Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative Medicine in Traverse City, MI from Board-Certified Doctors
Personalized treatment options for pain, injuries, and arthritis, with physician-led evaluations for Northern Michigan residents at our Grand Rapids and Rochester Hills offices.
★ 4.7 Google rating · Board-certified physicians · Rochester Hills & Grand Rapids
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine includes treatments intended to support the body’s own repair processes, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, and bone marrow concentrate. These approaches are not interchangeable. Whether one fits depends on your diagnosis, and research findings vary by treatment and condition.
Regenerative Medicine for Traverse City Patients
Pain can change how you work, sleep, exercise, and enjoy Northern Michigan. When symptoms persist, understanding your treatment options is an important step forward.
For people researching regenerative medicine in Traverse City, MI, the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine offers individualized evaluations and treatment at its Grand Rapids and Rochester Hills offices. Whether you are recovering from an injury or managing a degenerative condition, your care should begin with a thorough assessment, not a predetermined procedure.
The goal is straightforward: understand what is causing your symptoms, explain appropriate options, and help you make informed decisions.
Experienced Board-Certified Physicians. Coordinated Care.
Locally owned and operated in Michigan, the practice brings more than 17 years of experience in regenerative orthobiologics, pain management, and functional medicine. Choosing a practice means choosing the people responsible for your evaluation, treatment, and follow-up.
Our board-certified physicians include Kevin M. Nemeth, MD, and Christopher Hannasch, DO, who see patients at our Grand Rapids office Monday through Friday, along with Thomas Nabity, MD; Robert Farhat, DO; John Steele, MD; and John Santa Ana, DO.
Experience matters when determining whether an injection-based treatment is appropriate, whether additional testing is necessary, or whether another approach would better serve your needs. Nurses and medical support professionals help coordinate care, answer questions, and guide you or a loved one through each step.
Regenerative Medicine Treatment Options
Regenerative medicine is not one treatment. It includes different approaches, each with its own applications, limitations, and suitability requirements. They are not interchangeable, and the best choice depends on your diagnosis, the evidence for treatment, and your individual circumstances.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is prepared from a sample of your own blood. Processing concentrates platelets, which contain signaling proteins involved in the body’s healing response. PRP may be considered for selected tendon problems and certain joint conditions. Research findings vary by diagnosis, preparation method, and treatment protocol, and improvement, when it occurs, may develop gradually.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy involves injections, commonly using a dextrose solution, around selected musculoskeletal structures to stimulate a local healing response. It may be discussed for certain persistent tendon, ligament, or joint-related symptoms. Evidence remains limited for some applications, so understanding the uncertainties is part of consent.
Bone Marrow Concentrate and Stem Cell-Based Procedures
Patients often ask about stem cell therapy. Our practice offers advanced bone marrow concentrate, which contains a mixture of cells and other components; it is not the same as a purified stem cell product. Before proceeding, ask exactly what material is proposed, how it is obtained, its regulatory status, and what evidence supports its use. Stem cell products are not FDA-approved for orthopedic conditions such as arthritis or disc degeneration, and these procedures should not be presented as ways to regrow cartilage or reverse degeneration.
Our physicians perform injections using ultrasound or fluoroscopic imaging guidance. Ultrasound provides real-time views of many soft tissues, and fluoroscopy uses X-ray imaging to help visualize targeted structures. Guidance supports accurate placement, but it does not guarantee a successful outcome.
Who May Be a Good Candidate?
A treatment plan should begin with questions. When did symptoms start? What makes them worse? Have physical therapy, medication, or previous procedures helped? Are there medical conditions that could affect recovery?
People exploring regenerative medicine in Traverse City often include:
- Adults with persistent joint, tendon, or ligament symptoms that limit work, exercise, or sleep
- Active people recovering from a sports injury or repetitive strain
- Patients with arthritis who want to discuss non-surgical options
- People with lingering musculoskeletal pain after an auto accident
Similar symptoms can have very different causes. Knee pain may involve arthritis, a tendon injury, or another problem. Back discomfort does not always originate from a spinal disc. Reviewing your history, examination findings, and appropriate imaging helps determine the next step. Sometimes that step is an injection; sometimes rehabilitation, additional testing, another specialist, or surgical consultation is more appropriate.
Diabetic neuropathy and spinal disc degeneration deserve particular care. Managing diabetes, protecting the feet, and evaluating circulation and nerve health remain essential, and regenerative procedures should not replace established diabetes or neuropathy care or be presented as a way to rebuild worn discs.
