Regenerative medicine · Exosomes and PBM
Regenerative medicine Lugano
Regenerative medicine aims to repair and regenerate damaged tissue by stimulating the body's natural processes. At the practice we work with exosomes, photobiomodulation (PBM), platelet-rich plasma and growth factors, for both functional and aesthetic purposes.
- Exosomes: vesicles that carry regenerative signals between cells
- PBM: light at specific wavelengths that makes cells more receptive
- Autologous PRP, obtained from the patient's own blood
The mechanisms we work with
Cell regeneration
Cells divide and differentiate to replace damaged tissue: this is the process every regenerative treatment aims to support.
Growth factors
Proteins that drive tissue proliferation and repair: skin, cartilage, tendons and hair.
Exosomes
Small vesicles that carry proteins and molecular messages between cells, stimulating repair and regeneration without replicating cells.
Photobiomodulation (PBM)
Light at specific wavelengths that increases cellular energy production and makes cells more receptive to regenerative signals.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Prepared by centrifuging 8–30 ml of the patient's blood and injected into the damaged tissue: platelets rich in growth factors and cytokines.
Combined with laser
Laser irradiation is added to the injections to support their regenerative effect.
PBM and exosomes together
How PBM and exosomes work together
Photobiomodulation prepares the ground: it stimulates cells, increases their energy production and makes them more receptive. Exosomes then deliver the molecular messages that guide tissue regeneration.
Together they aim to improve collagen and elastin production and to support skin repair and hair growth. Clinical studies of this combination are still preliminary.
Joints and tendons
Osteoarthritis and tendinopathies, when there is an indication for a regenerative pathway.
Skin and hair
Skin rejuvenation, skin quality and volume, stimulation of hair growth.
Chronic pain
Regenerative support in conditions that do not respond to conservative treatment.
PRP in detail
How it is obtained
After drawing 8–30 ml of blood into special tubes, platelet-rich plasma is prepared by centrifugation and injected into the damaged tissue. Platelets contain large amounts of growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation, angiogenesis and the formation of connective tissue.
Why it is well tolerated
Only autologous cells from the patient's own blood are used. Thanks to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and healing effects, PRP is used in osteoarthritis, tendinopathies and skin rejuvenation, where reviews describe a generally modest benefit whose duration is not yet known.
Frequently asked questions
How many sessions are planned?
It depends on the tissue and the goal. Regenerative protocols usually involve several applications spread over time, with a clinical review halfway through. Indication, protocol and timing are defined after the specialist consultation. Photobiomodulation prepares the ground; exosomes carry the molecular messages: together, at the practice, they are used on joints, tendons, skin and hair when there is an indication.
Do exosomes replace stem cells?
No. Exosomes do not replicate cells: they are vesicles that carry proteins and molecular messages between cells and stimulate tissue repair, without multiplying cells. It is a different approach, combined at the practice with photobiomodulation because the light makes the cells more receptive to those signals.
Can cellular regeneration be booked?
No. It is the process by which cells divide and differentiate to replace damaged tissue: what PRP, exosomes and photobiomodulation aim to support. At the visit we assess which pathway is indicated.
Is the treatment painful?
Exosome or PRP injections are given with local anaesthesia or anaesthetic cream where needed; photobiomodulation is painless. PRP is obtained from 8–30 ml of the patient's blood, centrifuged and injected into the tissue being treated, using only autologous cells from their own blood.
Are regenerative treatments reimbursed?
The physician holds the RME quality label for acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and in Ticino the practice bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
When are results visible?
Regenerative processes take time and the response varies from person to person. In knee osteoarthritis, a randomised trial saw improvement with PRP within 2–3 weeks, lasting to the 6-month check (Patel 2013), but a large placebo-controlled trial found no difference after 12 months (Bennell 2021): the knee studies are collected on the PRP page.
News on this treatment
Exosomes · 1 October 2026
Exosomes: are they all the same? What a 2026 review found
A review of 70 studies: the cells of origin matter, but no source is the best overall.
Scientific sources
- Patel S, et al. Treatment with platelet-rich plasma is more effective than placebo for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41:356–364. doi:10.1177/0363546512471299
- Bennell KL, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;326:2021–2030. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19415
- Maisel-Campbell AL, et al. A systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for skin aging. Arch Dermatol Res. 2020;312:301–315. doi:10.1007/s00403-019-01999-6
- Asgari R, et al. Management of oxidative stress for cell therapy through combinational approaches of stem cells, antioxidants, and photobiomodulation. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2024;196:106715. doi:10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106715
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
Laser therapy
Laser light applied locally, in the joint or in the bloodstream, without drugs.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's plan a regenerative treatment together
Indication, protocol and timing are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable by car and by train from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
Saturday and Sunday closed
Phone
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