Stem Cell Therapy for Knees in Tijuana, Mexico

Medically Reviewed by Dr. José Jiménez
Founder & Medical Director, Renovo Health & Beauty
Board-Elected Member, American Academy of Regenerative Medicine | 32+ Years of Medical Experience
Last Reviewed: September 2026.

Stem cell therapy for knees is an image-guided injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the knee joint, most often considered for knee osteoarthritis. A 2025 Cochrane review of randomized trials found that it may improve knee pain and function slightly compared with placebo injections, with serious side effects reported infrequently. At Renovo Health and Beauty in Tijuana, knee protocols use umbilical cord–derived MSCs that are re-verified on-site before every injection.

Key Facts: Knee Stem Cell Therapy at Renovo

  • Cells used: umbilical cord–derived MSCs from Wharton's jelly, from healthy, full-term donations.
  • Quality control: Cells are expanded and quality-tested in certified, licensed biotechnology laboratories, then independently re-counted and viability-tested at Renovo before administration. Renovo does not expand cells on-site.
  • Guidance: injections are guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy for precise placement.
  • Candidacy: every patient's history and imaging are screened first.
  • Cost: stem cell–only pricing generally ranges from $2,100 to $9,900 USD.
  • Location: Tijuana, roughly 8 to 15 minutes from the U.S. border.

What Is Stem Cell Therapy for Knees?

Mesenchymal stem cells are cells that can influence how tissues respond to injury and inflammation. For knee pain, a concentrated dose of MSCs is injected directly into the joint space. Researchers believe MSCs work mainly by releasing signaling molecules that calm inflammation and support the joint environment, rather than by turning into new cartilage—an important distinction when you evaluate what the treatment can and cannot do.

At Renovo, knee protocols use donor-derived umbilical cord MSCs, which means there is no bone marrow or fat harvest from your body. Learn more about how mesenchymal stem cell therapy works.

Knee Conditions That May Be Evaluated

Knee stem cell therapy has been studied most in osteoarthritis. Dr. Jiménez may evaluate patients with:

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Pain on a 0–10 scale averaged 3.3 after stem cell injection versus 4.5 after placebo—1.2 points better.

Function on a 0–100 scale, where lower is better, averaged 32.1 versus 46.3—14.2 points better.

Serious adverse events were uncommon: 16 per 1,000 people with stem cell injection versus 23 per 1,000 with placebo.

The reviewers rated this evidence as low certainty because cell sources, preparation methods, and doses varied across studies, and because some larger trials were withdrawn before reporting results. Disease progression was not assessed, so there is not yet reliable evidence that injections slow arthritis.

Umbilical cord MSCs specifically have been tested in a randomized phase I/II trial of 26 patients. Patients who received two MSC injections six months apart had significantly lower pain at 12 months than patients who received hyaluronic acid, and no severe adverse events were reported. MRI scans did not show structural differences between groups (Matas et al., Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2019). A later dose-escalation trial by the same research group found that low and medium doses produced greater improvement than the highest dose (Matas et al., 2024).

Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Therapy for Knees

Potential advantages Limitations to consider
Minimally invasive, image-guided injection performed as an outpatient procedure Evidence of benefit is low certainty, and improvements in trials were modest
Randomized trials show slight improvement in pain and function compared with placebo Not shown to regrow cartilage or slow the progression of arthritis
Serious adverse events were uncommon in controlled trials Temporary soreness or swelling is common after injection
Donor-derived umbilical cord cells require no bone marrow or fat harvest from you Results vary, and some patients notice little or no change
May be an option for people who are not ready for, or not candidates for, surgery Self-pay treatment that requires travel to Tijuana

Stem Cell Therapy vs. Knee Replacement

Total knee replacement remains the established treatment for advanced, bone-on-bone knee arthritis. Stem cell therapy is being studied mainly for mild to moderate osteoarthritis, and for patients who want to explore non-surgical options first or who are not candidates for surgery. It is not a substitute for a replacement when a replacement is clearly indicated, and it has not been proven to postpone surgery.

Stem cell injection Total knee replacement
Procedure Image-guided injection into the joint Surgical replacement of the joint surfaces
Typical downtime Usually brief; follow your physician's activity plan Weeks to months of rehabilitation
Evidence base Small-to-moderate trials; low-certainty evidence Long clinical track record for advanced arthritis
Usually considered for Mild to moderate osteoarthritis Severe osteoarthritis with major functional limits

PRP vs. Stem Cells for Knee Pain

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your own blood, while stem cell therapy at Renovo uses donor umbilical cord MSCs. Both are biologic injections used for knee osteoarthritis, but head-to-head evidence is limited: the 2025 Cochrane review rated comparisons between stem cells and PRP, hyaluronic acid, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory drugs as very low certainty. Depending on your imaging and goals, Dr. Jiménez may also discuss options such as viscosupplementation.

