What Is Adipose Stem Cell Therapy?
An innovative form of treatment that uses your own body fat as a source of stem cells is known as adipose stem cell therapy. Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) are easy to access and isolate. And they have the potential to grow into other types of cells such as cartilage, bone, skeletal muscle and tendons, helping the body heal naturally.
Dr. Leon Reyfman at Stem Cell Therapy NYC, is an interventional pain management specialist with many years of experience delivering MFAT injections, the most effective form of adipose stem cell therapy. He’s committed to finding solutions for people struggling with chronic pain and he’s actively involved in pain management research.
Dr. Reyfman and his team of experts offer stem cell therapy and regenerative therapy for many conditions that cause chronic pain. This works for most body parts, including:
What is an MFAT Injection?
A micro-fragmented adipose tissue injection (MFAT) is an injection that contains healing cells derived from adipose tissue, which is the technical term for fat. This is collected through liposuction and mechanically processed to create micro-fragments of tissue that are rich in healing components, which include:
- Stem cells
- Growth factors
- Extracellular matrix
This type of injection may be considered when a conservative approach to treatment for chronic pain is ineffective. Using this advanced form of regenerative medicine helps your body repair and regenerate damaged tissues, providing much needed pain relief.
What Conditions Can an MFAT Injection Treat?
An adipose tissue injection reduces symptoms of a variety of conditions that cause chronic pain and greatly reduce your quality of life, including nerve pain. This type of treatment is used to provide you with an improved quality of life when you suffer with conditions, such as:
- Spinal degeneration. Treatment with MFAT relieves pain and repairs damage in degenerative conditions of the spine. This may prevent or at least postpone spinal surgery. Adipose tissue injection relieves pain from sciatica, pinched nerves and other causes of chronic back pain.
- Adipose derived stem cells treatment improves pain and mobility even in advanced osteoarthritis.
- Joint injuries. Treatment with this type of injection enhances natural tissue regeneration and provides pain relief and functional improvements for injured joints. In some cases, it delays or prevents surgical treatment, such as total knee replacement.
- Bone injuries.Regenerative therapies aid in successful bone regeneration after bones have been injured.
- Soft tissue wounds and injuries.Wounds caused by vascular problems, diabetes or autoimmune conditions are difficult to manage. An MFAT injection has anti-inflammatory and restorative properties that can heal these wounds as well as injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Many people experience significant improvement in function and reduced pain levels from this form of treatment with no adverse side effects. Symptom relief usually lasts two years or longer.
How Is Adipose Stem Cell Therapy Done?
Stem cell therapy using cells derived from your own body fat is a simple procedure that’s usually done in a single day in an outpatient operating room. Steps of the procedure include:
- The area that’s being used for fat extraction is cleaned and numbed.
- A small incision is made, and a needle is inserted into the abdomen or other area where the fat’s going to be extracted.
- Adipose tissue is aspirated and sent to the lab for processing to separate adipose-derived stem cells.
- Once cells have been separated, they’re injected into the area to be treated using ultrasound guidance.
The whole procedure usually takes less than an hour, and you’re able to go home the same day. Your NYC pain doctor provides post-procedural instructions, which may include avoiding lifting heavy objects for a couple of weeks. Complications are very rare.
What Are the Benefits of MFAT Injection and Adipose Stem Cell Therapy?
Many benefits of stem cell therapy using stem cells derived from adipose tissue are immediately apparent, such as being able to avoid potentially risky surgery. When adipose tissue is used in regenerative medicine, some of the most common benefits include:
- ASDCs are more abundant than bone marrow cells, allowing harvesting in greater quantities. It’s a less invasive method of treatment, and there are no ethical concerns.
- Using your own tissues reduces the risk of rejection or other complications.
- Stem cells promote formation of new blood vessels, reduce inflammation, repair tissues and aid healing. A benefit to older patients is that the healing capacity of adipose derived cells doesn’t decline with age.
Chronic pain affects people of all ages, but advanced regenerative treatment methods provide much-needed relief. Dr. Leon Reyfman and his team of pain relief specialists with locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, Long Island and Queens use noninvasive treatment methods whenever possible. Contact Stem Cell Therapy NYC today to learn more.
Page Updated on Mar 23, 2026 by Stem Cell Therapy