What to Expect at Your First Regenerative Medicine Consultation
PWritten by: Phil KimMedically reviewed by: Dr. Robert Aki, DPMLast medically reviewed: September 4, 2026
A consultation is the first and most important step in any regenerative medicine journey. It is where you and the clinical team decide together whether a cell-based or PRP treatment is right for you. Here is what happens at a typical consultation at a Honolulu clinic like Aloha Stem Cell, and how to make the most of your visit.
A conversation, not a sales pitch
A good first visit starts with a conversation. The clinical team will ask about your condition: when it began, what makes it better or worse, what you have already tried, and how it affects your daily life. They will also review your medical history, medications, and any imaging such as X-rays or MRI reports.
This is your chance to tell your story in your own words. No detail is too small: a knee that hurts on stairs, a shoulder that kept you from surfing, a back problem that has followed you for years. The more the team understands, the better the advice.
A physical evaluation and imaging review
Most consultations include a focused physical exam of the affected area, checking range of motion, strength, stability, and sites of tenderness. If you brought imaging studies, the team will review them with you and explain what they show in plain language. In some cases new imaging may be recommended before treatment.
An honest discussion of options
The heart of the consultation is a candid conversation about what could help. The team may discuss whether you are a good candidate for cell-based therapy or PRP, what the evidence shows for your condition, what the alternatives are (including conservative care and surgery), what the treatment involves, what it costs, and what results you can reasonably hope for.
If a regenerative treatment is not a good fit for your situation, a trustworthy clinic will tell you so. Recommendations should always be based on your individual case, never on a one-size-fits-all package.
What to bring
A list of current medications and supplements
Any imaging reports or scan discs (X-ray, MRI, CT)
Records of treatments you have already tried
A list of questions you want answered
A comfortable way to take notes or a companion to listen along
Questions worth asking
Am I a good candidate for this treatment?
What does the evidence show for my specific condition?
What are the risks and possible side effects?
What happens after the procedure, and when will I know if it worked?
What are the total costs, including follow-up visits?
A note from the clinic
You should never feel rushed or pressured during a consultation. If you need time to think it over, any responsible clinic will welcome that. Call our team at (808) 593-2525 to book your consultation at our South King Street office.
“For PRP therapy, platelets are extracted from a vein in the patient's arm and concentrated using a centrifuge. The concentrate is then injected back into the patient's joint, where the growth factors mitigate inflammation.”
Want to talk through your own situation?
Our team 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.
The FDA now lists Regenecyte, a cord blood stem cell product, among approved cellular therapies. It is a real milestone for blood stem cell transplant patients, and it is not a treatment for joint pain. Here is what the approval is, what it is not, and why it matters when you read stem cell news.
In September 2026 the FDA granted Fast Track status to an experimental cell therapy for ALS, and in August researchers presented new Phase 1/2 data on a stem cell therapy for Parkinson's. Both are real advances and both remain investigational. Here is the honest read.
A stem cell-derived islet therapy restored insulin production in early trials, with 10 of 12 patients insulin-independent at one year. Here is what the 2025-2026 results show, what the FDA has and has not done, and what it means for people with diabetes.