Stem Cell Knee Treatment in Puerto Vallarta
The stem cell knee treatment at Dream Body Clinic is an ultrasound-guided injection of 50 million allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from Wharton Jelly (umbilical cord tissue) and Placenta into the knee joint, offered as a non-surgical option for knee osteoarthritis, meniscus tears, ligament injuries, and cartilage damage. Patients come to our clinic in Bucerías, in the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico, for an all-inclusive protocol that includes a knee MRI, a full blood panel, and the cell injection, and should plan to be in town for five days. A single-knee package is $3,500 USD; treatment of both knees is $7,000. The aim is to calm joint inflammation and support cartilage repair so patients can reduce pain and delay or avoid knee replacement. Many patients notice early improvement in 2 to 4 weeks, with fuller results developing over 3 to 6 months.
Stem Cell Knee Treatment
We require patients to be in town for at least 5 days. Below is what a typical schedule looks like, but exact details are subject to change depending on availability and schedule:
What’s included in your protocol
Typical Treatment Schedule
What Is the Most Effective Stem Cell Knee Treatment?
What is the Stem Cell Knee Treatment at Dream Body Clinic?
The stem cell knee treatment at Dream Body Clinic is a 50 million mesenchymal stem cell injection for one knee, priced at $3,500 USD.** The fee includes the on-site MRI, blood panel, consultation, and ultrasound-guided injection. Both knees are $7,000. The cells are allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton’s jelly and placenta, expanded in the clinic’s own lab in Bucerías, Nayarit, in the Puerto Vallarta area, and they are never frozen or shipped. We have helped so many people heal osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, and chronic knee pain over the past 9 years with MSCs. Call (888) 704-3977 for a free consultation.
The stem cell knee treatment is a minimally invasive injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the knee joint. It is used for knee osteoarthritis, partial meniscus tears, partial ligament injuries, cartilage defects, and chronic knee pain that has not responded to rest, physical therapy, or injections.
At Dream Body Clinic the protocol is not a same-day bone marrow or fat draw. There is no liposuction and no bone marrow harvest. The dose is 50 million culture-expanded allogeneic MSCs, delivered by intra-articular injection under ultrasound guidance by one of our 3 treating physicians; Dr. Arick Barba, Dr. Lizbeth Aguirre or Dr. Jaqueline Vega.
The goal is to reduce joint inflammation and support repair of cartilage, meniscus, ligament, and tendon tissue. It is not a knee replacement, it can’t heal a complete tear and it does not remove bone spurs.
How much does stem cell knee treatment cost?
Dream Body Clinic publishes one price for the standard knee protocol.
– One knee: $3,500 USD. Includes MRI, blood panel, consultation, 50 million MSCs, and the injection.
– Both knees, same trip: $7,000 USD.
– If imaging shows you are not a candidate: MRI $500 and blood panel $300. You are not charged the treatment fee.
– If you have an MRI that was done within 6 months, then please send us the written report to info@dreambodyclinic.net before travel, can be reviewed in advance and be sure that we can help. Even if you have a recent MRI, we still have to do a new MRI at our facility. We have received too many bad and inaccurate reports over the years so for patient safety the doctors had to make this rule.
Non expanded-MSC knee injection in the United States are commonly quoted at $5,000 to $15,000 per knee and are not covered by insurance. In the USA and most countries they don’t allow the full isolation and replication of MSCs for treatments. Knee replacement in the United States is commonly $30,000 to $50,000 before rehab.
What knee conditions can this treat?
The Stem Cell Knee Treatment can help with the following issues:
– Knee osteoarthritis, grades 1–4, with better expectations in grades 1–2
– Partial meniscus tears
– Partial ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL injuries
– Focal cartilage lesions and chondromalacia
– Patellar tendinitis and quadriceps tendon damage
– Chronic knee pain after failed conservative care
– Incomplete healing after prior surgery
– Sports injuries that are partial, not complete ruptures
It is not a fit for:
– Complete ligament, tendon, or meniscus tears. Stem cells do not bridge a full-thickness gap.
