What Is Orthobiologic Medicine? A Patient's Guide

TL;DR: Orthobiologic medicine (sometimes called “regenerative medicine”) refers to procedures that use biologic material from your own body — your blood or bone marrow. At Innovare Tx we offer autologous orthobiologic procedures: PRP, PPP, BMAC, and A2M, prepared from your own tissue and delivered in-office with image guidance. These procedures are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition. The American College of Rheumatology’s 2026 osteoarthritis guideline strongly recommends against PRP and stem cell injections for knee and hip osteoarthritis. At Innovare Tx in Addison, TX, we also offer physical therapy, backed by 27 years of medical experience.

If you’re living with chronic joint pain, arthritis, or a nagging sports injury, you’ve probably been researching your options — from painkillers and steroid injections to physical therapy and surgery.

So what is orthobiologic medicine, and what do these procedures actually involve?

In this guide, we’ll explain what orthobiologic procedures are, how they are prepared and performed, and what a clinical evaluation involves. No hype — just clear, patient-friendly information from a provider with 27 years of hands-on medical experience.

What Is Orthobiologic Medicine, Exactly?

Orthobiologic medicine refers to procedures that use biologic material — at Innovare Tx, always your own (autologous) blood or bone marrow — prepared and delivered by injection in the musculoskeletal setting. These procedures concentrate material that already occurs in your own body.

Orthobiologic procedures concentrate material from a sample of your own tissue and deliver it, with image guidance, to a targeted area. This is a description of the procedure, not a promise of any particular outcome.

How Are Orthobiologic Procedures Prepared?

A sample of your blood or bone marrow is collected, processed using a centrifuge, and delivered by image-guided injection in the same visit. The material is minimally manipulated.

What Are Growth Factors?

Growth factors are signaling proteins that are part of the body’s normal response to injury. Researchers study them for that reason. Whether delivering them by injection changes any specific orthopedic condition has not been established.

Types of Orthobiologic Procedures

Here are the autologous orthobiologic procedures we offer at Innovare Tx, along with a description of what each one is.

PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

PRP therapy explained in simple terms: we draw a small amount of your blood, spin it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and inject the platelet-rich solution into the targeted area with image guidance.

What’s in PRP? Concentrated platelets, the growth factors they carry, and plasma proteins.

What to expect: One visit of 45 to 90 minutes. Soreness for a few days is common. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.

BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate)

BMAC is prepared from bone marrow rather than blood. We draw a small sample of bone marrow — usually from the hip — and concentrate the cellular fraction and growth factors within it.

What makes BMAC distinct: Because it is drawn from bone marrow, it contains a population of cells in addition to growth factors — a more cellular preparation than PRP.

Important distinction: This is not embryonic cell therapy. BMAC uses your own adult cells — drawn from your own body, processed, and reinjected the same day. There is no donor tissue, and, because the material is your own, minimal risk of rejection.

Additional Procedures

• PPP (Platelet-Poor Plasma) — The platelet-poor fraction separated from the same autologous blood sample, used in-office
• A2M (Alpha-2-Macroglobulin) — A protease-inhibitor protein that occurs naturally in your blood and is concentrated from your own sample

Each plan is individualized. In some cases a provider may combine or sequence procedures.

Whether One of These Is Appropriate

Educating you about your condition is part of the evaluation. Whether an orthobiologic procedure is an appropriate option for any given concern is a decision to make with your provider after a clinical evaluation — these procedures are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition.

Questions Patients Commonly Ask

There’s a lot of confusion about orthobiologic procedures. Here are some common questions.

“Are these procedures FDA-approved?”

No. PRP, PPP, BMAC, and A2M are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition. PRP continues to be studied in orthopedic and sports medicine. The American College of Rheumatology’s 2026 osteoarthritis guideline strongly recommends against PRP and stem cell injections for knee and hip osteoarthritis.

“Does BMAC use embryonic cells?”

No. BMAC uses your own adult cells from your bone marrow. No embryonic cells, no donor tissue. Your cells, from your body, returned to your body.

“Will I feel better afterward?”

Nobody can promise that, or give you a timeline. Some people notice no change. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.

“Is this only for athletes?”

No. Our patients are everyday people — office workers, retirees, and active adults alike. You don’t need to be an athlete to ask about these procedures.

“What does it take to offer these procedures?”

Training, equipment, and protocols. At Innovare Tx, Charles Ortega, PA-C, MPAS, brings 27 years of medical experience, and we offer these procedures alongside physical therapy.

Who Might Consider an Orthobiologic Procedure?

