Cartilage does not heal the way other tissues do, so cartilage damage tends to persist or progress without intervention. At PHI in Beverly Hills, board-certified physicians Dr. Faisal Lalani and Dr. Nadiv Samimi offer PRP, A2M, stem cell, and exosome therapy to support remaining cartilage, reduce inflammation, and slow further loss, with honest framing of what regenerative medicine can and cannot do.
When Your Joint Surface Is Damaged
Cartilage damage is one of the most challenging musculoskeletal problems because cartilage does not heal the way other tissues do. Bone heals. Tendons heal. Skin heals. Cartilage, with its limited blood supply, does not have the same natural healing capacity, so damage tends to persist or progress rather than resolve.
This is part of why cartilage damage matters so much for active patients. A cartilage defect from a sports injury at 35 may contribute to early arthritis at 45. A small area of thinning at 50 may progress to severe arthritis at 60. The trajectory is not fixed, but it tends to move in one direction without active intervention. What we offer at PHI is the regenerative side of cartilage care, and we are honest about what it can and cannot do: it can support remaining cartilage, reduce inflammation that accelerates loss, address pain through tissue-level mechanisms, and sometimes support partial repair, but it typically cannot grow back significant cartilage that has already been lost.
What Cartilage Actually Is
Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue covering the ends of bones in your joints. It allows nearly frictionless movement and absorbs the loads placed on your joints during activity. Several characteristics make it different from other tissues: it has no blood vessels of its own and receives nutrients through joint fluid, its cells reproduce slowly, the cells needed for repair often cannot migrate effectively through the dense matrix, and it has a complex layered architecture that is difficult to recreate even with surgical repair.
These factors combine to create the central challenge: damaged cartilage does not reliably restore itself, and replacing it with tissue that has all the original properties is technically difficult even with sophisticated interventions.
Common Patterns of Cartilage Damage
Several patterns may bring patients to consultation. Acute chondral injury from sports, trauma, or impact damages a specific area while surrounding cartilage may be largely normal, often in younger or middle-aged patients with otherwise healthy joints. Osteoarthritis-related cartilage loss thins the cartilage gradually across larger areas (see our Hip Arthritis, Knee Arthritis, and Shoulder Arthritis pages). Post-injury degeneration develops years after a significant joint injury. Osteochondral defects involve both cartilage and underlying bone. And cartilage damage from inflammatory arthritis, where ongoing inflammation accelerates breakdown, is treated in coordination with rheumatology. The pattern affects what treatment is most appropriate.
How PHI Approaches Cartilage Damage
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation: how the damage developed, examination of the affected joint, review of imaging (MRI is typically required to evaluate cartilage), a discussion of where you are in the trajectory, and an honest assessment of whether regenerative medicine fits your situation.
Options include PRP therapy, which has the strongest evidence base for joint cartilage among regenerative options; A2M therapy, which specifically neutralizes cartilage-destroying enzymes and is particularly relevant for early-to-moderate damage where slowing further loss is part of the goal; stem cell therapy for moderate damage or after PRP and A2M, with honest framing that “stem cells regenerate cartilage” is more often a marketing claim than a clinical reality; and exosome therapy within comprehensive protocols. Some patients benefit from combinations or staged approaches over time. For patients whose specific damage may benefit from surgical repair, procedures like microfracture, autologous chondrocyte implantation, and osteochondral grafts are surgical options we coordinate with specialists, and for severe end-stage arthritis joint replacement is often the eventual answer.
When to See Someone
Consider professional evaluation when you have been told you have cartilage damage on imaging, when a joint injury has produced persistent symptoms, when you have early-to-moderate arthritis and want to slow progression, when standard treatments are not producing lasting relief, or when you are trying to delay joint replacement and want to maximize your non-surgical options.
Seek prompt evaluation if you experience an acute joint injury with significant pain, swelling, or inability to bear weight, joint locking or catching that limits motion, sudden severe pain in a previously stable joint, or signs of infection such as warmth, redness, or fever.