Stem Cell Therapy for Knees in Mexico

What to Expect: Knee Treatment at Renovo

  1. Medical History & Imaging Questionnaire. Send your history and recent knee X-rays or MRI.
  2. Physician review and candidacy. Dr. Jiménez reviews your case and explains realistic expectations before recommending treatment. Renovo declines or postpones treatment when contraindications—such as an active, uncontrolled infection or medical instability—would compromise safety.
  3. On-site cell verification. Your cells are independently re-counted and viability-tested at Renovo before use.
  4. Image-guided injection. Ultrasound or fluoroscopy guides placement into the knee joint.
  5. Aftercare and follow-up. You leave with written instructions on activity, pain control, and follow-up.

Recovery Time After a Knee Stem Cell Injection

Most people experience some soreness, stiffness, or swelling for a few days after a knee injection. Your activity plan will typically start with light movement and progress over the following weeks. In clinical trials, researchers measured results at three, six, and 12 months, so improvement—when it occurs—is usually judged over months rather than days. Long-term durability beyond a year is not well established.

How Much Does Stem Cell Therapy for Knees Cost?

At Renovo, stem cell–only pricing generally ranges from $2,100 to $9,900 USD. A single-knee protocol is designed differently than treatment for both knees or a combined plan that includes supportive therapies, and your written quote spells out every component. See our full guide to stem cell therapy cost in Tijuana. Renovo operates on a self-pay model and does not bill U.S. health insurance.

Stem Cell Knee Injections Near San Diego

If you are searching for stem cell knee injections near you in Southern California, Renovo may be closer than you expect.

Renovo is located in the Central Toreo building at Av. Santa María 2750, Suite 605, 6th floor, Fracc. Calete, Tijuana, Baja California 22044—roughly 8 to 15 minutes from the U.S. border, depending on traffic. Patients flying in can use San Diego International Airport or Tijuana International Airport, which connects to the U.S. side through the Cross Border Xpress (CBX). Bring a valid passport or passport card for re-entry into the United States. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time).

Learn more about why patients choose Mexico for medical care, or explore stem cell therapy for hips and shoulders.

Stem Cell Therapy for Knees in Mexico

Who Oversees Your Care

Every protocol at Renovo is overseen by Dr. José A. Jiménez, Renovo’s Medical Director. Dr. Jiménez is a Medical Doctor and Surgeon who graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (Professional License No. 1568215) and a Specialist in Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care (Specialty License No. 3444273), with advanced training in stem cell therapy, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal ultrasound. Renovo operates under COFEPRIS Health License COFEPRIS-02-002-A.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Therapy for Knees

Randomized trials suggest it may help modestly. A 2025 Cochrane review found stem cell injections may improve knee osteoarthritis pain by about 1.2 points on a 0–10 scale and improve function slightly compared with placebo at six months, but the evidence is low certainty and results vary.

Durability is not well established. Most controlled trials followed patients for six to 12 months, and a randomized trial of umbilical cord MSCs reported lower pain than hyaluronic acid at 12 months. Longer-term results are still being studied.

Most patients have soreness or swelling for a few days and return to light daily activity soon after, following their physician’s activity plan. Any improvement is typically assessed over weeks to months rather than days.

There is no reliable evidence that stem cell injections regrow cartilage in human knees. In a randomized trial of umbilical cord MSCs, MRI scans did not differ between groups, and the 2025 Cochrane review noted that disease progression was not assessed in the included trials.

Not for advanced arthritis. Knee replacement remains the established treatment for severe, bone-on-bone arthritis. Stem cell therapy is studied mainly for mild to moderate osteoarthritis and has not been proven to delay surgery.

At Renovo in Tijuana, stem cell–only pricing generally ranges from $2,100 to $9,900 USD, depending on whether one or both knees are treated, the delivery method, and any supportive therapies. You receive a written quote after medical review.

Renovo’s knee protocols use mesenchymal stem cells from donated umbilical cord tissue (Wharton’s jelly) from healthy, full-term births. Cells are expanded and quality-tested in certified, licensed laboratories and re-verified at Renovo before use.

No stem cell product is FDA-approved for knee osteoarthritis. Renovo provides care in Mexico under COFEPRIS Health License COFEPRIS-02-002-A, and Dr. Jiménez discusses the current evidence with every patient.

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