– Large osteophytes. Stem cells do not remove bone, and spurs can block healing.
– Cancer. We won’t treat patients that have had cancer within the past 5 years. Not because MSCs can cause it or make it worse, but because if the cancer came back the MSCs could be blamed and there is no way to know.
– A cortisone injection in the last 3 months. Cortisone confuses where inflammation is and stem cells work by seeking out inflammation so they are counteractive.
– Anyone expecting a guaranteed result. This is medicine, not magic. About 5% of people are non-responders. It is rare, but worth knowing before committing to treatment.
How do mesenchymal stem cells work in the knee?
Injected MSCs do most of their work by signaling, not by turning into a new knee. In the joint they:
– Release anti-inflammatory cytokines that calm joint swelling
– Signal chondrocytes, the cells that maintain cartilage
– Support new extracellular matrix, including collagen and proteoglycans
– Guide fibroblasts in partial ligament and tendon injuries and support collagen repair
– Support meniscal cells and matrix in partial tears
– Produce matrix metalloproteinases that help remodel scar tissue
– Promote small-vessel growth so injured tissue gets blood supply
– Modulate the local immune response so inflammation does not stay switched on
MSCs from the injection remain in the body for about 8–12 months. They move toward inflammation and interact with local immune and repair cells. After that window, remaining donor cells differentiate and are cleared. That clearance has not produced a systemic reaction in the clinic’s knee series.
What is included, and where is it done?
Treatment is at DBC Medical Center, Carmen Serdán 22, Bucerías, Nayarit 63732, Mexico, on the bay across from Puerto Vallarta. Patients fly into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR).
Included in the $3,500:
– Open MRI on the clinic’s Esaote S-Scan, so the joint is not guessed at
– Blood panel
– Physician consultation with doctor.
– 50 million mesenchymal stem cells from the on-site lab
– Ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection
– Post-treatment rehab protocol
– Remote follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months
The MRI is an open scanner. Confirm the knee fits the coil before travel. If it does not, the clinic schedules a different machine. Most patients stay at least 5 days.. Flights and hotels are up to the patient. Airport and clinic transfers are included if you stay in the clinic hotel zone: https://dreambody.clinic/hotels/
Why the stem cells are expanded on site?
The Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are allogeneic, from Wharton’s jelly and placenta of screened live births, then expanded in Dream Body Clinic’s ISO-rated lab on the same property. They are not frozen for storage and not shipped in from another city. The clinic has been open 13 years and has administered stem cells for 9 years.
Mexico’s regulator for these procedures is COFEPRIS. Expanding cells in a clinic lab is permitted under that framework and is restricted in the United States, which is why Americans, Canadians, and patients from the UK, Australia, and Europe travel for this dose.
Is the stem cell knee treatment safe?
The documented issues in this knee protocol are limited.
– Infection risk exists with any injection. The clinic uses iodine and Microdacyn. It reports no knee-injection infections in 9 years of stem cell use.
– Four patients out of hundreds had increased inflammation about a week later, linked to the old PRP combination. PRP is no longer added. Tramadol/acetaminophen and prednisone are available if a flare occurs.
– Some patients do not respond. No clinic can promise a result.
– Adverse events reported by the clinic are under 2%, mostly temporary soreness at the injection site.
– The clinic does not treat patients with cancer in the past 5 years.
How long is recovery after a stem cell knee injection?
Most patients walk out the same day and are back to desk work in 2–3 days. The biology is slower than the soreness.
– Days 1–2: Injection-site soreness. Rest, with light walking allowed.
– Week 1: Normal daily activity. No high-impact exercise.
– Weeks 1–6: Engraftment window. Cells are homing to inflamed tissue. The clinic asks patients to avoid major loading so that signal is not scattered. A 4-week rehab plan starts after the first 2 weeks of taking it easy.
– Months 2–3: Pain and strength usually keep improving. Moderate exercise is useful because the cells follow inflammation.
