stem cells vs surgery - Which option is best for you?
                     STEM CELL VS SURGERY | WHICH TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR ME?
• You’ve tried exercise, physical therapy, acupuncture, changing your diet, 
taking supplements, and exhausted your options.
• When joint issues get to this point, there are two main options left 
to seriously consider: Stem cell treatments or traditional surgery.
• Although Regenexx Cayman is an orthopedic-focused stem cell clinic, we don’t 
recommend our treatments for everyone. You should consider all your options 
in full, to get the best possible results for your condition.
Stem cell vs surgery: what’s the difference?
• Medica Stem Cells procedures are performed by injecting your natural 
healing stem cells after isolating and concentrating them.
• Traditional surgery uses a scalpel, hardware, or artificial components 
to remove, suture, or replace injured tissue.
• If you’re looking at your options, here are some of the high-level 
considerations:
Risks and complications
• Stem cell treatments use a precise, needle-guided technique to replenish your damaged area. This minimally invasive 
procedure enables your body to begin the process of self-repair, while lowering the risks associated with orthopedic 
surgery.
• Stem cell procedures utilize cells from your own body, are minimally invasive, use only a needle, and therefore have 
significantly reduced risks/complications compared to the surgical alternative. Nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics are 
uninterrupted. Traditional surgery has a significantly higher risk of infection, bleeding, blood clots, heart attacks/strokes, 
pulmonary embolism, allergies to medications/artificial components, and post-procedure pain. The most common adverse 
reaction after a Regenexx stem cell procedure is some temporary increased pain and swelling at the site of treatment.
Source: 
https://pssjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1754-9493-4-12
Scarring
• There is the possibility of scarring whenever the skin sustains damage; however, there are no visible scars 
with stem cell injections.
• Keyhole surgery makes it possible for some surgeons to make small incisions and leave little to no visible 
scarring; however, surgery for some orthopedic issues, such as total hip replacement, cannot be completed 
through keyhole methods.
Hospitalization
• Medica stem cells Cayman procedures have a shorter recovery time 
than traditional orthopedic surgery and there is no need for 
hospitalization.
Pain medication
• Medica Stem cells procedures require less need for pain medication than traditional surgery. 
Patients may require pain medication for one or two weeks post-stem cell or blood platelet 
procedure, with many patients requiring much less. Whereas traditional surgery pain medication 
requirements can vary from a month to two months.
Bracing
• Both medica stem cells procedures and surgery may require bracing after the procedure. This 
depends on what part of the body is treated or what surgery was performed.
Downtime and activity restrictions
• Medica stem cells procedures require significantly less downtime compared to the surgical 
alternative. Recovery time after a medica stem cells procedure is typically reduced by more than 
60%. Most patients are back to normal daily activity within a few days, with modified activity over 
the first 6 weeks post procedure. Surgical procedures may require months of downtime and 
activity restrictions.
Physical therapy
• Physical therapy is a vital component to healing with both Regenexx and surgical procedures. Most Regenexx 
procedures require less time in physical therapy (PT) than the surgical alternative and better post-procedure 
function allows the immediate implementation of PT.
Sick leave
• The majority of people are back to work within the same week of a Regenexx procedure. 
Depending on the procedure and location, there may be some recommendations for temporary 
work restrictions. Some traditional surgical procedures require patient to miss months of work 
while they recover.
Insurance coverage and out of pocket costs
• Both treatment options require out of pocket expense. Currently, Regenexx procedures are not 
covered by insurance. The out of pocket cost for surgery is variable depending on the insurance 
plan, the deductible, the out of pocket maximum, co-insurance etc. However, avoiding invasive 
surgery means reduced recovery resulting in less lost wages from work.
Other options if treatment fails
• If a surgery fails or pain returns after a surgery, there are limited treatment options – other than 
additional surgery to remove more tissue or replace the artificial components. If a Regenexx 
procedure fails or pain returns, a patient can easily repeat the procedure, pursue other injection-
based treatments, or, if severe enough, move on to surgery. Regenexx procedures do not limit the 
ability to get a surgery in future if needed. Most surgeries limit the ability to get a Regenexx 
procedure in the future.
Contact us
• If you have any query please contact us: 
https://medicastemcells.com/
• Source: https://regenexxcayman.com/blog/stem-cell-vs-surgery/