Regenerative medicine is a non-surgical approach to spine, joint, and soft tissue pain that uses the body’s own healing abilities to stimulate recovery. VSI offers PRP, stem cell therapy, microfragmented adipose injections, VIA Disc NP, and prolotherapy.
Regenerative medicine is a branch of non-surgical treatment that uses the body’s own biological healing abilities to repair damaged tissue, reduce inflammation, and eliminate pain without surgery, without relying on pain medication, and without the recovery demands of an invasive procedure.
Rather than masking symptoms or removing tissue, regenerative therapies work by delivering concentrated healing agents – such as your own stem cells, platelets, or fat-derived cells – directly into the injured area. This stimulates a natural repair response at the source of pain, promoting tissue regeneration from within.
For patients looking for non-surgical treatment options for back pain, neck pain, joint conditions, or soft tissue injuries, or for those who have been told surgery may be their next step and want to explore alternatives first, regenerative medicine offers a meaningful path forward.
The core principle behind every regenerative therapy is the same: deliver a high concentration of your body’s own healing cells or growth factors to the area that is damaged, and create the conditions for natural repair.
Healthy tissue heals because your body sends growth factors, stem cells, and platelets to the injury site. When degeneration is chronic or circulation to the area is limited – as is often the case with spinal discs, tendons, and cartilage – that natural response is insufficient. Regenerative therapies amplify it.
The specific approach depends on the area being treated and the nature of the damage. For some conditions, PRP (a concentrated solution of your own platelets) is sufficient to reduce inflammation and stimulate healing. For more significant degeneration, stem cells harvested from your bone marrow or fat cells can be introduced to promote more substantial tissue repair.
Your VSI doctor will evaluate your imaging and clinical presentation to determine which therapy, or combination of therapies, is most appropriate for your situation. In many cases, both stem cell therapy and PRP therapy can be used together or on different levels of the spine to create a custom recovery environment for your healing.
Stem cell treatment targets the underlying source of pain without relying on medication and surgery, leading to increased function and mobility with a shorter recovery time than surgical options.
Platelets contain growth factors that trigger cell reproduction and tissue regeneration. It’s plasma that contains more platelets in it to help stimulate healing while reducing pain and inflammation.
Microfragmented Adipose injections are ideal for candidates looking for a minimally invasive alternative to a major surgical intervention.
The VIA Disc NP procedure is non-surgical and performed as an injection. The injection of VIA Disc NP is intended to supplement a patient’s tissue loss due to disc degeneration.
Prolotherapy, short for proliferation therapy or regenerative injection therapy, is a type of injection designed to promote natural healing of a ligament or tendon.
Regenerative medicine has been around for a really long time. What’s new is the addition of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy and what we’re trying to do when it comes to aesthetics is reverse the aging process.
Recovery is just as important as the procedure. We plan your recovery before your treatment is performed to set you up for the best possible results.
Dr. Yash Mehta, Physiatrist and Non-Surgical Healing Specialist at VSI, walks you through every step of the process: from your pre-procedure consultation to post-procedure recovery, so you know exactly what to expect on the day of your treatment.
My experience with Dr. Bharara can only be described as fantastic. Pain in my lower back was getting worse despite having had major back surgery four years ago by another doctor. Dr. Bharara fixed my problem without surgery and I'm now pain free.
Since my treatment, I've noticed a significant decrease in pain, improved range of motion, and able to do activities I hadn't done in years. This experience has been life-changing, and I truly feel like I have my quality of life back. I highly recommend VSI and to anyone considering regenerative medicine.
Dr Mehta is an excellent doctor! He is a really good person who genuinely cares about my health and wellbeing. He has spent a lot of his time working with me and I have never felt rushed through an appointment with him.
After having PRP the increase in mobility and decrease in pain has been life changing! Dr. Bharara is very knowledgeable, friendly, and has definitely made a huge difference in my every day life so I can use my arm again for regular activities without an invasive surgery!
Dr. Nguyen is an amazing doctor! He is very knowledgeable and makes you feel comfortable and confident that he will take good care of you. I had two injections with him that provided significant relief of my pain. I would highly recommend Dr. Nguyen.
I suffered from back pain for three years. After a long journey that included stem cell treatment and an artificial disc replacement, I ended up getting a PRP treatment. The results have been amazing. I finally have significant relief. This was the best decision.
Best doctor ever. What he did for me, nobody could. Everybody was doing steroid injections and he fixed me with one stem cell procedure. Don't listen to other peoples advice, just go see him.
I have had spinal fusion, disc replacement and stem cell treatment by Dr. Haines. His entire staff has been incredibly amazing from day one. The compassion and understanding is not something you can find often anywhere.
Dr. Bharara and his team were exceptionally helpful to me. From the initial consultation, I felt completely at peace with his team and care. They recommended a stem cell therapy treatment which went extremely well and I feel confident of upcoming positive results.
Regenerative medicine is effective for a wide range of conditions involving damaged or degenerated tissue where the body’s natural healing response has been insufficient.
Conditions commonly treated at VSI include:
Regenerative medicine is generally most effective for patients with moderate degeneration who have not responded to physical therapy, medications, or standard injections, and who want to avoid or delay surgery.
