What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is a cutting-edge field of healthcare that focuses on repairing, restoring, and regenerating damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s natural healing mechanisms. Unlike conventional treatments that primarily manage symptoms, regenerative therapies aim to address the root cause of pain and dysfunction by stimulating cellular repair and tissue regeneration. This is achieved through advanced techniques such as prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell-derived therapies, and ozone injections, which enhance the body’s ability to heal itself. Regenerative medicine is particularly effective for musculoskeletal injuries, osteoarthritis, and chronic pain conditions, offering a promising alternative to surgery and long-term medication use.
Prolotherapy and Prolozone
Prolotherapy is a Regenerative Joint Therapy that stimulates the body’s natural healing process. It involves injection of an immune stimulating solution to the damaged tissues, inducing low-grade inflammation at the affected tissue site. The body interprets the injections similar to an injury and sends immune cells and regenerative chemicals (growth factors and cytokines) to the area. This recruitment stimulates repair and reduces pain signaling. Prolotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to corticosteroid injections, with the added benefit of strengthening joint tissue.
Prolotherapy and Prolozone Injections contain a combination of dextrose (an irritant that attracts immune cells), procaine (to decrease pain signals) and B12 (to support cell regeneration). These combined ingredients create a localized and targeted inflammatory response that attracts immune cells and growth factors to the affected area and stimulating repair. One to several injections may be indicated and are spaced 2-4 weeks apart. Most patients respond best with two or three treatments.
The Added Benefit of Ozone with Prolotherapy (Prolozone) is exponential. Ozone enhances the recruitment of growth factors and immune cells, provides cells and tissues with ample oxygen, speeds up healing time, and helps to control inflammation.
This procedure is recommended for:
- Minor Athletic Injuries (Strains and Sprains)
- Minor ligament tears
- Early Stage Osteoarthritis
- Joint Pain/Quick Pain Relief
- Nerve compression relief
Platelet-Rich Plasma
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a concentrated source of growth factors. cytokines, and chemokines. These bioactive molecules are pivotal in regulating and coordinating the complex cellular activities involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, activation and recruitment of immune cells and endothelial cells, and the synthesis of extracellular matrix components via fibroblasts, all of which are critical for tissue repair and regeneration.
PRP is made by taking the patient’s own blood and concentrating it into a platelet rich product. Dr. Halsey uses closed-system equipment to ensure the highest dose of platelets for each treatment. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the target treatment area to accelerate repair and improve tissue integrity of joints, ligaments, and surrounding soft tissue.
The Healing Power of Ozone
Dr Halsey incorporates the added benefits of ozone therapy to PRP. The addition of ozone stimulates faster healing time by providing tissues with a super-oxygenated environment and enhancing repair activity. Ozone also decreases pain after the procedure so you can get back to your life faster.
PRP is Recommended For:
- Partial Ligament and Tendon Tears
- Minor to Moderate Joint Degeneration and Osteoarthritis
- Athletic Injury
- Chronic Joint Pain
Stem Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs)
Extracellular Vesicles are small, naturally occurring vesicles released by cells that act as messengers, carrying molecules like proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells. They play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and are involved in various biological processes, including tissue repair and regeneration.
How Stem Cell EVs Relate to Joint Regeneration
- Cartilage Regeneration
- Studies suggest that EVs, especially those derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), can stimulate cartilage regeneration by promoting chondrocyte (cartilage cell) proliferation and matrix production.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects:
- Exosomes can modulate the inflammatory response in joints, which is a key factor in the progression of Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Joint Disease
- Tissue Repair and Regeneration
- Exosomes can enhance tissue repair and regeneration by promoting formation of new blood vessels and improving immune response to the affected tissues.
- Cell Free Therapy
- The use of exosomes offers a cell-free approach to joint regenerative medicine, potentially minimizing the risks associated with cell-based therapies.
Dr. Halsey partners with companies offering the best stem cell-derived products on the market for safety and potency to ensure optimal results for her patients.
VITTI-PURE (A PRP Alternative)
VITTI-PURE provides the highest quality tissue support matrix for joints, tendons, ligaments and other musculoskeletal applications. Derived from *umbilical cord tissue, this product is an excellent source of collagen, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, and glucosamine as well as other naturally occurring biological materials like proteins, lipids, nucleic acids from stem cell derived EVs.
VITTI-PURE’s superior extracellular matrix is minimally manipulated, retaining it’s profile of over 1,000 growth factors, 28 types of collagen, and optimal cytokines to accelerate repair while also keeping inflammation in check.
Over time the body naturally produces fewer growth factors for repair and rebuilding as represented by the chart (VITTI-PURE vs PRP as we age). As we age PRP becomes less robust in growth factors, collagen, and the cytokines needed for joint regeneration.
The result of using VITTI-PURE is a stronger repair response, less pain and inflammation after injections, and longer lasting results no matter your age.
*Umbilical cord tissue is derived from healthy live C-section births