certain activities for a period of time following treatment, but that is typically the extent of downtime or restrictions.
Results and Recovery
While some people say that they notice immediate improvements, full results typically take several weeks or even months.
Depending on the severity of the skin concern, multiple sessions may be recommended for optimal results. Regular follow-ups with your clinician will ensure your skin’s progress is on track.
Important Safety Considerations for Stem Cell Therapy
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t approve all stem cell treatments. Some stem cell products, like those used for specific medical conditions, have been approved, but many others are still being researched.
Lacking FDA approval for a specific use does not mean that a product or treatment isn’t safe. There are many treatments that are not FDA-approved but still offer benefits and are safe when used appropriately under medical supervision.
That said, it’s crucial to do your homework if you are exploring regenerative medicine, especially when dealing with stem cells. If you receive stem cells from a donor, you should not seek the “cheapest” treatment.
This is human tissue going into your body—the source matters! Never buy stem cells online and only seek regenerative treatment at a reputable clinic that specializes in regenerative medicine.
At Relieve Health, all of our clinics follow only the highest safety standards surrounding stem cell sourcing, processing, and administration. Every Relive Health clinic is also staffed with board-certified professionals who specialize in regenerative medicine and have experience in stem cell therapy.
Our clinicians undergo rigorous ongoing training and stay current with the latest research and techniques in the field of stem cell therapy to provide you with the safest and most effective treatments available.
Whether you choose one of our clinics or don’t have a Relive Health in your area and are considering another regenerative medicine clinic, here are some important questions to ask your provider to ensure you’re getting a safe, effective treatment:
- Where do the stem cells come from?
- Is the lab that processes the stem cells registered with the FDA?
- Is the lab accredited by any recognized organizations?
- Does the lab perform independent third-party testing?
- Can you provide a certificate of analysis for the stem cell product?
- What is the clinician’s experience with stem cell therapy?
- Is the med clinic licensed and accredited?
- What protocols does the clinic follow for patient safety?
- Can the clinician provide references or patient testimonials?
These questions, as well as a thorough consultation that includes reviewing your medical history, understanding the procedure, potential risks, and expected outcomes, can help ensure that the stem cell product you’re receiving is high quality and safe.
Conclusion
It’s incredible how our bodies can repair and regenerate when given the right support, and one of the most promising ways to unlock this potential is stem cell therapy.
At Relive Health, we’re proud to be at the forefront of regenerative medicine, offering advanced stem cell treatments and holistic therapies designed to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and restore function.
If you’re ready to experience the future of natural healing, your first step is a personalized consultation at a Relive Health clinic near you. Together, we’ll create a custom treatment plan tailored to your unique needs—helping you take control of your health and feel your best.
We’re excited to help you start your holistic journey to better health. Book your consultation with one of our board-certified regenerative medicine experts today.