Ask ten people how stem cell therapy works and you get ten different answers. Some picture cells turning into new tissue. Others picture a vial and a needle. The actual process is more specific, and easier to explain.
This article walks through the idea behind stem cell therapy, then the steps of a plan at GIOSTAR, from the first call to the follow-ups.
The idea behind stem cell therapy
Stem cells are the body's unspecialized cells. They make copies of themselves, and they can produce the specialized cells that form bone, cartilage, fat, blood and other tissue. For the full background, read what stem cells are.
The kind used in regenerative medicine is the mesenchymal stem cell, often shortened to MSC. Mesenchymal stem cells release signaling molecules, and the cells around them respond to those signals. That signaling is the reason people study them. The cells act as messengers in the tissue where they are placed.
The kind used in hospital bone marrow transplants is different. Those are blood-forming stem cells, and hospitals have given them since the late 1960s. When people search "stem cell therapy" in Las Vegas, they usually mean the mesenchymal kind, which is what GIOSTAR gives.
Step 1: choosing where your stem cells come from
Every stem cell plan starts with a source. Some providers collect cells from your own bone marrow or fat, which takes a harvest procedure first. Others use donor cells.
GIOSTAR uses ethically sourced mesenchymal stem cells 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 is screened and tested before any tissue goes into use, and each lot comes with a Certificate of Analysis and full traceability.
Because the cells are donor cells, there is no procedure to collect your own and no second site to look after. Read more in where stem cells come from and donor screening.
Step 2: a free stem cell therapy consultation
The first step at GIOSTAR is a free consultation with our patient team, online, by phone or in person. There is no obligation. We ask what you would like to keep doing, whether that is the golf round, the trip or the grandkids, explain how stem cell therapy works here, and walk you through each step and the pricing.
Step 3: meeting your stem cell therapy nurse practitioner
Next comes an in-person visit in Henderson. Bring your medication and supplement list, any allergies and your health history. Your nurse practitioner reviews your goals, confirms whether you are a candidate and gives you the full total before you book.
This is also where the route is chosen. If another option suits you better, our team says so.
Step 4: injection or IV
GIOSTAR gives the cells one of two ways.
- By injection, which places the cells into one treatment area, or two or more in the same visit.
- By IV, which delivers the cells into the bloodstream while you rest in a recliner. On IV plans, we add a small draw of your own blood to the cells shortly before your IV starts.
Either way, there is no surgery, no incision and no general anesthesia. To compare them, read stem cell injections and IV infusions.
Step 5: stem cell therapy treatment day
Treatment day takes 1 to 2 hours in a private room, and you go home the same day. Before it, stop ibuprofen-type pain relievers 7 days ahead, pause blood thinners only with your prescriber's approval, and skip alcohol for 48 hours. On the day, eat a light meal, wear loose clothing and bring your medication list.
Step 6: stem cell therapy aftercare
You leave with written aftercare instructions and our number for any question. Soreness or swelling at the treated area for a few days is common. Some people feel tired, get a headache or feel flu-like for a day or two. Return to light activity usually takes 1 to 2 days, and your instructions include avoiding ibuprofen-type pain relievers for 2 weeks. More detail is in common short-term side effects after stem cell therapy.
Step 7: stem cell therapy follow-up
We check in at 2 weeks and every 3 months after that. Each check-in is a chance to talk through how you are doing, review any new labs and adjust your plan with your nurse practitioner. Starting with a single treatment is an option, and some people choose a repeat dose around six months later. You decide together, with the total in front of you.
What stem cell therapy does not require
It helps to know what is absent.
- No surgery.
- No hospital stay.
- No harvest procedure to collect your own cells.
- No obligation after the free consultation.
What decides the stem cell therapy plan and total
Three things shape your plan and the total: 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. See what decides the total for stem cell therapy for more.
Stem cell therapy at GIOSTAR in Henderson
GIOSTAR stands for Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research. Founded by Dr. Anand Srivastava, GIOSTAR International is part of a network across three countries, and our Henderson wellness center at 2482 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100, is now open. Our nurse practitioners give every plan, and Dr. Ryan Peterson, our Medical Director, oversees care. Start with a free consultation at 702.703.5393, or learn more about stem cell therapy at GIOSTAR.
