Stem cell injections with Doctor Mark Ghalili offer a minimally invasive way to treat chronic pain, injuries, and degenerative conditions. Here’s what stem cell therapy can treat, how it works, and what to expect if you’re considering this approach.
There’s a reason more patients are exploring stem cell injections before committing to surgery.
Stem cell therapy uses your body’s own cells to support healing in areas affected by injury, inflammation, or degeneration. At Regenerative Medicine LA, Dr. Mark Ghalili performs stem cell injections with a focus on precision, safety, and real clinical outcomes. For the right patient, stem cell treatment can offer a path to improving pain and function without the risks and recovery of surgery.
Stem cell therapy is most effective for conditions involving joint damage, inflammation, or tissue degeneration. At our clinic, we commonly treat:
The best candidates are typically patients with mild to moderate degeneration who want to reduce pain, improve function, and avoid surgery.
Stem cells injected into the knee can reduce inflammation, stimulate cartilage repair, and improve joint lubrication. This makes it especially helpful for osteoarthritis and meniscus injuries. Many patients delay or avoid knee replacement, reporting reduced pain and improved mobility within months of treatment. The best candidates are those with mild to moderate degeneration rather than bone-on-bone arthritis. Learn more about Stem Cell Therapy for Knees.
Targeted injections into damaged tendons or cartilage help support repair and reduce pain from partial rotator cuff tears, labral damage, or arthritis. By enhancing local healing, stem cells often restore range of motion and strength for everyday activity and athletics. Complete tendon tears usually still require surgery, but regenerative therapy can be a powerful alternative for partial injuries.
Stem cells can be injected near painful facet joints, discs, or sacroiliac joints to calm inflammation and support repair of degenerative tissue. Conditions like degenerative disc disease and facet arthritis often respond well. While they cannot fully rebuild a collapsed disc, many patients see meaningful relief in pain and mobility when guided injections are placed precisely at the source of pain.
Stem cell therapy for hips can improve pain and function in arthritis, labral tears, and impingement-related injuries. Injections support cartilage and soft tissue repair, often helping patients walk longer distances or return to activity without surgery. Many choose this therapy to delay or avoid hip replacement surgery.
In stem cell protocols for multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, or stroke, stem cells may release factors that reduce inflammation and promote neural repair. Some patients report improvements in balance, strength, or fatigue, although results vary widely. These uses are still considered investigational and require careful case-by-case evaluation.
Stem cells have the unique ability to calm an overactive immune system. By reducing chronic inflammation, they may help conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, lupus, or Crohn’s disease. While promising, these applications remain investigational, and treatment plans are personalized to each patient’s disease activity and history.
In investigational programs, stem cells have shown potential to support blood vessel growth and reduce scarring in conditions like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, or heart failure. Patients may experience improvements in breathing capacity or exercise tolerance. Because these are advanced applications, transparency and patient selection are essential.
Dr. Ghalili is internationally recognized for his work treating fluoroquinolone toxicity with regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy in this setting focuses on repairing mitochondrial injury, calming nerve pain, and restoring overall function. Many patients require a series of treatments and gradual recovery, but these protocols have offered hope when conventional medicine had none.
Stem cells and growth factors can stimulate dormant hair follicles, improve scalp circulation, and encourage new growth in androgenic alopecia and thinning hair. For skin, stem cells promote collagen production and tissue repair, helping with scars, wound healing, and overall skin quality. Cosmetic improvements often require multiple treatments for best results. Learn more about stem cells for hair growth.
Stem cell therapy is not an instant fix or a cure-all. It cannot fully restore severely damaged or “bone-on-bone” joints, and it does not replace surgery in every case. Results also vary from patient to patient depending on the condition, severity, and overall health. The goal is meaningful improvement in pain and function, not perfection, which is why proper evaluation is essential to determine if this treatment is the right fit for you.
Many patients start considering stem cell therapy after being told surgery is their next option. Procedures like joint replacement, spinal fusion, or rotator cuff repair can be effective, but they also come with longer recovery times, higher costs, and increased risk.
Stem cell therapy offers a minimally invasive alternative by using your body’s own cells to support healing rather than removing or replacing damaged tissue.
Patients often choose this approach because it allows them to avoid major surgery, recover more quickly, and focus on improving function over time instead of relying on temporary relief.
Because we use autologous stem cells, meaning your own cells, the risk of rejection is very low, and the procedure can be performed in a single visit with minimal downtime.
For the right patient, stem cell therapy can lead to meaningful improvements in pain and mobility, sometimes allowing them to delay or avoid surgery altogether.
Choosing the right stem cell doctor matters. The quality of the procedure, the way your cells are handled, and the precision of the injection all play a major role in your outcome.
Dr. Mark Ghalili is a board-certified physician who specializes in regenerative medicine and has extensive experience performing stem cell injections for complex and chronic conditions.
Unlike many clinics offering stem cell therapy, our approach follows strict medical guidelines. We use only autologous adult stem cells, meaning your own cells are harvested, processed, and reintroduced during a single visit using protocols that fall under FDA same-surgical-procedure standards.
Every step is performed in a controlled, physician-led setting with a focus on safety, precision, and consistency. Our facility follows strict sterile protocols, and cell processing is handled according to current good tissue practice (cGTP) standards.
The difference is not just in the treatment itself, but in how it’s performed. That’s what ultimately determines the quality of your results.
Stem cell therapy at our clinic is performed in-office and typically completed in a single visit. The goal is to harness your body’s own regenerative potential by concentrating your cells and delivering them precisely where they are needed.
