Arthrosis is a disease in which there is a progressive deterioration of the cartilage of the joints, which at the level of the knee causes inflammation of the structures that surround it (synovial membrane) and the reaction of the bone below the cartilage (subchondral bone).

Body fat can now help treat conditions of the bony joints, including injuries and osteoarthritis - the type of arthritis caused by tissue wear between the joints, which affects 27 million people. A new device gently sucks, processes and uses the patient's own fatty tissue to provide a potential source of stem cells and growth factors to promote healing.

Orthopedic doctors at Harley Street Hospital offer treatment with the device, called Lipogems, currently used in arthroscopic surgery. The FDA approved Lipogems for widespread use in November 2016.

The technology is ideal for patients with certain orthopedic conditions, such as painful joints - including the knee, ankle or shoulder - with a limited range of motion, and can be used for soft tissue defects located in tendons, ligaments and/or muscles to improve the biological environment.

Fat has the ability to be a source of important cells that produce important proteins involved in healing and reducing inflammation. The Lipogems system extracts fat cells of the abdomen or thigh while the patient is sedated with a local anesthetic.

Lipogems treatment is sometimes used when standard treatment options, such as physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or steroid injections have not provided significant relief. It offers benefits for people who cannot have surgery, would like an alternative to surgery, or can be used in conjunction with their surgery.