Stem cell therapy can use your own cells or a donor's. Some providers collect cells from your own bone marrow or fat. GIOSTAR uses ethically sourced mesenchymal stem cells from screened donors, so there is no harvest procedure and no second procedure site on your body.
The difference shapes your visit more than anything else, so it is worth understanding before you choose a provider. This article lays out how each route works and what it means for your day.
The two sources of mesenchymal stem cells
Mesenchymal stem cells, usually shortened to MSCs, are adult-type stem cells. There are two ways to get them for therapy. (New to the topic? Start with what stem cells are.)
Your own cells
Some providers collect cells from your own bone marrow or fat. The collection is a procedure in its own right: usually a needle into the hip for bone marrow, or a small liposuction for fat. It leaves a second site on your body to look after.
Donor cells
Other providers, GIOSTAR included, use cells from screened donors. That removes the harvest step entirely. Nobody has to collect anything from you.
What donor cells mean for your visit
With donor cells, the visit is simpler. There are no steps before treatment day to collect cells and no second site to look after afterward. The therapy is given by injection or IV, with no surgery, no incision and no general anesthesia.
| Your own cells | Donor cells at GIOSTAR | |
|---|---|---|
| Where cells come from | Your bone marrow or fat | Screened donors |
| Collection procedure | Yes, usually a needle into the hip or a small liposuction | None |
| Second procedure site | Yes | No |
| How it is given | Depends on the provider | Injection or IV |
On IV plans at GIOSTAR, we add a small draw of your own blood to the cells shortly before your IV starts. That is a blood draw, not a harvest of your stem cells.
Where GIOSTAR's donor cells come from
The ethically sourced mesenchymal stem cells at GIOSTAR come from screened donors. They come from tissue donated after healthy, full-term births, with the mother's consent. We use no embryos, and no harm comes to mother or baby.
Every donor goes through screening and testing before any tissue goes into use. Each lot comes with a Certificate of Analysis and full traceability. See where stem cells come from and how donors are screened for how that works.
Why many people prefer donor stem cells and a shorter path
A visit that needs a collection step first asks more of you: another appointment, another site to look after and more time away from your plans. Donor cells remove that part. What remains is a free consultation, a visit with your nurse practitioner, treatment day and follow-up. Many people in their forties, fifties and sixties tell us they like keeping the process short and simple.
Questions to ask about either stem cell source
Whichever route a provider uses, you can ask the same questions:
- Where do the cells come from?
- If they are donor cells, how was the donor screened and tested?
- If they are my own cells, what is the collection procedure, and what does the second site involve?
- What paperwork comes with the cells?
- What does the full total include?
At GIOSTAR, your nurse practitioner answers each one at your visit, in plain language.
What donor cells mean for treatment day
Treatment day takes 1 to 2 hours, by injection or IV, and you go home the same day. You can usually drive yourself home. For extra support after an injection, bring someone along.
Soreness or swelling at the treated area for a few days is common. Some people feel tired, have a headache or have a flu-like feeling for a day or two, and a low-grade fever that fades within 48 hours is something people describe. You leave with written aftercare instructions and our number, and we check in at 2 weeks and every 3 months.
How the stem cell source affects the total
The total depends on your plan: the number of treatment areas, injection or IV, and a single or repeat dose. Your nurse practitioner gives you the full total at your free consultation, before you book. For more on payment, read does insurance cover stem cell therapy.
Choosing a stem cell source with your nurse practitioner
If you are weighing providers, the sourcing question is one of the most useful to settle. Come to your free consultation with the questions above, and our patient team answers what it can on the call. Your nurse practitioner covers the rest in person in Henderson, where you also go over your health history, medications and allergies. If a simpler option suits you better, we tell you.
For the big picture of the process, read what stem cell therapy is or see stem cell therapy at GIOSTAR.
Stem cell therapy at GIOSTAR in Henderson
GIOSTAR stands for Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research. Our Henderson wellness center, now open at 2482 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100, gives ethically sourced mesenchymal stem cells from screened donors, by injection or IV. Dr. Ryan Peterson, our Medical Director, oversees care. Start with a free consultation, with no obligation.
