Lipogems

Orthobiologics therapies available at Swift Institute include platelet rich plasma, prolotherapy, bone marrow aspirate therapy, and Lipogems. Orthobiologics is the specialty focused on using new technologies and therapies to address and reverse the effects of aging on joints and disc problems. 

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Experience the Lipogems Difference

In a minimally invasive and immediate procedure, the physician will make a tiny puncture through the skin and collect a small amount of fat from either the midsection or “love handles”.

Next, the collected fat will be processed in the unique Lipogems device using only sterile saline solution to wash away any impurities. During this process, the fat is washed, rinsed, and resized into smaller clusters while keeping the natural beneficial properties of the fat.

Since the Lipogems process micro-fragments the fat, the size of Lipogems tissue is ideal to facilitate healing in the treatment site. The physician will then use a small needle to inject the Lipogems tissue into the treatment site.

Are you a candidate?

You might be a candidate if:
• You suffer from an injury or ailment that limits you normal daily functioning or physical activity
• You have painful joints with limited range motion, such as your knee, ankle or shoulder
• You have a soft tissue defect in your tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles
• Treatment options, such as physical therapy, NSAIDS, or steroid injections have not provided you with significant relief
• You would like to explore Lipogems as a minimally invasive part of your surgical intervention
• Your doctor determines Lipogems may be used in addition to your surgery

Are there reasons that you may not be a candidate for Lipogems?

• You currently have a systemic infection
• You suffer from an autoimmune disease
• You currently are taking blood thinners or anti-coagulation medication
• You are being treated for any other malignancy or blood borne disease
• You have an allergy to Lidocaine
• You are currently breastfeeding or plan to begin breastfeeding in the near future
• You have a hematologic condition

Frequently asked questions

What applications can Lipogems be used for? Is this for acute or chronic conditions?

If you are suffering from an orthopaedic condition, your doctor may determine that using our own powerful fat with the Lipogems system may be an option for you. Patients that suffer from orthopaedic conditions that have damaged or injured tissue may need to be repaired, reconstructed, replaced or supported using your own fat tissue. Depending on your condition, your doctor may decide to use the Lipogems technology for acute or chronic injuries.

Will I be receiving my own tissue or will they come from another person?

Your own fat tissue is the highest quality tissue and minimizes the risk for rejection.

What is the recovery/downtime?

The recovery process varies for each patient. Your doctor will determine the best treatment option for you. Your doctor will help determine what activities you can perform and put you on an appropriate treatment plan.

What is the difference between using your own powerful fat vs other similar tissues?

Your own powerful fat has 100-500x more reparative cells than other similar tissues. Not all fat technologies are FDA cleared. In fact, Lipogems is one of the first technologies that is FDA cleared for use in orthopaedic and arthroscopic surgery.

How long will this last?

The fat tissue processed from Lipogems device is injected precisely into areas of the body to provide cushion and support to help tissue healing and repair. The fat tissue is a sticky substance and the amount of time it will stay in a given area may vary from person to person. As with all procedures, the individual results may vary. The lifetime of any procedure is limited and depends on several factors like patient weight and activity level. Your doctor will counsel you about strategies for your post-procedural care. It is important to closely follow your physician’s instructions regarding post-procedure activity, treatment and follow-up care.

What is PRP Therapy?

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been clinically proven to treat pain and stimulate healing in the body. This procedure includes simply injecting a high dose of platelets, concentrated from your own blood, into areas affected by pain. This is a safe and natural way for your body to accelerate the healing process, rather than blocking or masking your pain.

What is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate therapies?

Bone Marrow Aspirate concentrate treatments are unique because they help the body jump start the healing process. Stem cells are the body’s master cells. They are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to transform into a variety of different cells and replace dying cells, and the potential of rebuilding damaged tissue, muscles, tendons or ligaments.

The non-surgical doctors at Swift Institute provide Minimally Invasive Treatment for:

  • Achilles Tendon Injury
  • Biceps Tendon Injury
  • Golfer’s Elbow
  • Ligament Injuries
  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip & Shoulder
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Back & Neck Pain
  • Foot & Ankle Pain

Please click here to request a consultation and learn if you are a candidate.

References

1. Duhamel, Georges. Les sept dernières plaies. Mercure de France (1928).
2. Kim, Won-Serk, et al. “Wound healing eff ect of adipose-derived stem cells: a critical role of secretory factors on human dermal fi broblasts.” Journal of dermatological science 48.1 (2007): 15-24.
3. Rehman, Jalees, et al. “Secretion of angiogenic and antiapoptotic factors by human adipose stromal cells.” Circulation 109.10 (2004): 1292-1298.
4. Zuk, Patricia A., et al. “Human adipose tissue is a source of multipotent stem cells.” Molecular biology of the cell 13.12 (2002): 4279-4295.
5. Zuk, Patricia A., et al. “Multilineage cells from human adipose tissue: implications for cell-based therapies.” Tissue engineering7.2 (2001): 211-228.
6. Strem, Brian M., et al. “Multipotential diff erentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells.” The Keio journal of medicine 54.3 (2005): 132-141.
7. Beane, Olivia S., et al. “Impact of aging on the regenerative properties of bone marrow-, muscle-, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells.” PloS one 9.12 (2014): e115963.
8. Stolzing, Alexandra, et al. “Age-related changes in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells: consequences for cell therapies.” Mechanisms of ageing and development 129.3 (2008): 163-173.
9. Kern, Susanne, et al. “Comparative analysis of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, or adipose tissue.” Stem cells 24.5 (2006): 1294-1301.
10. Crisan, Mihaela, et al. “A perivascular origin for mesenchymal stem cells in multiple human organs.” Cell stem cell 3.3 (2008): 301-313.
11. Caplan, A. I. “Why are MSCs therapeutic? New data: new insight.” The Journal of pathology 217.2 (2009): 318-324.
12. da Silva Meirelles, Lindolfo, et al. “Mechanisms involved in the therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stem cells.” Cytokine & growth factor reviews 20.5-6 (2009): 419-427.
13. Bianchi, Francesca, et al. “A new nonenzymatic method and device to obtain a fat tissue derivative highly enriched in pericyte-like elements by mild mechanical forces from human lipoaspirates.” Cell transplantation 22.11 (2013): 2063-2077.
14. da Silva Meirelles, Lindolfo, Arnold I. Caplan, and Nance Beyer Nardi. “In search of the in vivo identity of mesenchymal stem cells.” Stem cells 26.9 (2008): 2287-2299.

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