– Months 3–6: Typical peak. This is when the clinic judges the result.
– Months 6–12: Remodeling continues. Follow-up surveys are at 3, 6, and 12 months.
What should you stop before treatment?
– Stop NSAIDs at least 1 week before and stay off them for at least 2 weeks after, preferably 6. NSAIDs mask the inflammatory signal MSCs use to find damaged tissue.
– Stop prednisone at least 1 week before and for at least 2 weeks after, on the same logic.
– Do not book treatment within 3 months of a cortisone or other corticosteroid injection, and avoid those shots for at least 6 months after.
– Hold anti-inflammatory supplements such as turmeric and ginkgo for at least 2 weeks after, preferably 6.
– Supplements are optional. They do not make the cells work, but collagen-building nutrients can support the repair the cells are directing. We have seen patients heal faster by using undenatured type 2 collagen specifically.
How do you book?
Call (888) 704-3977 or book a video consult. The consult is free and runs 30–45 minutes. Have your history, medication list, pain limits, and goals ready.
Send MRI, CT, or ultrasound reports, and recent bloodwork if you have it, to info@dreambodyclinic.net. If the written report is enough, the physician can say whether you are a candidate before you fly.
After a date is confirmed, the clinic sends a booking form. You reserve the hotel, check your passport, and arrange the flight into PVR. Drivers meet you if you stay in the hotel zone.
How long do results last?
The injected cells are active for about 8–12 months. Tissue that has remodeled does not vanish when those cells are cleared, which is why patients who respond often still report benefit several years later. Aging continues. Dream Body Clinic’s optional maintenance option is an annual 100 million MSC IV, sold separately as the anti-aging protocol, for patients who want systemic support after the knee has responded. It is not required to heal a knee, but puts the patient in a better healing position.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
**What is the most effective stem cell knee treatment at Dream Body Clinic?**
A 50 million allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell injection, expanded in the on-site lab from Wharton’s jelly and placenta, never frozen, and placed in the knee under ultrasound. Price is $3,500 per knee with MRI and bloodwork included, at DBC Medical Center in Bucerías, Nayarit, in the Puerto Vallarta area.
**How much does stem cell knee treatment cost in Puerto Vallarta?**
Dream Body Clinic charges $3,500 USD for one knee and $7,000 for both. That includes the open MRI, blood panel, consultation, 50 million MSCs, and the injection. If you are not a candidate after imaging, you pay $500 for the MRI and $300 for the blood panel.
**Is stem cell therapy for knees safe in Mexico?**
At Dream Body Clinic the procedure is an injection, regulated under COFEPRIS, using cells from an ISO-rated lab on the same property. The clinic reports no injection infections in 9 years of stem cell use and adverse events under 2%, mostly brief soreness. It does not treat patients with cancer in the past 5 years, and it does not guarantee a result. The other concern people tend to have is the safety of Puerto Vallarta in general. It is an incredibly safe town with the main tourist population being retired Americans and Canadians. We provide all airport and clinic transportation if you stay in our zone. We have never in 13 years had a safety issue.
**What knee conditions can stem cells treat?**
Selected grades of knee osteoarthritis, partial meniscus tears, partial ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL injuries, cartilage defects, and tendon injuries. Complete tears and large bone spurs are not candidates. Severe bone-on-bone arthritis may still be treated with lower expectations.
**How long does recovery take after stem cell knee treatment?**
Walking is allowed the same day. Most patients return to desk work in 2–3 days. Sport is paused for 2 weeks, then a 4-week rehab plan runs through the 6-week engraftment window. Peak improvement is usually reported at 3–6 months.
**How long do stem cells last in the knee?**
Dream Body Clinic states the injected MSCs remain active for about 8–12 months while they signal local repair cells. Structural gains from that window can persist for years.
