Your Own Tissue, Working on Your Worn-Out Joint
When cortisone shots have stopped working and you're not ready for a joint replacement, there's another option. Dr. Spiegel takes a small amount of your own fat tissue, prepares it in the office and places it into the damaged joint using ultrasound, all in one visit.
Not ready to book? Start with a free 15-minute call
What Is Adipose Therapy?
Adipose autograft therapy uses a small amount of a patient's own fat tissue, collected and prepared in the same visit, and injected under ultrasound guidance into a joint affected by osteoarthritis, cartilage loss or labral damage. At the Osteopathic Center for Healing in Rockville, MD, it's performed by Dr. Neil Spiegel, DO, MBA, who is board certified in electrodiagnostic medicine.
What If Your Joint Keeps Getting Worse?
Most people who come in for adipose therapy have been dealing with joint pain for years and have already tried the usual fixes.
- Knee, hip or shoulder pain that's been getting worse for years
- Cortisone shots that help less each time, or not at all
- Someone has said "bone on bone" or mentioned a replacement
- You want to wait on surgery, or surgery isn't an option right now
- Stiffness that makes walking, stairs or sleep harder
Which Joints Do We Treat?
Knee
Osteoarthritis and cartilage loss causing stiffness, swelling and pain with stairs.
Hip
Arthritis and labral tears causing groin pain, stiffness and less range of motion.
Shoulder
Arthritis and labral damage affecting reach, strength and sleep.
Ankle and Wrist
Arthritis after an old injury, or cartilage wear in smaller joints.
Spine
Arthritis in the small facet joints of the spine causing local or radiating pain.
Dealing with a tendon or ligament injury instead? See joint and tendon injuries.
Which Regenerative Treatment Fits?
BMAC
- Best For
- Worn cartilage and osteoarthritis
- Source
- Your own bone marrow, usually from the hip bone
Adipose
- Best For
- Worn cartilage, osteoarthritis and labral damage
- Source
- Your own fat, usually from the belly or flank
Some patients do best with a combination. Dr. Spiegel recommends based on your exam, imaging and history.
What Happens on Procedure Day?
Numbing
Local anesthetic at the collection site, usually the belly or flank.
Collection
A small amount of fat is gently drawn out through a tiny opening.
Preparation
The tissue is rinsed and broken into smaller pieces in a closed system, right there in the room.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection
Dr. Spiegel uses ultrasound to place it precisely into the joint.
Home the Same Day
No hospital and no general anesthesia.
Why Does Ultrasound Matter?
A joint injection is only as good as where it lands. Dr. Spiegel uses ultrasound to see the joint and guide the needle in real time, the same way he looks at injuries during your exam.
What Are Recovery and Results Like?
Soreness and bruising at the collection site and in the joint. Most people go back to light activity within a few days.
Improvement builds gradually over weeks to months. Results vary by joint, how much damage there is and your overall health.
Honest Expectations
Adipose therapy isn't a guaranteed replacement for surgery, and it won't regrow a whole joint. For the right patient, it can ease pain, improve how the joint moves and help you put off surgery. Dr. Spiegel will tell you if you're a good candidate, and if you're not.
Why Choose Dr. Spiegel?
What Do People Ask About Adipose Therapy?
What Is Adipose Autograft Therapy?
A procedure that uses your own fat tissue, collected and prepared in the same visit, and injected into a damaged joint to help with pain and function.
Do I Need an MRI First?
Not always. Dr. Spiegel starts with an exam and ultrasound here in the office. If those don't tell the whole story, he'll order an MRI or other diagnostic testing, or refer you to get it. If you already have imaging, bring it.
Is This a Stem Cell Treatment?
It uses your own fat tissue, which naturally contains many cell types. We don't grow or expand cells in a lab, and everything is done in one visit.
How Does It Compare to Cortisone or Gel Shots?
Cortisone calms inflammation for a while and gel injections add lubrication. Adipose therapy uses your own tissue to support the joint. Dr. Spiegel will explain which option, or combination, fits your diagnosis.
Is This the Same as Lipogems?
Lipogems is one brand of system for preparing fat tissue. Dr. Spiegel will explain the method he uses and why.
Does It Hurt?
Both areas are numbed. Most people feel pressure during the procedure and some soreness for a few days after.
How Long Do Results Last?
It varies. Some people feel better for a year or more, and others benefit from a follow-up treatment.
Is It Covered by Insurance?
Most insurance plans don't cover regenerative injections. We'll go over costs at your consult.
Request an Appointment
Tell us a little about your joint and what you've tried so far, and our team will reach out to schedule your consult.
Find Out if Your Joint Is a Good Fit
Book a consult with Dr. Spiegel in Rockville, MD.
Not ready to book? Start with a free 15-minute call