Straight answers to the questions we hear most

Stem cell therapy is a regenerative treatment that uses cells from your own body, usually collected from bone marrow or fat tissue, to support healing in damaged joints, tendons, and soft tissue. At Aloha Stem Cell in Honolulu, the cells are prepared in the clinic and delivered back to the area being treated with a guided injection.

Stem cell therapy works by placing concentrated cells from your own body into an area that is struggling to heal, so those cells can support the tissue's natural repair response. The process involves collection, preparation, and a guided injection, all in one clinic visit.

Stem cells are the body's repair cells: unspecialized cells that can develop into different cell types and help support tissue healing. In regenerative medicine, they are collected from the patient's own body and used to support areas that are struggling to heal.

Stem cells are collected from your own body, usually from bone marrow or fat tissue, during a short outpatient procedure at the clinic. The collection site is numbed first, and the sample is small.

Our approach is autologous: the cells or platelets come from your own body. For cell therapy we collect a small sample from bone marrow or fat tissue, prepare it in the clinic, and deliver it back to the area being treated. Using your own cells minimizes immune risk and avoids donor-derived products entirely.

No. The treatments discussed at Aloha Stem Cell are autologous, which means the cells come from your own body, usually from bone marrow or fat tissue. Embryonic stem cells are not used.

Stem cell therapy uses concentrated cells from your bone marrow or fat tissue, while PRP uses concentrated platelets from your blood. Both are autologous regenerative treatments, and the right choice depends on your condition, your anatomy, and the evidence for each.

Regenerative medicine is an approach to treatment that supports the body's own healing systems, using cells, platelets, and growth factors from the patient's own body. At Aloha Stem Cell, that means autologous stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), delivered through careful consultation and guided injections.

Stem cell therapy may help support healing in joints, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue that has struggled to repair itself, including knee osteoarthritis, cartilage wear, and certain tendon injuries. It is not a treatment for every condition, and candidacy is decided individually.

Stem cell therapy may help support healing in knees with osteoarthritis and cartilage wear, and it is one of the most common reasons patients visit Aloha Stem Cell. Results vary, and candidacy depends on the severity of the damage and your overall health.

Stem cell therapy may help support healing in the hip for conditions like osteoarthritis and cartilage wear, though the hip is a deep joint and candidacy is decided carefully. A thorough evaluation, often with imaging, comes before any recommendation.

Not yet as an approved treatment, but closer than ever. In June 2025, Vertex reported that 10 of 12 patients who received a full-dose infusion of stem cell-derived islet cells were insulin-independent at one year, with all 12 meeting ADA-recommended glucose targets. The therapy, zimislecel, remains investigational with FDA Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations as of October 2026, requires immunosuppression, and is not available outside clinical trials.

Research into cell-based treatments for degenerative disc disease advanced in 2025 and 2026, including a large 36-month Phase III trial and FDA fast-track designations for intradiscal cell products. But these treatments remain investigational, and the most instructive trials show that structural changes do not always translate into symptom relief. At our clinic, back pain starts with understanding what is actually driving it, whether a disc, a joint, or a muscle, before any treatment is discussed.

Research on PRP and stem cells for peripheral neuropathy grew quickly in 2025 and 2026, and early human studies are encouraging: a 2025 systematic review of 12 randomized trials found most studies suggest PRP relieves neuropathic pain with no serious complications, and a meta-analysis of 7 controlled trials in diabetic neuropathy found stem cell therapy improved nerve conduction. But the evidence base is still small and varied, no stem cell product is FDA approved for neuropathy, and the right first step is a careful diagnosis of what is actually causing your symptoms. At our clinic we evaluate nerve pain carefully, often starting with tests to rule out treatable causes, before any regenerative option is discussed.

Recent evidence has made PRP one of the most studied regenerative options for chronic plantar fasciitis, with 2024 and 2025 meta-analyses finding that PRP provides durable pain relief and functional improvement, often outperforming corticosteroid injections over several months. It is typically considered for heel pain that has not responded to conservative care, and it starts with a proper diagnosis. Because Dr. Robert Aki, DPM, brings foot and ankle expertise to our clinical team, we are well equipped to evaluate heel pain carefully before any injection.

