Nowadays, people are looking for alternative routes to reduce their pain and discomfort as opposed to an invasive surgery that requires downtime or analgesics that come with the risk of dependence. One option is regenerative medical services, which use cells to repair tissue and ultimately help reduce pain, discomfort, and other unpleasant symptoms as well as regain the function of a particular area.

About Regenerative Medicine 

Regenerative medicine is using cells to repair damaged tissue. It can also be used as a preventative measure.

During a regenerative medical procedure, a physician extracts cells from the patients’ blood. For treatments like stem cell therapy, the cells are harvested from amniotic tissue of a donor.

The purpose of regenerative medicine services is to reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing by stimulating a patient’s body to repair damaged or diseased tissue. It’s a medical treatment used to correct issues, such as sports injuries like rotator cuff tears, ACL injuries, and tendinitis.

One example of a regenerative medical treatment is PRP injections. A PRP, also referred to as platelet-rich plasma, injection is a procedure where a practitioner extracts a patient’s blood and uses a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the fluid portion of the blood. The practitioner injects the platelets into the part of the body where the patient either has an injury or disease. The cells break down in the area and release growth factors, which stimulate the cells in the region to regenerate and regrow.

Regenerative medicine, in particular PRP injections, is also becoming a common practice in aesthetic medicine. For instance, a vampire facial uses the platelet-rich plasma to rejuvenate a person’s skin on his or her face.

History of Regenerative Medicine

Recently, regenerative medical services have grown in popularity. More and more doctors, chiropractors, and other medical professionals have recognized the benefit and began offering it. However, the actual foundation for this branch of medicine dates back to ancient Roman times.

In the 8th century BC, the ancient Greeks incorporated the concept of regenerative medicine in one myth that documented the liver regenerating itself.

In the early 16th century, tissue grafting became possible. However, it wasn’t until 1992 that the term “regenerative medicine” was established. The paper noted that regenerative medicine would alter the outcome of chronic disease.

Today, it’s a practice that many medical professionals use to help with both injuries and chronic diseases.

Safety of Regenerative Medicine

A common concern patients have before opting for any regenerative medical services is the safety of the procedure. Fortunately, most people tolerate the procedures well and have no adverse reactions. However, it’s possible for a person to have a reaction to their own body’s tissue, but it’s uncommon.

The most common side effect is soreness and bruising at the injection site.

Certain individuals should not get regenerative medical procedures, which is why a physician will collect a thorough medical history on a patient before prescribing regenerative medical procedures.