The Day of PRP or SVF Joint Treatment: What Happens, Step by Step

Regenerative joint treatment with PRP or SVF is often described in terms of cells and growth factors, but patients usually want something simpler: to know what will happen to them on the day. How long will it take? Will it hurt? Can I walk afterwards? This guide follows a typical procedure day at a Moscow clinic from arrival to going home, and explains the steps before and after it, so you can plan the visit with fewer unknowns.

Before the day: scans, consultation and choosing PRP or SVF

The procedure day starts long before you arrive. City Medical Centre in Moscow offers a free first consultation and a free review of your scans. X-rays, MRI or ultrasound images can be sent in advance, and an online consultation is possible, which is useful if you live abroad.

At this stage the doctor decides whether regenerative treatment fits your joint and which form to use. PRP, platelet-rich plasma prepared from a small amount of your blood, is often used for milder changes such as early osteoarthritis. SVF, the stromal vascular fraction isolated from a small sample of your own fat, is chosen when changes are more pronounced and a longer-lasting effect is the goal. The two can also be combined.

The doctor also checks contraindications, including cancer, pregnancy and breastfeeding, clotting disorders, acute infections and serious heart, kidney or liver disease. A cold, a fever or skin inflammation over the joint means postponing the procedure. Tell the coordinator if anything like this happens shortly before your appointment.

Arrival and preparation

The clinic states that the whole procedure is done in one day, with no hospital stay. On arrival you will normally meet the doctor, who re-checks the joint, reviews your current health and confirms the plan agreed at the consultation. This is a good moment to ask any remaining questions, so write them down beforehand.

Wear comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the treated joint: loose trousers for a knee, ankle or hip, a top that can be pulled aside for a shoulder or elbow. If SVF is planned, the fat sample is usually taken from the abdomen or inner thigh, so clothes that leave those areas accessible help too.

Bring your scans, a list of medicines and the contact details of your own doctor. Mention any blood-thinning medicines in advance, because they matter for both the blood draw and the fat sampling.

Practical questions about the timing of your arrival, how long you will be at the clinic and whether someone should accompany you are best asked of the coordinator, who books the consultation and the visit.

Taking the material: blood and, for SVF, fat

For PRP, a small amount of your blood is drawn, much like a routine blood test. The blood is processed to concentrate the platelets and the growth factors they carry, producing the plasma that will be injected.

For SVF, an additional step is needed. About 30 ml of fat is taken under local anaesthetic through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are required. The tissue is processed in a centrifuge to isolate the stromal vascular fraction, which is then mixed with the plasma.

Because everything comes from your own body, the treatment does not involve donor material. The puncture site may feel sore or bruised for a few days, and the doctor will tell you how to look after it.

While the material is being prepared, you will usually wait at the clinic. It is a good time to ask about aftercare, activity limits and what to expect in the coming weeks. The step-by-step description of PRP and SVF treatment on the clinic's page is useful to read beforehand.

The injection under ultrasound guidance

At City Medical Centre every injection is performed under ultrasound guidance. The doctor sees the joint on the screen and directs the needle into the right space, rather than relying on surface landmarks alone. This matters because the benefit depends on the material reaching the intended place, particularly in deep joints such as the hip or in smaller joints such as the ankle, elbow or wrist.

The clinic works with the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle and the joints of the hand and wrist. The approach and position differ for each, and the doctor explains what will happen as it goes.

Most people feel pressure or a short sting during the injection, and the joint may feel full or achy afterwards. These sensations usually settle over the following days. Tell the doctor if you feel anxious; knowing each step in advance makes the experience easier.

After the injection, you rest briefly at the clinic before leaving. There is no need for crutches, and patients walk out on their own.

After the procedure: the first days and follow-ups

On the day itself, plan a quiet evening. The doctor will advise how to use the joint in the first days, which activities to postpone and what to do about any discomfort. Follow these instructions exactly, including any advice on painkillers, since some medicines are not recommended after regenerative treatment.

Follow-up visits take place after one, three and six months. According to the clinic, pain usually eases over the first month, mobility improves over about three months and the full effect develops over around six months. This is a typical course rather than a promise: the response depends on the joint, the stage of the changes and your overall health.

If you live abroad, ask how the follow-ups can be done remotely and what to send, such as notes on pain and mobility or new images if the doctor requests them. Patients in England can begin with the joint treatment page for patients from Manchester. Keeping a short diary from the procedure day onwards makes each follow-up more useful.