The evidence varies by tendon. For tennis elbow, 2025 meta-analyses found that PRP provides better long-term pain relief than corticosteroid injections, even though steroids ease pain more quickly at first. For Achilles tendinopathy and rotator cuff problems, the picture is more mixed, with short-term relief reported more consistently than long-term advantage. Because a partial or full tear is treated very differently from a strain, we start with a careful exam, often with imaging, before recommending any injection.

Recent evidence favors PRP for many people with knee osteoarthritis. A 2026 umbrella meta-analysis found PRP consistently outperformed hyaluronic acid and placebo for pain, and a 2026 randomized trial reported PRP outperformed corticosteroids and NSAIDs in late-stage knee arthritis. Cortisone can still be useful for quickly quieting a flare, and gel shots remain an option some patients choose first, but their effects are often shorter-lived. The right choice depends on your knee, your stage of arthritis, and your goals, which is what a consultation is for.

PRP therapy, or platelet-rich plasma therapy, uses a small sample of your own blood, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors that orchestrate healing, and injects the prepared plasma into an injured joint, tendon, or ligament.

Shockwave therapy, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy, uses focused acoustic energy to support healing in stubborn tendon, foot, and chronic pain problems, and SoftWave is one branded version of this technology. Recent research supports it mainly for chronic cases, like heel pain that has persisted for months, rather than brand-new injuries. At Aloha Stem Cell it is offered alongside PRP and cell therapy as part of a complete, honest treatment plan.

Possibly, for some people. The largest real-world study, the Cloudy with a Chance of Pain project, found people were about 20 percent more likely to report pain on humid, windy days with low pressure, with humidity the strongest factor. But temperature showed no significant effect, results across studies conflict, and not everyone responds to weather at all.

People may be candidates for stem cell therapy when they have joint, tendon, or soft tissue pain that has not responded to conservative care and when their overall health supports the procedure. The only way to know is a careful evaluation at the clinic.

Stem cell therapy may not be appropriate for people with active infections, certain cancers, or health conditions that make a procedure risky, and it is not a fit for everyone. Your provider determines candidacy individually after a thorough evaluation.

Imaging is often part of the evaluation at Aloha Stem Cell, because understanding what is actually happening in the joint or tissue shapes whether regenerative therapy may help. If you have recent X-ray or MRI reports, bring them to your consultation.

No referral is needed to get started. Call (808) 593-2525 and our team will answer your questions and help you schedule a consultation at a time that works for you.

Bring a list of your medications, any X-ray or MRI reports, and a summary of past treatments for your condition. Most of all, bring your questions: the consultation is your time to get honest answers.

A consultation at Aloha Stem Cell is an unhurried conversation about your history, your pain, your goals, and your imaging, followed by an honest assessment of whether regenerative therapy fits. You leave with a clear recommendation and no pressure to decide.

You can book a consultation at Aloha Stem Cell by calling (808) 593-2525 or by using the online booking form on the contact page. No referral is needed, and our team will help you find a time that works.

Because the cells come from your own body, stem cell therapy avoids the immune risks of donor material, and the procedure is generally well tolerated. As with any injection procedure, there are risks, including soreness, swelling, and infection, which your provider reviews with you before treatment.

The main risks of stem cell therapy are the same as any injection procedure: soreness, swelling, bleeding, and a small risk of infection. Because the cells come from your own body, the immune risks of donor material do not apply.

There is no single success rate for stem cell therapy, because studies vary in how cells are prepared, which conditions are treated, and how success is measured. The honest answer is that results vary, and no clinic can promise an outcome.

In the United States, routine FDA approval covers only a narrow set of stem cell treatments, mainly blood-forming stem cell transplants for certain serious blood conditions. Nearly all cell-based and PRP treatments offered today, including those for joint and soft tissue pain, are not FDA-approved for those uses. A trustworthy clinic, like ours, says this plainly and bases its care on professional medical judgment and transparent evidence.