Why PHI for Cartilage Damage
Two board-certified physicians
Dr. Faisal Lalani and Dr. Nadiv Samimi both trained in interventional pain at Cedars-Sinai, with specific experience in regenerative options for cartilage problems.
Image-guided injections
All injections and procedures are performed by PHI physicians at our Beverly Hills practice, with image guidance on every joint injection.
Full regenerative menu
PHI offers PRP, A2M, multiple stem cell protocols, and exosome therapy. The right combination depends on your specific cartilage situation and treatment history.
A2M expertise
A2M has a specific mechanism, neutralizing cartilage-destroying enzymes, that makes it particularly relevant for cartilage care. PHI offers it as a routine part of cartilage treatment, which not every regenerative practice does.
Honest framing
Regenerative medicine for cartilage is supportive, not curative. We tell patients straightforwardly what to expect rather than overselling, and coordinate with surgical specialists for severe damage.
Concierge, coordinated care
Single-physician continuity from consultation through treatment and return to activity. Patients receive clear guidance and transparent pricing at consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally no, despite some marketing claims to the contrary. Regenerative medicine does not reliably regrow significant amounts of cartilage. What it can do is support remaining cartilage, reduce inflammation that accelerates loss, and address pain through tissue-level mechanisms. For appropriate patients this is meaningful even though it is not the same as restoring lost cartilage.
Stem cell therapy has accumulating evidence for joint cartilage applications, and many patients experience meaningful symptomatic improvement and possibly some cartilage support. The claim that stem cells reliably regenerate cartilage is more of a marketing position than a current clinical reality. We are honest about realistic expectations.
Neither is universally better. PRP delivers a broad mix of growth factors that support tissue health generally. A2M specifically targets cartilage-destroying enzymes. For some patients one fits better than the other; for others both may be appropriate at different times. Your physician will discuss which approach makes sense for your situation.
Cortisone is fastest and provides reliable short-term relief but does not address tissue-level health and may have cumulative effects on cartilage with repeated use. Regenerative treatments work over a longer time horizon, do not have the same cumulative concerns, and may support tissue health rather than only managing inflammation. Different patients fit different approaches.
This depends on the severity and progression of your cartilage damage. Many patients with mild-to-moderate damage can avoid or significantly delay replacement through appropriate regenerative care, lifestyle modifications, and other treatments. Patients with severe damage often eventually benefit from replacement, and we are honest about which category fits you.
These are surgical cartilage repair procedures performed by orthopedic specialists, appropriate for specific defect patterns, typically focal damage in younger active patients. PHI does not perform them but coordinates with surgical specialists when this evaluation is appropriate.
Yes, with appropriate adjustments. Heavy-impact activities may need modification, while low-impact activities like cycling, swimming, and walking are typically beneficial. Continued appropriate movement is one of the most important factors for cartilage health.
Regenerative treatments do not produce immediate effects. Most patients begin to notice improvement at 4 to 8 weeks, with maximum benefit typically at 3 months, and some continue to improve over 6 months or longer. This is different from cortisone, which produces fast relief that fades.
Insurance coverage and payment options may vary. Please contact our office to discuss your specific plan, available options, and pricing. All pricing is disclosed at consultation.
Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations.
Treatments We Offer for Cartilage Damage
PHI offers the full range of regenerative treatments for cartilage damage. Your physician will recommend the right option, or combination, based on your specific cartilage situation and treatment history.
- PRP Therapy, strongest evidence base among regenerative options for joint cartilage
- A2M Therapy, neutralizes cartilage-destroying enzymes
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Exosome Therapy
Schedule Your Cartilage Damage Consultation
A 60-minute consultation will identify your specific cartilage situation, walk through the regenerative options that match it, and give you a clear plan with realistic expectations. Call (310) 856-9488 or book online now.