Patients with severe instability, significant structural deformity, or advanced degeneration may be better served by a surgical evaluation. VSI physicians will assess your specific situation and be straightforward about which approach gives you the best chance at a long-term outcome and recovery.
Recovery timelines vary by procedure, but all of VSI’s regenerative treatments are designed to minimize downtime and get patients back to activity and their lives as quickly as possible.
Recovery planning is built into every VSI treatment. Before any regenerative procedure is performed, your care team develops a structured recovery plan – including spine-specialized physical therapy – so you are set up for the best possible result from the start.
We're here to guide you through every step of your recovery journey.
VSI offers one of the most comprehensive regenerative medicine programs in the Mid-Atlantic region, led by nationally recognized specialists with decades of experience and access to technologies unavailable elsewhere in the Washington metro area.
What sets VSI apart is not just access to individual treatments – it is the integration of regenerative medicine within a full-spectrum spine care practice. When a patient’s condition requires more comprehensive help, VSI surgeons and non-surgical specialists work together to determine the right combination of regenerative, physical therapy, and surgical solutions to achieve a durable outcome.
From ultra-minimally invasive to non-operative specialty care, we have your custom spine solution.
Learn MoreSpine-specialized physical therapy tailored to help you recover better and faster.
Learn MoreNon-surgical solutions for athletic pain and injuries, getting you back to your activity quickly and helping you prevent further injury.
Learn MoreIn-house neurology to provide you quick and correct diagnosis and treatment.
Learn MoreFor patients with spine pain who want to avoid surgery, the most effective non-surgical alternatives include regenerative therapies such as stem cell therapy, PRP injections, and microfragmented adipose injections – all of which work by stimulating the body’s own healing response rather than masking pain. Other non-surgical options at VSI include physical therapy, injections, radiofrequency ablation, and VIA Disc NP for disc degeneration. The right approach depends on the specific condition, its severity, and whether structural issues like instability or nerve compression are involved.
In many cases, yes. The majority of spine and joint conditions – including degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, facet joint pain, and soft tissue injuries – can be effectively managed without surgery, particularly when caught before significant structural damage has occurred. Regenerative therapies like PRP injections and stem cell injections can reduce pain and improve function by promoting actual tissue repair, rather than temporarily suppressing symptoms. VSI’s non-surgical specialists will evaluate your imaging and clinical presentation to determine whether a non-surgical path is appropriate for your condition.
Cortisone injections reduce inflammation temporarily but do not promote healing – and repeated use can actually weaken tissue over time. Regenerative therapies like platelet rich plasma and stem cell injections deliver healing agents that actively support tissue repair. The goal is long-term improvement in the health and function of the treated area, not short-term symptom suppression.
No – stem cell therapy is one type of regenerative medicine. VSI’s regenerative program includes multiple therapies: stem cell therapy, PRP injections, microfragmented adipose injections, VIA Disc NP, and prolotherapy. Each uses a different biologic mechanism and is most effective for different conditions. The right option depends on what is being treated and the severity of the damage.
PRP and autologous stem cell therapies (using your own cells) are cleared for use in orthopedic applications. VIA Disc NP is an FDA-cleared device. VSI only offers treatments that meet appropriate regulatory and clinical standards in the safest setting. VSI offers these therapies in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility, where patients are able to receive treatment and go home on the same day.
This varies by treatment type and condition. Some patients achieve significant relief from a single injection; others benefit from a series of treatments. PRP may be repeated over several sessions for certain conditions. Your VSI physician will outline a clear treatment plan at your consultation, including realistic expectations for how many sessions may be needed and what timeline to expect for results.
PRP concentrates growth factors from your blood and is most effective for inflammation-driven conditions and soft tissue injuries. Stem cell therapy harvests your body’s own regenerative cells from bone marrow and introduces them into the area of damage to promote more substantial tissue repair – making it more appropriate for significant degeneration or structural damage. Both are outpatient procedures using your own biological material.
For the right patient, yes. Regenerative therapies can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function in conditions like degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, and facet joint arthritis – sometimes avoiding the need for surgery altogether, and in other cases delaying it significantly. However, regenerative medicine is not a substitute for surgery in patients with structural instability, nerve compression requiring decompression, or significant spinal deformity. VSI physicians will give you an honest assessment of whether your condition is likely to respond to regenerative healing or whether a surgical evaluation is more appropriate.
Yes. Our doctors have built a strong reputation for helping athletes and active individuals return to their sport through PRP injections, stem cell therapy, and fat injections for tendon, ligament, and joint injuries. Conditions including rotator cuff tears, knee ligament injuries, and joint degeneration or joint arthritis are commonly treated within VSI’s sports medicine and regenerative medicine programs.
Absolutely! We specialize in working with athletes at all levels, from high school and college competitors to recreational weekend warriors and professional athletes. Our non-operative specialists work alongside our physical therapists and collaborate to develop specialized programs that improve performance, prevent injuries, and speed recovery. We create targeted treatment plans to help you return to your sport stronger than before.