The process begins with a detailed consultation, where we review your medical history, imaging, and goals to determine if you’re a good candidate and create a personalized treatment plan.
If treatment is appropriate, a small sample of your own tissue, usually from adipose (fat) or bone marrow, is collected under local anesthesia. Adipose tissue is often preferred because it contains a higher concentration of regenerative cells and can be collected with less discomfort.
Your sample is then processed to isolate and concentrate the most active stem cells and regenerative components. This step is critical, as higher-quality cell concentration is associated with stronger outcomes.
Once prepared, the cells are injected directly into the targeted area using image-guided precision. This ensures accurate placement into the joint, tendon, spine, or tissue that needs healing.
After injection, the cells begin working by reducing inflammation, signaling your body’s natural repair processes, and supporting tissue regeneration over time.
The entire procedure typically takes 2 to 4 hours, and most patients go home the same day.
Recovery from stem cell therapy is very different from surgery. There is minimal downtime, but results develop gradually as your body goes through the healing process.
In the first few days, it’s common to experience mild soreness or a deep bruise-like feeling at the treatment site. Some patients also go through a temporary “flare” period where discomfort may increase slightly as the body initiates an inflammatory healing response. This typically resolves within one to two weeks.
Most patients can return to sedentary work the same day or the following day and resume light activity within about a week. Physical activity is gradually increased over the following weeks based on comfort and progress.
Over time, inflammation begins to decrease and early improvements may appear within the first few weeks. The most noticeable results are typically seen over 3 to 6 months, with continued healing possible for up to a year.
To support optimal results, we generally recommend avoiding anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for the first couple of weeks, as they can interfere with the body’s natural healing response.
Stem cell therapy using your own cells is generally safe when performed by an experienced physician under proper medical protocols. Because the cells come from your own body, the risk of rejection or major complications is low. That said, like any medical procedure, there are potential side effects and risks to be aware of.
Common side effects may include temporary soreness, stiffness, or a bruise-like feeling at the injection site for several days. Some patients also experience a short-term “flare” response as the body activates its healing process, along with mild swelling or fatigue for a day or two.
Less common risks include infection, bleeding, or irritation at the injection site, as well as temporary nerve irritation depending on the area treated. More serious complications are rare, especially when the procedure is performed in a controlled, sterile medical setting.
Stem cell therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Patients with active cancer, infections, certain blood disorders, or severe “bone-on-bone” joint damage may not be good candidates. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and certain medications may also require postponing or modifying treatment.
The most important part of the process is proper evaluation. Every patient is assessed individually to determine whether this treatment is safe, appropriate, and likely to provide meaningful benefit.
If you’re considering stem cell therapy, the first step is understanding whether it’s the right option for your specific condition.
At Regenerative Medicine LA, every patient is evaluated individually with a focus on honest guidance and realistic expectations. Our goal is to help you make the best decision for your health, whether that involves treatment with us or another approach.
Schedule your consultation today to find out if stem cell therapy is right for you.
For patients who want a deeper understanding of how stem cells are sourced and prepared, here’s what that process looks like at our clinic:
As part of the procedure, a small sample of your own tissue, usually from fat, is collected under local anesthesia. This process is called harvesting and is designed to be minimally invasive and well-tolerated.
Adipose (fat) tissue is often used because it contains a high concentration of adult stem cells and can be collected with less discomfort than other sources.
At Regenerative Medicine LA, we use autologous stem cells, meaning the cells come directly from your own body. This approach is safer, more predictable, and avoids the risks associated with donor, umbilical cord, or lab-expanded cell products.
The adipose-derived stem cells we harvest contain high concentrations of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) along with stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mixture of regenerative cells, growth factors, and signaling proteins that work together to support healing.
Adipose tissue also provides a significantly higher concentration of stem cells. In many cases, it yields thousands of cells per gram compared to far fewer from bone marrow, allowing us to collect more regenerative cells with less invasiveness. In select cases, bone marrow may still be used depending on the condition being treated.
Once collected, your cells are processed into a concentrated solution and prepared for precise, image-guided injection into the area that needs healing.
Because the cells come from your own body, the risk of rejection is extremely low, and every step of the process is performed in a controlled, physician-led medical setting.
All your questions about stem cell therapy answered.
Stem cell therapy is frequently used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, such as damaged cartilage; muscle, ligament, and tendon tears; and inflammatory joint conditions like arthritis and bursitis.
Facial Rejuvenation using stem cells has led to incredible transformations. Many studies are testing the efficacy of stem cell therapy for treating illnesses such as fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, complex regional pain syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain.
Stem Cells from your own adipose have proven to be safe because they come from your own body. Now, umbilical cord stem cells can cause grave danger as your body may produce antibodies to attack the antigens on those umbilical cord stem cells, leading to an autoimmune reaction, inflammation, and a cascade of other problems. Since this is coming from your own body, it is your own cells, and no chance of rejection.
The stem cells are passed through multiple micron filters, and our network has had zero cases of a pulmonary embolism or blood clot. The only case that has ever gone wrong in the history of adipose tissue stem cells was when a doctor decided to inject a patient’s eye with their own stem cells. If you understand how stem cells work, they recruit growth factors and cytokines to areas of injury. When that occurs, you can have pulling of the retina which can lead to retinal detachment.
Stem Cell Therapy is registered with the Institutional Review Board as is heavily monitored by the FDA. Currently, it is legal to receive stem cell therapy in the United States.
Stem cells do not typically provide immediate results. The healing process initiated by stem cell therapy can take time as the cells begin to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Most patients start to notice improvements within a few weeks to months after treatment, depending on the condition being treated and the individual’s response to the therapy.