What to Expect: Recovery and Results
Good care extends beyond the procedure itself. You receive clear preparation instructions, an opportunity to ask questions, and an explanation of what happens afterward. Our physicians work with nursing and medical support staff, and our own Metro Detroit surgery center supports coordinated procedural care when appropriate.
Recovery varies. Some patients need temporary activity modifications or a structured rehabilitation plan; others may need reassessment if symptoms persist. Temporary soreness, bruising, or swelling may occur after an injection, and infection, bleeding, and injury to surrounding structures are additional potential risks. No responsible provider can promise a particular result, but a coordinated team supports continuity, communication, and timely attention throughout your care.
Insurance and Treatment Costs
Some procedures may be covered by insurance, depending on the service, diagnosis, plan requirements, and medical necessity. Many regenerative treatments, including PRP and cell-based procedures, are commonly self-pay.
Ask for a benefits review and a written cost estimate before scheduling, and ask which services will be submitted to your insurer. Coverage for a consultation does not necessarily mean coverage for the proposed treatment. See insurance accepted and our guide to PRP treatment cost in Michigan for more information.
Visiting From Traverse City
Our Grand Rapids office at 1000 E Paris Ave SE, Suite 221, is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Traverse City, and our practice also operates its own surgery center in Metro Detroit. Confirm where your evaluation and any procedures will take place, and ask about medical records, travel timing, and follow-up arrangements.
We welcome inquiries from Michigan residents, patients elsewhere in the United States, and Canadian patients. You do not need to choose a treatment before speaking with a physician. Call the Grand Rapids office at (616) 288-1109 or the Rochester Hills office at (248) 216-1008 to discuss your symptoms, ask about candidacy, and arrange an evaluation.
Conditions
Conditions Our Physicians Evaluate
Regenerative treatments may be considered for selected joint, tendon, and spine problems. Your evaluation determines which option, if any, fits your diagnosis.
Knee arthritis and old injuries can limit walks and stairs. An exam shows which options fit.
Shoulder symptoms can come from tendons, the joint or nerves, so diagnosis comes first.
Back discomfort does not always start in a disc. Careful evaluation guides the next step.
Hip, elbow and ankle concerns are reviewed with your history, exam and imaging.
Lingering problems after a sports injury or car accident get a full evaluation.
Neuropathy, tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and more. Browse every condition we evaluate.
Patient reviews
What Our Patients Say
In Their Words
We were amazed at how thorough the explanation of the recommended procedure was. I knew just what would happen and what I was agreeing to.
Steve G. Regenerative medicine patient
This doctor is very professional, using layman’s terms and taking his time with my parents to fully explain everything, and in answering all our questions!
Rosanna Windsor, Ontario · Family of a stem cell patient
Dr Nabity answered every question/concerns I had prior to the procedure in detail. If you leave a message for him he always calls you back himself.
Connie H. New Baltimore, MI · Stem cell patient
Excerpts from our patient testimonials.
Individual results vary. Reviews reflect each patient’s own experience.
Your visit
Your Path to Treatment
Most visits follow four simple steps. Our team guides you through each one and answers questions along the way.
1. Consultation
Meet your physician, talk through your symptoms, and review your history and goals.
2. Diagnosis & Imaging
Ultrasound or other imaging helps identify the source of your pain.
3. Treatment
If PRP fits your plan, your physician provides image-guided treatment in our clinic.
4. Follow-Up
Check-ins track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Our physicians
Meet Your Care Team
Thomas Nabity, MD
Board-certified physician
John Santa Ana, DO
Board-certified physician
Robert Farhat, DO
Board-certified physician
Kevin M. Nemeth, MD
Board-certified physician
John Steele, MD
Board-certified physician
Christopher Hannasch, DO
Board-certified physician
Credentials & memberships
Training You Can Look Up
Board certification shows a physician completed specialty training and passed independent exams. Our physicians go further, with added certifications and memberships in orthobiologics, musculoskeletal ultrasound and electrodiagnostic medicine. Each program is run by an independent organization, so you can see exactly what it requires.
PM&R Board Certification
Board certification in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the specialty focused on restoring function.
Pain Medicine Board Certification
Board certification in pain medicine, covering evaluation and treatment of complex pain conditions.
IOF Certification Courses
Advanced knee, hip and spine certification courses in image-guided orthobiologic procedures.
