Regenerative Medicine in Miami
Regenerative medicine is a rapidly advancing field that uses your body’s own biologic materials to promote healing, reduce pain, and restore function in damaged joints, tendons, ligaments, and other musculoskeletal structures. Rather than simply masking symptoms with medications or replacing joints with surgery, regenerative treatments work with your body’s natural repair processes to address the underlying cause of pain and degeneration.
At our Miami clinic, Dr. William Bonner specializes in regenerative medicine as part of the Regenexx network — the world’s most advanced network of physicians dedicated to interventional orthopedics and regenerative treatments. Every procedure is performed under precise image guidance to ensure your treatment is delivered exactly where it needs to go.
What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine encompasses a range of treatments that use biologic materials — typically sourced from your own body — to stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and improve the environment within damaged joints and soft tissues. These treatments are sometimes referred to as orthobiologics or stem cell therapy, though the field is broader than any single technique.
The core principle behind regenerative medicine is simple: instead of removing damaged tissue or replacing a joint, we deliver concentrated healing factors directly to the site of injury to support and accelerate your body’s own repair mechanisms. Key goals of regenerative treatment include:
- Reducing chronic inflammation that drives pain and joint deterioration
- Stimulating repair of damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bone
- Improving the biological environment within a joint to slow degenerative processes
- Delaying or eliminating the need for surgery, including joint replacement
- Helping patients return to activity with less pain and better function
Regenerative Treatments We Offer
Dr. Bonner offers two primary regenerative medicine treatments, both of which use your own biologic material and are performed under advanced image guidance:
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP therapy involves drawing a sample of your own blood, concentrating the platelets and growth factors using a centrifuge, and injecting the resulting solution directly into the damaged area. Platelets contain hundreds of bioactive proteins that play a critical role in tissue healing, inflammation reduction, and cellular repair.
PRP is commonly used for:
- Mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, shoulder, and other joints
- Tendon injuries and tendinopathies (rotator cuff, tennis elbow, Achilles, plantar fasciitis)
- Ligament injuries and partial tears
- Muscle injuries
- As a complement to bone marrow concentrate therapy for comprehensive treatment
→ Learn more about PRP therapy
Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMAC) Stem Cell Therapy
Bone marrow concentrate therapy involves collecting a small sample of bone marrow from the back of the pelvis, concentrating the stem cells, platelets, and growth factors, and injecting the concentrate into the site of damage. BMAC contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have the ability to support tissue regeneration and repair at a level beyond what PRP alone can achieve.
BMAC is commonly used for:
- Moderate to advanced osteoarthritis
- Bone marrow lesions
- Larger cartilage defects and chondral injuries
- Hip osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis)
- Cases where PRP alone has provided incomplete relief
- Structural injuries requiring a more potent regenerative approach
→ Learn more about bone marrow concentrate stem cell therapy
Comparing Our Regenerative Treatments
| PRP Therapy | BMAC Stem Cell Therapy | |
| Source | Blood draw from arm | Bone marrow from pelvis |
| Key Components | Concentrated platelets and growth factors | Stem cells, platelets, cytokines, and growth factors |
| Best Suited For | Mild to moderate injuries, tendinopathies, early arthritis | Moderate to advanced degeneration, bone marrow lesions, larger injuries |
| Procedure Time | 1–2 hours | 1–2 hours |
| Can Be Combined | Yes — often used alongside BMAC | Yes — often used alongside PRP |
| Image Guided | Always — ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy | Always — ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy |
Dr. Bonner will evaluate your condition, imaging, and goals to recommend the most appropriate treatment — or a combination of both — for your specific situation.
Why Consider Regenerative Medicine?
Traditional approaches to musculoskeletal pain often focus on symptom management rather than healing. Pain medications mask symptoms without addressing the underlying damage. Cortisone injections suppress inflammation temporarily but may accelerate tissue breakdown with repeated use. Surgery, while sometimes necessary, involves significant downtime, risk, and is irreversible.
Regenerative medicine offers a fundamentally different approach:
- Treats the underlying cause of pain, not just the symptoms
- Uses your own biologic material — no synthetic drugs, no implants, no immune rejection risk
- Minimally invasive — performed in-office with no general anesthesia, no incisions, no hospital stay
- Supports your body’s natural healing rather than bypassing it
- Can be used for a wide range of joint, tendon, ligament, and bone conditions
- May help patients delay or avoid surgery, including joint replacement
Conditions We Treat With Regenerative Medicine
Our regenerative medicine treatments may be appropriate for patients with:
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Bone marrow lesions
- Meniscus tears
- ACL injuries
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Hip osteonecrosis
- Hip labral tears
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder osteoarthritis
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ankle and foot tendon and ligament injuries
- Sports injuries across all joints
Why Choose a Regenexx Provider?