These procedures are not right for everyone, and candidacy is always determined by a clinical evaluation. Patients often ask about them when:

• They have joint pain, arthritis, or a tendon/ligament concern
• They’ve tried conservative measures (rest, PT, medications) and are researching other options
• They want to understand the full range of options before making decisions about care

An orthobiologic procedure may not be appropriate if:

• You have an active infection at the treatment site
• You have certain blood disorders or cancers
• You’re on blood thinners that cannot be temporarily paused
• You have unrealistic expectations about instant results

The best way to find out? Schedule a consultation. We’ll review your imaging, medical history, and goals to discuss whether an orthobiologic procedure is an appropriate option for you.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Knowing what to expect makes the experience less intimidating. Here’s a step-by-step look at a typical orthobiologic procedure visit at Innovare Tx.

Before Your Procedure

• Consultation — We review your condition, imaging (X-rays, MRI), and goals.
• Individualized plan — After evaluation, your provider discusses whether PRP, BMAC, or a combination is an appropriate option.
• Pre-procedure instructions — You may be asked to avoid anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for a few days beforehand, as they can interfere with the body’s inflammatory response.

During Your Procedure

• Blood draw, or bone marrow aspiration — Aspiration is performed under local anesthesia.
• Processing — Your sample is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the target fraction.
• Image-guided injection — We use ultrasound or fluoroscopy to deliver the prepared material to the targeted area.
• Total time: one visit of 45 to 90 minutes.

After Your Procedure

Soreness and swelling at the injection site for a few days is common. Your provider gives you aftercare instructions and a follow-up appointment. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.

Formal physical therapy is not typically needed after these procedures. When it is indicated, Rowena Calleja, PT, works with your provider.

About Innovare Tx

A few things to know about our clinic:

• 27 years of medical experience — Charles Ortega, PA-C, MPAS, is a physician assistant supervised by Dr. Nathan V. Nguyen.
• Integrated care model — Orthobiologic procedures, physical therapy, and weight management under one roof, with your providers working together.
• In-person care — We examine you and follow up with you in the clinic.
• Insurance and financing options — We accept BCBS, Medicare, UHC, and Cigna for visits and other covered services; orthobiologic procedures are generally not covered. Cherry, Affirm, and CareCredit financing available for out-of-pocket costs.
• Military and law enforcement discounts — On cash-pay services. We’re proud to support those who serve.

Your Next Step

If you’re researching your options and want to understand orthobiologic procedures, a consultation is the place to start.

Schedule a consultation at Innovare Tx to discuss whether PRP, BMAC, or another orthobiologic procedure is an appropriate option for you. Call us at (214) 233-3094, email contact@innovaretx.com, or visit us at 16901 Dallas Parkway, Suite 210, Addison, TX 75001.

What is orthobiologic medicine in simple terms?

Orthobiologic medicine (sometimes called “regenerative medicine”) refers to procedures that use biologic material from your own body — such as platelets and cells from your blood or bone marrow. At Innovare Tx these procedures are autologous. PRP and BMAC are the most common examples.

Are orthobiologic procedures FDA approved?

No. PRP, PPP, BMAC, and A2M are considered investigational and are not FDA-approved for the treatment of any specific orthopedic condition, including osteoarthritis. They use your own biological material processed at the point of care, and whether one is appropriate for you is a decision to make with your provider after a clinical evaluation.

Is there a timeline for PRP or BMAC?

No timeline can be promised. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed, and some people notice no change.

Does an orthobiologic procedure hurt?

Many patients describe the procedure as uncomfortable rather than painful. We use local anesthesia to numb the area, and the injection itself takes only a few minutes. You may have soreness for a few days afterward.

How much does an orthobiologic procedure cost?

Costs vary depending on the procedure (PRP vs. BMAC) and the number of areas addressed. During your consultation at Innovare Tx, we provide a detailed cost breakdown. Because these procedures are considered investigational, most plans do not cover them, though your consultation and imaging may be. We offer Cherry, Affirm, and CareCredit financing.

How does an orthobiologic procedure fit alongside surgery?

That depends entirely on your situation, and only a clinical evaluation with imaging can clarify it. For some structural problems, surgery may be the appropriate path. We’ll give you an honest assessment of your options — orthobiologic procedures are not a substitute for a surgical recommendation when one is warranted.

Who performs orthobiologic procedures at Innovare Tx?

Charles Ortega, PA-C, MPAS, leads orthobiologic care at Innovare Tx, supervised by Dr. Nathan V. Nguyen. He has 27 years of medical experience and has been NCCPA certified since 1998. When physical therapy is indicated, it is led by Rowena Calleja, PT. Learn more about our team.