IOF Instructors & Training Hub
Our physicians teach other doctors as IOF instructors, and our Rochester Hills clinic hosts training.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Certified in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, the imaging used to guide our treatments.
Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Board certification in electrodiagnostic medicine, the specialty behind EMG and nerve testing.
American Academy of PM&R
The national society for physiatrists, physicians focused on restoring movement.
Interventional Pain (ASIPP)
A society that sets education and practice standards for interventional pain medicine.
Orthopaedic Medicine (AAOM)
A physician group focused on non-surgical musculoskeletal care, including prolotherapy.
DataBiologics Registry
We report patient outcomes to a national orthobiologics registry to track results over time.
Patient stories
Hear From Our Patients
Patients describe their own experiences with care at the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine. Individual results vary.
Patient Testimonial
Patient Testimonial
FAQ
Regenerative Medicine Questions
Answers to common questions from Traverse City and Northern Michigan patients. Your physician can address your specific situation during a consultation.
What is regenerative medicine?
Regenerative medicine includes approaches intended to support the body’s repair processes, such as PRP, prolotherapy, and bone marrow concentrate. They are not interchangeable, and the right option, if any, depends on your diagnosis.
Which treatment is right for me?
That depends on your evaluation. Your physician reviews your history, exam findings, and imaging, then explains which options are reasonable, which are not, and what alternatives exist.
Are the injections image-guided?
Yes. Our physicians use ultrasound or fluoroscopic imaging guidance to help visualize anatomy and guide placement. Guidance supports accurate placement, but it does not guarantee a successful outcome.
Is stem cell therapy FDA-approved?
Stem cell products are not FDA-approved for orthopedic conditions such as arthritis or disc degeneration. Ask exactly what material is proposed, how it is obtained, its regulatory status, and what evidence supports its use.
Is regenerative medicine covered by insurance?
Some services may be covered depending on your plan and diagnosis, but many regenerative treatments, including PRP and cell-based procedures, are commonly self-pay. Request a written estimate before scheduling.
What are the possible side effects?
Temporary soreness, bruising, or swelling may occur. Infection, bleeding, and injury to surrounding structures are additional potential risks. Your care team explains the procedure and aftercare before you decide.
How soon may I notice improvement?
Improvement, when it occurs, may develop gradually rather than immediately, and results vary from person to person. Follow-up visits help assess progress and adjust your plan.
Can regenerative medicine help neuropathy?
Regenerative procedures should not replace established diabetes or neuropathy care. Evaluation focuses on contributing causes, diabetes management, and whether coordinating with other specialists makes sense.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Bring relevant imaging, previous treatment records, a medication list, and your questions and goals. Do not stop prescribed medication without instructions from the prescribing clinician.
Which clinic is closest to Traverse City?
Our Grand Rapids office at 1000 E Paris Ave SE, Suite 221, is about two and a half hours from Traverse City. Call (616) 288-1109 to ask about appointment options and planning your visits.
Keep learning
Related Regenerative Medicine Articles
Article
Traveling to Get Better Care: Welcoming Out-of-Town Patients
What to know about planning your visits when you travel from elsewhere in Michigan or beyond.
Read the articleArticle
What to Try Before Knee Replacement Surgery
A physician’s guide to non-surgical options worth discussing before deciding on knee replacement.
Read the articleArticle
Prolotherapy Explained: The Original Regenerative Treatment
How prolotherapy works, who may consider it, and how it compares with other options.
Read the articleNext step
Find Out if Regenerative Medicine Is Right for You
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Meet a board-certified physician in Grand Rapids or Rochester Hills.
★ 4.7 Google ratingBoard-certified physiciansTwo Michigan clinics
Prefer to talk? Rochester Hills (248) 216-1008 · Grand Rapids (616) 288-1109
Free webinar replay
Watch: Regenerative Medicine for Arthritis and Injury Repair
Watch the replay of our physicians’ webinar on regenerative options for arthritis and injuries.
Our physicians host free webinars with live Q&A. Watch any past webinar on demand, or call us to ask about the next date.
Our locations
Visit Our Michigan Clinics
Rochester Hills Clinic
355 Barclay Cir, Suite A
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Grand Rapids Clinic
1000 E. Paris Ave SE, Suite 221
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Areas we serve
Regenerative Medicine Near You
Patients visit our Rochester Hills and Grand Rapids clinics from across Michigan.
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