P By Phil, your point of contact at Aloha Stem Cell
Stem cell therapy is a branch of regenerative medicine that uses the body's own repair cells to support healing in damaged tissue. In this guide we explain what stem cells are, how clinics like Aloha Stem Cell use them, what the research actually supports, and the questions every patient should ask before treatment.
Stem cells are the body's raw building blocks. They have two defining abilities: they can renew themselves, and they can develop (differentiate) into more specialized cells, such as cartilage, bone, muscle, or tendon cells. Think of them as a repair kit that your body keeps on hand to maintain and rebuild tissue.
Adults carry stem cells throughout their bodies, with meaningful concentrations in bone marrow and in adipose (fat) tissue. Regenerative medicine clinics collect cells from these sources, prepare them in a clinical setting, and deliver them back into the area that needs support, usually through a guided injection.
Most regenerative therapy performed in US clinics is autologous, which simply means the cells come from your own body. A common approach is bone marrow aspiration: a clinician draws a small sample of marrow, concentrates it in a centrifuge, and injects the prepared concentrate into a joint, tendon, ligament, or spinal area. A similar technique processes cells from a small amount of your own fat tissue.
Clinics may also use platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a related cell-based therapy that concentrates the platelets and growth factors from your own blood to support healing in the target area. PRP and cell therapy are often part of the same regenerative treatment plan, and the right choice depends on your condition, your anatomy, and your goals.
This is the most important thing to understand, and a trustworthy clinic will explain it openly. In the United States, the only stem cell treatments with routine FDA approval are blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cell transplants, used for decades to treat certain blood cancers and immune disorders, along with a small number of newer cellular therapy approvals for specific pediatric conditions.
Nearly every other use of cell-based therapy, including injections for joint pain, tendon injuries, and back pain, is considered investigational and has not been cleared by the FDA for those conditions. The FDA has repeatedly warned that unapproved stem cell products marketed with miracle claims can be unsafe. Responsible clinics treat patients within their professional medical judgment, are transparent about the evidence, and never promise outcomes they cannot deliver.
A note from the clinic
A good consultation is a two-way conversation. Any clinic that hesitates to answer these questions, or that guarantees results, should give you pause. At Aloha Stem Cell in Honolulu we believe honesty about the evidence is part of good medicine.
Phil is happy to listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you decide whether a consultation makes sense. There is no pressure and no obligation.
Keep reading
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses your own blood to concentrate healing growth factors and deliver them to injured tissue. Here is how it works, what the evidence shows, and what to expect.
Your first visit at a regenerative medicine clinic should be thorough, unhurried, and honest. Here is exactly what happens at a consultation and what to bring with you.
Regenerative treatments for arthritis and joint pain are a growing field, but the science is nuanced. Here is an honest look at what researchers are studying and what patients should expect.