Lipogems Q&A with Dr Ralph Rogers, the UK pioneer of Lipogems
Written in association with:
Sports medicine specialist
Published: 04/06/2021
Edited by: Emma McLeod
Dr Ralph Rogers was the first person to provide Lipogems treatment in the UK and he has provided the most Lipogems procedures in the UK. What’s more, he was trained by the inventor of Lipogems.
Learn from Dr Rogers about the benefits of Lipogems, an incredible minimally invasive treatment for healing muscles and joints.
How did you become a pioneer in Lipogems treatment?
I was trained by the inventor of Lipogems, Dr Carlo Tremolada, who has become a dear friend. He came to the UK to train me and I also went to Milan to undergo further training by him. And not only that, I’ve become a trainer of Lipogems within the UK and performed some training in the United States. I’ve given lectures on the topic throughout Europe, the United States, Columbia, and more countries.
What is Lipogems?
In a nutshell, Lipogems is a procedure of fat-assisted healing. ‘Lipogems’ as a named product is relatively new, but fat-assisted healing isn’t a new concept. You might be surprised to learn that fat-assisted healing has been around since World War One when fat was used to heal wounded soldiers, and it was used even before then.
How does it work?
Lipogems supports the regeneration process of tissue. Essentially, it helps to:
Repair tissue Speed up the healing process Reduce inflammation.
It achieves this by creating new blood vessels, ultimately increasing blood flow. An additional benefit is that it can decrease scarring, which is a whole other topic to discuss another time.
Who can benefit from Lipogems treatment?
What’s really interesting about Lipogems is that it’s a minimally invasive treatment. If you consider the number of patients that orthopaedic surgeons see, 80% of these patients do not need surgery. There are a whole lot of people with aches and pains, and this is where the field of regenerative medicine comes into play.
We use Lipogems to treat several issues, including:
Joints affected by arthritis Muscle and tendon injuries Post-surgery pain
It can also be used in joint preservation. If you look at a person with grade 1, 2 or 3 osteoarthritis of the knee and they’re not ready for surgery, opiates and anti-inflammatory drugs are not good alternatives. This is where Lipogems comes in as an incredible way of relieving the joint pain and postponing or avoiding surgery altogether.
What happens during Lipogems treatment?
On my YouTube channel, you can watch a video of me performing Lipogems treatment on a patient and explaining the steps.
Basically, we do the following steps:
Patients are prepared by the nurse We give the patient a small injection of local anaesthetic We extract approximately 40 to 60 ml of fat We process this fat We then inject it (with the guidance of ultrasound imaging) into the damaged tissue
What makes Lipogems such a good treatment?
If you came to see me about unbearable knee pain today, for example, I’d tell you “I can perform a minimally invasive treatment that takes 40 minutes” and you’d take it in a heartbeat. I’m not being dramatic, it’s just that quick.
Furthermore, it’s an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require extensive surgery, meaning there’s no need to stay overnight in the hospital, unlike with surgical procedures. Plus, we can use the treatment again and again because we’re using the body’s own cells.
That’s why it’s so good.
Does Lipogems require general anaesthetic?
No, you do not need a general anaesthetic. Carlo Tremolada, the inventor of Lipogems and the person who trained me, does not use it. General anaesthetic is an added expense and risk that is totally unnecessary.
Some specialists use it, but I’ve performed hundreds of Lipogems procedures and never used general anaesthetic. Instead, it should be performed with a local anaesthetic, which numbs only the area being treated. As a result, patients are wide awake, listening to music of their choice or talking to the nurses. And importantly, the risks of general anaesthetic are completely avoided.
Is Lipogems a stem cell treatment?
Lipogems is not a stem cell treatment. I can’t emphasize that enough.
What’s the difference between Lipogems and stem cell treatment?
Some may say that Lipogems is a stem cell treatment but actually, it’s not. It uses a Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC), but this cell does not act like a stem cell in our bodies. So Professor Arnold Caplan (the scientist who discovered the cell) calls it Medicinal Singling Cell (MSC) treatment, which is what I explain to patients.
Lipogems does not build cartilage. In contrast, Lipogems creates a regenerative microenvironment, which is also anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring. Additionally, this environment increases blood flow.
This is why it’s very important to differentiate between stem cells and Lipogems. Lipogems is a treatment that utilises the concept of stem cell treatment, but the way the cells act are different in our bodies.
How long do Lipogems results last?
When I was learning about Lipogems and how to use it, Carlo Tremolada said Lipogems lasts five to seven years, but I tend to tell patients that it could last three to five years.
Can I resume exercise straight after treatment?
No, wait at least two weeks to resume rehabilitation and exercise so that the tissue injected during Lipogems has a chance to settle within the joint. And then, what’s really important is that after the two weeks, you follow a rehabilitation programme. This involves a lot of strengthening exercises and working on proprioception (the body’s ability to perceive its own self-movement and body position). The end result is that the joint builds muscle mass and function, which is key for Lipogems to work.
Generally, it’s about six weeks until you can get back to sports and intense activities.
What are the possible risks of Lipogems?
The risks are minimal, and I mean extremely minimal. It’s no more than bruising and a very small risk of infection at the site of the injection, which exists with every type of injection, and of course, the treatment may not work. But that is a risk of all procedures.
I’ve personally not had any issues; it’s all about choosing the right candidate.
How can I tell if I am a suitable candidate for Lipogems?
Lipogems is an alternative to surgery for someone who:
is too young for the type of surgery they’re recommended (e.g. a knee replacement). has existing medical conditions that mean surgery isn’t suitable (e.g. diabetes, obesity or other comorbidities). is a patient who simply don’t want surgery.
For these three groups, Lipogems could be an extremely good alternative. But don’t hesitate to arrange a consultation with me and we can speak about your personal situation and preferences; Lipogems might be an incredible option for you.
Are you considering Lipogems? Dr Rogers applies the most cutting-edge treatments and techniques in his care. Arrange your first online or face-to-face consultation via his profile .