If you're living with moderate to severe joint wear, cartilage damage, or a tendon injury that hasn't improved with rest, physical therapy, or even a previous PRP injection, you may be told that surgery is the only option left to consider. BMAC injections, or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injections, are a non-surgical treatment that uses cells collected from your own bone marrow to support your body's repair process in more advanced cases.
At Modern Edge Sports & Orthopedic Medicine, Dr. Michael Wong, DO, performs the entire BMAC procedure in our Harrison City office using the EmCyte PureBMC® system, a double-spin platform designed to concentrate cells from a small bone marrow sample collected from the hip bone. Dr. Mike uses ultrasound guidance for both the collection and the injection, and he reviews your imaging personally to determine whether BMAC treatment is an appropriate option for your joint or tendon condition.
If you'd like to learn whether BMAC therapy fits your recovery goals, our team is here to help. Request an appointment below to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mike.
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is a treatment that uses a concentrated sample of cells collected from your own bone marrow, most often from the back of the hip bone, known as the iliac crest. Bone marrow contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), along with growth factors and proteins that play a role in tissue repair and inflammation. Dr. Mike numbs the collection site with local anesthetic, then uses ultrasound guidance to collect a small marrow sample. The sample is processed in the EmCyte PureBMC® system, a double-spin concentrating platform, before being injected into the treatment area, also under ultrasound guidance.
The entire visit, from collection through injection, typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes and is performed in our office rather than a hospital or surgery center.
Bone marrow-based treatments have been studied in orthopedics for a number of years. Long-term research by Hernigou and colleagues followed patients who received bone marrow concentrate injections in arthritic joints and found that many were able to delay knee replacement surgery for an extended period, though not every patient in the studies avoided surgery altogether.
Other orthobiologic literature has examined how the concentration of progenitor cells in a BMAC preparation relates to patient-reported pain and function, suggesting that preparation quality may matter for outcomes. We share this research so you can make an informed decision, and we describe BMAC as an option that may help many patients, not a guaranteed alternative to surgery.
Dr. Mike may recommend BMAC therapy for patients with:
Dr. Mike sometimes pairs BMAC with other non-surgical treatments depending on your diagnosis. Viscosupplementation can add joint lubrication alongside a BMAC injection, shockwave therapy may be used to help prepare surrounding tissue, and for certain tendon injuries, BMAC can be delivered as part of a non-surgical tendon repair procedure.
After your procedure, our team coordinates a home exercise and rehab plan with your physical therapist to support proper healing as your tissue remodels over the following weeks and months.
Patients sometimes ask how BMAC compares with other orthobiologic options. PRP injections are often a good fit for mild to moderate joint wear, since they concentrate growth factors from a simple blood draw. BMAC is generally considered for deeper repair needs, including subchondral bone lesions (small areas of bone damage beneath the cartilage surface), because it draws on cells from bone marrow rather than blood. MFAT (Lipogems®) therapy, which uses a small sample of your own fat tissue, is often considered when joint space loss is more advanced.
Dr. Mike will recommend the option, or combination, that best fits your diagnosis and imaging.
BMAC, or bone marrow aspirate concentrate, is a concentrated sample of cells collected from your own bone marrow and injected into a damaged joint or tendon. It’s prepared using a centrifuge system that separates out the cells thought to support tissue repair. Dr. Mike performs both the collection and the injection in our office in a single visit.
BMAC injection cost is generally higher than a standard PRP injection because the bone marrow collection and processing require additional time and equipment. BMAC is typically a self-pay treatment, since insurance coverage for orthobiologic procedures is limited. Visit our insurance and self-pay information pages for general guidance, or contact our office for current pricing.
Dr. Mike numbs the collection site thoroughly with local anesthetic before the BMAC procedure begins, so most patients feel pressure rather than sharp pain during collection. The injection itself is performed with the same care and ultrasound guidance used for the aspiration. Mild soreness at the collection site for a day or two afterward is common and typically resolves on its own.
BMAC uses cells drawn from your own bone marrow, processed in our office, and reinjected the same day under a physician's care. This is different from some of the amniotic or umbilical cord-derived products marketed at medspas and wellness clinics, which are donor-derived rather than your own cells and are not the same regulated process Dr. Mike follows for BMAC. If you have questions about how a product or procedure you've seen advertised elsewhere compares, Dr. Mike is glad to talk through it during your consultation.
Recovery timelines vary from patient to patient, since BMAC works by supporting your body's own tissue repair process rather than providing immediate relief. Some patients notice initial improvement within a few weeks, while more meaningful changes in pain and function often develop gradually over one to three months. Dr. Mike will check in with you during recovery to track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
For some patients with moderate to severe joint osteoarthritis, BMAC can reduce pain and improve function enough to delay the need for joint replacement. It isn't a guaranteed alternative to surgery, and it isn't the right option for every patient or every stage of joint damage. Dr. Mike will review your imaging and history with you to talk through whether BMAC is a reasonable option in your case.
Yes. Scheduling a consultation is simple through our online booking tool, and our provider team is happy to help you find a convenient time to be seen. You can request an appointment through our online scheduling tool now, and we will follow up to confirm your visit and answer any questions before you come in.