Yes, stem cell therapy is legal in the United States. What is unlawful is marketing specific unapproved stem cell or exosome products as treatments outside of a clinical trial. The FDA has approved blood-forming stem cell products for certain serious blood disorders, and most cell-based and PRP treatments offered for joint pain remain investigational. A trustworthy clinic, like ours, explains this plainly.

No. Regenecyte (HPC, Cord Blood) is an FDA-approved allogeneic product made from donated umbilical cord blood, used for blood stem cell transplantation in people with blood cancers and other serious conditions. Aloha Stem Cell uses your own autologous cells and platelets, injected into joints, tendons, and soft tissue. Regenecyte is not approved for, and is not used for, joint pain or wellness.

No. The FDA states there are currently no approved exosome products for any therapeutic use, and it has warned patients about unapproved stem cell and exosome products for years. At Aloha Stem Cell, the treatments we discuss are autologous, which means the material comes from your own body: cells from bone marrow or fat tissue, and platelets from your own blood, processed in the clinic for same-day use.

Almost none are. Most wellness peptides are not FDA-approved for any human use, and the FDA has moved to restrict the compounding of several of them due to the lack of human trials. IV vitamin and hydration infusions also lack robust evidence for general wellness benefits in healthy people, which means the setting, the supervision, and the honesty of the provider matter enormously. We are transparent about what is proven, what is experimental, and what we actually recommend.

PRP is not FDA-approved for most of the conditions it is used to treat, including joint and tendon pain. It is regulated as a blood product, and its use for regenerative purposes is considered off-label in most cases.

No. Injection-based stem cell therapy delivers cells with a guided needle directly to the structure that needs help, usually a joint, tendon, or ligament. IV stem cell therapy infuses cells through a vein into the bloodstream. The evidence base for joints comes almost entirely from direct injection, and no IV stem cell infusion is FDA-approved for joint pain or wellness.

The cost of stem cell therapy depends on your treatment plan, and most health insurance plans do not cover cell-based therapy because it is considered investigational for most conditions. Aloha Stem Cell provides the full pricing picture in writing before you commit.

Most regenerative treatments are not covered by health insurance, since they are considered investigational for most conditions. We recommend confirming coverage with your insurer and discussing costs with our team up front. You will always receive the full pricing picture before you commit.

Most patients describe the procedure as a brief injection experience. We numb the area first, and the preparation and injection together typically fit into a single outpatient visit. Expect some soreness and swelling over the following days, which is a normal part of the healing response.

A stem cell treatment at Aloha Stem Cell is an outpatient visit that typically takes about an hour to an hour and a half, including collection, preparation, and the injection. You go home the same day.

Regeneration takes time. Improvement, when it comes, typically builds over weeks to months rather than overnight. Some patients notice a temporary flare of discomfort before things settle. Your care team will give you a realistic timeline for your specific condition and track progress at follow-up visits.

There is no single answer, because results vary by condition, anatomy, and how your body responds. When improvement comes, it typically builds over weeks to months, and some patients experience benefit that lasts a year or more, while others see less.

That depends on your condition, your anatomy, and your response. Some patients see good results from a single treatment, while others benefit from a series planned over time. This is settled honestly at your consultation, never through a one-size-fits-all package.

Most patients can drive themselves home after treatment, since no general anesthesia is used and the procedure is a guided injection. If your treatment involves sedation or if you feel unsteady, arrange a ride; your provider will advise you before you leave.

After a stem cell or PRP injection, avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and anti-inflammatory medications for the period your provider specifies, and protect the treated area. You receive written aftercare instructions before you leave.

Most patients can return to desk work within a day or two of treatment, while jobs that involve heavy lifting or prolonged standing may require more time. Your provider gives you a return-to-work plan based on your specific procedure and job.

Aloha Stem Cell is at 1314 South King St, Suite 511, Honolulu, HI 96814, in the McCully area near Ala Moana, Kaimuki, and downtown Honolulu. Use the contact page for directions and to book your visit.

Aloha Stem Cell is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Consultations are by appointment, and the clinic is at 1314 South King St, Suite 511, Honolulu.

Treatments are provided by qualified medical professionals at our Honolulu clinic. You will meet your care team at the consultation, ask them anything, and learn exactly who will be involved in your procedure before you agree to anything.