Gold Standard
Regenerative
The 15 questions patients ask most before their first visit, answered clearly and honestly.
In the United States, stem cell therapies are regulated by the FDA. Many advanced cell therapy protocols have not gone through the FDA's long and costly approval process, so they are not available to patients at U.S. clinics, even if the science behind them is strong.
Many regenerative medicine clinics are located just south of the U.S. border. Cities like Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, and Chihuahua have government-licensed (COFEPRIS) facilities run by licensed physicians. These treatments are not FDA-approved, and patients in the American Southwest can often travel there in a single day.
Gold Standard Regenerative connects patients with licensed partner clinics in these cities because that is where certain treatments are legally available and regulated under the local framework, such as Mexico's COFEPRIS. These treatments are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We encourage you to review the regulatory status of any treatment and discuss it with a licensed physician.
PRP uses concentrated platelets from your own blood to deliver growth factors to a target area. It works well for mild conditions and is relatively easy to access.
Stem cell therapy, exosomes, and placenta extract are much more advanced. They deliver living cells, cell-derived signals, or concentrated growth factor packages that activate healing pathways PRP cannot reach. They work through different biological pathways than PRP, and the most appropriate option depends on your condition and is determined by the treating physician.
Most insurance plans in the United States do not cover regenerative cell therapies. Insurers typically classify them as elective or investigational.
Many patients pay using Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds. We can provide documentation to support your reimbursement claim. Full treatment costs are shared openly during your consultation.
Candidacy is determined individually by the independent treating physician, not by GSS, and only after a medical evaluation of your full history and current medications. Certain conditions, such as active cancer, an active systemic infection, or the use of some immune-suppressing medications, may make a person ineligible. This is not a complete list, and only a licensed physician can determine whether treatment is appropriate for you.
Other health concerns are reviewed one by one during your consultation. The treating provider makes the decision based on your specific situation, not a blanket policy.
All donor cell products used at GSS come from regulated tissue banks that perform thorough donor screening, sterility testing, and cell quality checks before release. Donors are screened for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and other infections. You can request documentation for the exact product used in your treatment.
Mesenchymal stem cells are considered immune-privileged, meaning they are less likely to trigger an immune rejection response and typically do not require tissue matching. As with any medical procedure, some risk remains and individual responses vary.
Most patients feel mild pressure with little to no pain. A numbing agent is applied to the injection site beforehand. Mild soreness for 24 to 72 hours after treatment is normal and expected. It is a sign that the healing process is active, not a sign of damage.
From arrival to departure, most visits take 1 to 2 hours. The injection itself takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many areas are treated. No general anesthesia is used and no overnight stay is required. Most patients drive themselves home afterward.
Most patients notice early changes within 2 to 4 weeks. Healing is gradual by nature. Peak benefit from stem cell therapy typically comes at 3 to 6 months as cells settle in and the repair process matures. Exosome and placenta extract protocols often show results faster, within 4 to 8 weeks.
The treating provider will give you realistic expectations specific to your condition during your consultation.
Most medications are fine to continue during treatment. The main exceptions are high-dose steroids, which can reduce stem cell activity, and certain immune-suppressing drugs. The treating provider will review your full medication list and may ask you to pause specific ones before your treatment.
Never stop a prescribed medication without your doctor's guidance.
Most patients return to light activity the same day. Avoid hard exercise, anti-inflammatory pain medications like ibuprofen or naproxen, and alcohol for 5 to 7 days after treatment. These can slow down the healing signals your body needs to repair.
We give you a written post-care plan at your treatment visit.
Not sure whether this applies to your case? Candidacy is determined by medical review of your history and imaging, not by a form. The consultation is complimentary.
See If You QualifyAbout 15 to 20% of patients do not see the response they hoped for after the first treatment. In most cases, the plan can be adjusted: higher dosing, adding another therapy, or doing a second treatment cycle. The treating provider tracks your progress at follow-up visits and makes changes based on what they see.
Results are not guaranteed. They depend on how severe your condition is, your overall health, and how well you follow the post-care plan. The treating provider will be honest about what to realistically expect before treatment starts.
Results vary from person to person and are not guaranteed. Some patients report improvement that lasts for an extended period, while others benefit from maintenance treatments over time. Because ongoing or whole-body conditions tend to progress, follow-up care is sometimes recommended. Your treating physician can discuss what to expect in your specific situation.
How long results last depends on how severe your condition is, your lifestyle choices, and whether the root cause of the problem has been addressed.
Some patients choose to do a second round of treatment, especially for progressive degenerative conditions. Whether additional treatment is appropriate, and its timing, is decided with the treating physician based on your individual response.
The treating provider determines the right timing and plan for any follow-up treatments.
Dosing is a medical decision made solely by the independent treating physician, based on your condition, your evaluation, and clinical judgment. GSS does not select doses or provide medical dosing guidance. Any questions about cell counts or dosing should be directed to the treating physician during your consultation.
The treating provider chooses the dose based on your condition and biology, not based on price. The goal is always the smallest dose that works effectively for you.
Bring any imaging from the past 2 years, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. Also bring a current list of all your medications and supplements, records of any previous treatments for the same condition, and a list of your goals and questions.
The more information you bring, the better the treating provider can tailor your treatment plan at the very first visit.
Bring your questions to your consultation. The independent physicians welcome the details. It helps them build a better plan for you.
See If You Qualify →Medically reviewed by Dr. Karla Chavira, MD, Regenerative Medicine Physician and CEO of CMCells (Cédula Profesional on file).
Last reviewed: July 2026