Your journey typically begins with an online inquiry or phone consultation. You'll describe your condition, provide a brief medical history, and discuss your goals. A clinic coordinator will send you a questionnaire covering current medications, allergies, previous surgeries, and any relevant test results. They'll ask for copies of recent MRI scans, blood work, or imaging if available. This initial phase takes 3–7 days.
Next comes the medical review. A physician at the clinic (or partnered consultant) evaluates your records against their selection criteria. Some conditions are suitable for cell therapy; others are not, or require pre-treatment stabilisation. You'll receive a written assessment within 1–2 weeks stating whether you're a suitable candidate and what additional testing might be needed. If you're not suitable, they should explain clearly and suggest alternatives (see
candidate assessment).
If you proceed, you'll schedule a pre-treatment consultation in Sofia (or sometimes via video for initial assessment). You'll meet the medical team, undergo physical examination, blood tests, and any imaging specific to your condition. Costs vary: a basic consultation with bloodwork costs €300–800. This visit also confirms the treatment plan—which cell type, delivery method, frequency, and expected timeline.
Treatment itself takes 1–3 days, depending on the protocol. Intravenous infusions typically last 30–60 minutes per session. Local injections (for joint or tissue conditions) may be done in-clinic same-day. Intrathecal delivery (into spinal fluid) requires hospital-standard operating procedures and usually involves an overnight stay. Your clinic will provide a detailed schedule before you travel.
Immediate post-treatment: Most patients rest for 24–72 hours. You may experience mild soreness, fatigue, or local inflammation—normal responses as cells integrate. Your clinic provides aftercare instructions: activity restrictions, physiotherapy recommendations, and signs to watch (fever, severe pain, numbness). You'll receive a discharge summary documenting what was delivered, dosage, and batch numbers for your records.
Follow-up assessments happen at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment via clinic consultation or video call. You'll report any changes—functional improvement, pain reduction, or adverse effects. Some clinics include imaging or repeat blood tests; others rely on your self-reported outcomes. These consultations cost €150–400 each.
Longer-term: Many patients see measurable changes between month 2 and month 6. Some see improvement over 12 months. You can arrange further consultations or treatment cycles if clinically indicated. Your clinic should provide a summary of results and recommendations for ongoing care with your home physician.
Throughout, documentation is key. Request written reports at each stage, keep your cell therapy consent form, and obtain records of cell sourcing, quality testing, and delivery details. These support any follow-up care and help your GP understand your treatment if complications arise. Most clinics handle this automatically; ask if it's not offered.
Sources & further reading
Educational guide; most uses are investigational — consult a qualified physician. Reviewed by the StemCellAtlas editorial team.