Research Desk · Regenerative medicine

Stem cell treatments: the cost, body part by body part.

Full-body stem cell packages are sold as the next step in advanced healthcare and anti-aging. Before you budget for one, here is what each body part costs, what clinics claim, what the research shows, and what is actually approved.

Vanu Health Research Team · Updated October 2026 · Prices in USD

Translucent pearl-like cell clusters in blush pink and soft teal drifting through a cream and champagne glow (AI-generated illustration)

Interactive body map

Stem cell therapy cost per body part

Select a body part to see the price range, what clinics claim and what the evidence shows.

Knee

Not approved

U.S. clinics, per treatment: $1,150–$12,000
Abroad (Mexico), per treatment: $2,500–$9,500

A survey of 65 U.S. clinics found $1,150 to $12,000 per injection, averaging $5,156. Joint injections in Mexico are quoted at about $2,500 to $9,500.

What clinics claim

Clinics surveyed claimed an average success rate of 82%.

What the evidence shows

Reviews rate most studies at high risk of bias. In a placebo-controlled trial, bone marrow concentrate gave pain relief similar to saline. Price did not track claimed success.

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Price ranges at a glance

Per treatment, USD. Bars show the published low-to-high range.

U.S. clinicsAbroad (Mexico)

Brain and nervesU.S. No reliable figure · Abroad $8,000–$15,000
Face and skinU.S. No reliable figure · Abroad $4,000–$8,000
ShoulderU.S. $1,150–$12,000 · Abroad $3,500–$7,000
ElbowU.S. $3,000–$10,000 · Abroad No reliable figure
Hands and wristsU.S. No reliable figure · Abroad $3,500–$6,500
HipU.S. $1,150–$12,000 · Abroad $3,500–$7,000
KneeU.S. $1,150–$12,000 · Abroad $2,500–$9,500
Feet and anklesU.S. No reliable figure · Abroad $1,500–$4,500
Full body (IV)U.S. $15,000–$50,000 · Abroad $3,500–$30,000

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Advanced care, done right

Where stem cells belong in advanced healthcare

Stem cells are a genuine medical breakthrough. Blood stem cell transplants save lives in leukemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders, and regulators have authorized a small number of cell therapies, such as Prochymal for graft-versus-host disease and the cell-based gene therapies Kymriah and Yescarta for certain cancers (Health Canada, 2019).

The responsible route into newer uses is a registered clinical trial. Check Health Canada’s Clinical Trials Database (opens in a new tab) or ClinicalTrials.gov, and read the ISSCR’s patient guide (opens in a new tab). Trials are usually free to join.

For skin, the treatments with real evidence are less glamorous: daily sun protection, proven topical actives and a diet low in glycation. See Sunlight and your skin, the AGE food rankings, our ingredient library and, for emerging options, longevity supplements and light therapy devices.

Questions to ask any clinic

Is this treatment authorized by Health Canada or the FDA for my condition, or part of a registered trial?
What published, controlled evidence supports it?
Where do the cells come from, and how are they tested?
What happens, and who pays, if something goes wrong?

Questions

How much does stem cell therapy cost?

A survey of 65 U.S. clinics found knee injections cost $1,150 to $12,000, averaging $5,156. Full-body IV programs are quoted at about $15,000 to $50,000 in the U.S. and $3,500 to $30,000 or more abroad. Insurance does not cover unapproved treatments.

Is stem cell therapy approved in Canada?

Only a few cell therapies are authorized, for specific diseases such as graft-versus-host disease and certain blood cancers. Health Canada warns that other cell therapies are experimental and may only be given in an authorized clinical trial.

Do stem cells reverse skin aging?

No stem cell or exosome product is approved for skin aging, and the U.S. FDA states no exosome products are approved. Plant “stem cell” extracts in skincare are not living cells.

Should stem cell treatments be repeated regularly?

There is no trial evidence for a regular maintenance schedule. Repeat treatments multiply cost and risk without proven benefit.

Sources

General information, not medical advice. Prices are published ranges in U.S. dollars and change often. Read our terms.