**Do I need an MRI before I fly to Puerto Vallarta?**
No. The clinic has an Esaote S-Scan open MRI and will scan you on site. If you already have an MRI from the last 6 months, email the report to info@dreambodyclinic.net. If the physician accepts it, the $500 MRI fee is discounted and you bring the images with you.
**Who is the physician?**
Dr. Arick Barba, Dr. Liz Aguirre and Dr. Jaqueline Vega are the full time physicians at Dream Body Clinic and performs the knee assessment and injections. The clinic is at Carmen Serdán 22, Bucerías, Nayarit 63732, Mexico. Free consult: (888) 704-3977.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)
MSCs have the potential to heal several different organs throughout the body. Here are key organs that MSCs are able to repair:
Arthritis (Cartilage Damage)
Cartilage is the tissue that cushions the joints, allowing for smooth and pain-free movement. In arthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged or worn down, resulting in pain and stiffness. MSCs can help to regenerate cartilage tissue by guiding chondrocytes, which are the cells that make up cartilage. When MSCs are injected into the joint, they can reduce inflammation and promote the growth of new cartilage cells, leading to improved joint function and reduced pain.
Meniscus Damage
The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and the shinbone. Meniscus damage is a common knee injury that can lead to pain, swelling, and limited mobility. MSCs can help to repair meniscus damage by promoting the growth of new meniscal tissue and reducing inflammation. When injected into the knee joint, MSCs can guide meniscal cartilage cells and promote the production of extracellular matrix, the substance that makes up the structure of cartilage.
Ligament Damage
Ligaments are the tough bands of tissue that connect bones to each other and help to stabilize joints. Injuries to ligaments can cause pain, inflammation, and instability. MSCs can help to heal ligament damage by promoting the growth of new tissue and preventing scar tissue formation. When injected into the injured area, MSCs can guide fibroblasts, the cells that make up ligament tissue, and promote the production of collagen, the substance that gives ligaments their strength and flexibility.
Tendon Damage
Tendons are the tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendon injuries can cause pain, swelling, and weakness in the affected area. MSCs can help to repair tendon damage by promoting the growth of new cells and reducing inflammation. When injected into the injured area, MSCs can guide tenocytes, the cells that make up tendon tissue, and promote the production of collagen, the substance that gives tendons their strength.
Muscle Damage
Muscles can become damaged due to injury, overuse, or age-related changes. Muscle damage can cause pain, weakness, and limited mobility. MSCs can help to repair muscle damage by promoting the growth of new muscle cells and reducing inflammation. When injected into the injured area, MSCs can guide myoblasts, the cells that make up muscle tissue, and promote the production of myosin and actin, the proteins that enable muscle contraction.
Overall, the ability of MSCs to repair organs and tissues throughout the body is due to their inherent capacity to guide differentiation and regeneration into various cell types and secrete various growth factors and molecules that can influence the healing and regeneration processes.
How do Mesenchymal Stem Cells Guide the Removal of Scar Tissue in an Injured Knee?
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can help to guide the removal of scar tissue in injured knees in several ways.
MSCs can guide the removal of scar tissue in injured knees by producing enzymes and cytokines that break down scar tissue, differentiating into specific cell types that replace scar tissue with healthy tissue, modulating the immune system to reduce inflammation, and promoting angiogenesis to stimulate the growth of new tissue. By promoting the removal of scar tissue, MSCs can help to improve knee function and mobility.
Removing fibrosis (scar tissue) is of vital importance because as we age we have fewer and fewer MSCs to help heal issues properly. So white blood cells rush in and patch everything up with fibrosis. This keeps things from getting worse usually, but it blocks the natural healing growth factors and other things from being able to heal the underlying tissue. MSCs help guide the removal of fibrosis so that the underlying tissue is exposed then they guide the regeneration of that tissue to get you healed.
How do Mesenchymal Stem Cells Regenerate Cartilage for Arthritis?
In osteoarthritis, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to have the potential to regenerate cartilage through several mechanisms:
Mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to regenerate cartilage in osteoarthritis through their guiding the differentiation of chondrocytes into the production of extracellular matrix components, reduction of inflammation, and paracrine signaling to promote cell proliferation and tissue repair.