Not all regenerative medicine is the same. The quality of your treatment depends on how the biologic material is processed, how precisely it is delivered, and the experience of the physician performing the procedure. As a Regenexx network provider, Dr. Bonner offers critical advantages that set our clinic apart:
- Proprietary lab processing that produces higher concentrations of platelets and stem cells than standard commercial kits
- Every procedure performed under advanced image guidance (ultrasound and fluoroscopy) for precise delivery — never blind injections
- The largest patient outcome registry in regenerative orthopedics, allowing continuous refinement of treatment protocols
- A physician network focused exclusively on interventional orthopedics and regenerative medicine
- Over a decade of published research and clinical experience supporting the Regenexx approach
- Customizable treatment formulations tailored to each patient’s specific condition and goals
This matters because many clinics advertise “stem cell therapy” using amniotic tissue or umbilical cord products that do not contain live stem cells. Others use basic, off-the-shelf PRP kits with minimal processing and perform injections without image guidance. The Regenexx approach is evidence-based, physician-driven, and focused on outcomes — not marketing.
What to Expect at Your Regenerative Medicine Consultation
Your first visit with Dr. Bonner focuses on determining whether regenerative medicine is appropriate for your condition and, if so, which treatment approach will give you the best outcome. The consultation typically includes:
- A thorough review of your medical history, symptoms, and treatment history
- Physical examination focused on the area of concern
- Review of your imaging (MRI, X-ray) — bring any recent studies you have
- Discussion of your activity goals and expectations
- An honest assessment of whether regenerative medicine is a realistic option for your situation
- A personalized treatment recommendation, including which procedure (PRP, BMAC, or a combination) is most appropriate
Dr. Bonner believes in giving patients straightforward information so they can make informed decisions. Not every patient is a candidate for regenerative medicine, and he will tell you honestly if other treatments would be more appropriate for your condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Regenerative Medicine
Is regenerative medicine safe?
When performed by a trained specialist using your own biologic materials and under image guidance, regenerative treatments are generally considered safe. Because PRP and BMAC use your own cells, there is no risk of immune rejection or allergic reaction. Minor risks include temporary soreness or bruising at the procedure site.
How do I know if I need PRP or bone marrow concentrate?
This depends on the type and severity of your condition. PRP is often appropriate for milder injuries and early arthritis, while BMAC may be recommended for more advanced degeneration or larger structural injuries. Dr. Bonner will evaluate your imaging and symptoms to make a specific recommendation. In many cases, a combination of both treatments provides the best outcome.
Is this the same as the “stem cell therapy” I see advertised?
Not usually. Many clinics advertise stem cell therapy using amniotic tissue or umbilical cord products, which research has shown do not contain live, viable stem cells. Our bone marrow concentrate therapy uses your own living stem cells, harvested and concentrated the same day, following evidence-based Regenexx protocols. This is an important distinction.
Will my insurance cover regenerative medicine?
Most regenerative medicine procedures are not currently covered by insurance. Our office provides transparent pricing during your consultation. Many patients view these treatments as an investment in avoiding the higher cost and recovery time of surgery.
How long until I see results?
Most patients begin noticing improvement within 4–6 weeks, with continued progress over 3–6 months as the regenerative process takes effect. Recovery timelines vary depending on the condition treated and the specific procedure performed.
Can regenerative medicine help me avoid surgery?
For many patients, regenerative treatments can delay or eliminate the need for surgery, including joint replacement. However, outcomes depend on factors like the severity of the condition, overall health, and commitment to post-procedure rehabilitation. Dr. Bonner will give you a realistic assessment.
What makes Dr. Bonner qualified to perform these procedures?
Dr. Bonner is board certified in both Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. He is a Regenexx network provider, meaning he has completed advanced training in regenerative orthopedic procedures and follows the most rigorously developed protocols in the field. Every procedure is performed under image guidance for precision and safety.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are dealing with chronic joint pain, arthritis, a tendon or ligament injury, or another musculoskeletal condition and want to explore non-surgical regenerative treatment options, we are here to help.
Contact our Miami clinic to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bonner, or book online through ZocDoc for available appointment times (if you do not see availability, please reach out to us directly at 786-522-4959).