Production of chondrogenic factors: MSCs can guide the regeneration of chondrocytes, which are the primary cells that produce cartilage. By producing chondrogenic factors, MSCs can promote the differentiation of MSCs into chondrocytes and increase the production of cartilage.
Production of extracellular matrix components: MSCs can also promote the production of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen and proteoglycans, which are important components of cartilage.
Reduction of inflammation: Inflammation is a major contributor to cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis. MSCs can suppress inflammation and contribute to a less inflammatory environment, allowing for the production and maintenance of cartilage.
Paracrine signaling: MSCs can also release various growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines that promote cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue repair. By modulating the activity of nearby cells, MSCs can help to promote cartilage regeneration.
Watch & Learn
Pre Treatment Care Protocol
Post Treatment Care Protocol
After treatment we advise patients to take 2 weeks off from exercise or sports. Then we recommend they follow the 4 week physical rehab protocol that we provide during treatment. This is a protocol of physiotherapy exercises developed by our orthopedic surgeon to help with a fast recovery. After the 6 weeks of rest and rehab we then recommend getting back to your favorite activities or exercise routine, but to take it light and listen to your body. If you go to the gym and you feel pain in your neck during treatment or the next day then it is best to take at least a week or more off of that exercise. It is best to listen to your body and let it heal so that your neck can be healed for good. Most patients see peak results from treatment 3 to 6 months post treatment.
We recommend that patients don’t start using any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), Prednisone, or anti-inflammatory supplements such as gingko biloba or turmeric for at least 2 weeks post treatment and preferably for 6 weeks post treatment.
We recommend that patients don’t have any corticoid steroid injections such as a cortisone shot for at least 3 months post treatment and preferably for at least 6 months as MSC Treatments typically see peak results 3 to 6 months post treatment.
Side Effects or Risks
- A small number of patients have experienced tightness and soreness in the joint the night after treatment or the following day. This is eaily treated with the tramacet we provide every patient.
- A very small percentage of patients for this treatment will be non-responders. As with any medication or treatment there is always a chance of no change. Tylenol does not always fix a headache as an example.
- This treatment consists of an injection and as with any injections there is a very small risk of infection. We use iodine and microdacyn to minimize the chance of infection and so far we have never had a patient get an infection.
- We do not treat patients that have had cancer within the past 5 years. There is still no conclusive evidence linking stem cells to make cancer worse, but we prefer to stay on the side of safety until more information is available.
Fortunately the stem cell shoulder treatment is extremely safe. The only documented side effects are the following:
Our lab has over 9 years of experience cultivating mesenchymal stem cells with perfect safety and efficacy. See Stem Cell Certification by Clicking Here.
The mesenchymal stem cells that are administered via intra-articular injection will stay in the system for 8 months to a year. During that time they will interact with immune cells and seek out inflammation where they will guide cellular regeneration. After 8 to 12 months any MSCs that are free bound in your system will differentiate into an osteoblast (bone cell), adipocyte (fat cell) or chondrocyte (cartilage cell). They will then contain the donor's HLA markers and your immune system will destroy and remove them. This is an easy process for your immune system and there is no negative reaction in your body from it.
Stem Cell Knee Repair Studies
Selected peer-reviewed publications supporting this treatment.
My Knee Success Story – Repaired ACL and Meniscus
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Or email us at info@dreambodyclinic.net
Reviewed by the treating physician
Dr. Arick Francisco Barba Lopez
Head Physician
Dream Body Clinic, Bucerias, Mexico
- Graduate, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara
- Graduate certificate in regenerative medicine
- About 10 years administering mesenchymal stem cell therapies
- Honoris Causa, UNCEMA, 2021
- Reviews this page for protocol, dose, and candidacy accuracy
Content last reviewed September 26, 2026 · Next scheduled review March 2027
This page describes a clinic protocol, not an FDA-approved U.S. indication.