Where will my Stem Cell Treatment be performed?

The clinic has procedure rooms for image-guided injections and IV infusions, and rooms where patients stay overnight under nursing and medical monitoring after treatment. You do not need to find your way there: our driver picks you up in the San Diego airport area, crosses the border with you and takes you to the clinic, your hotel when applicable, and back to San Diego after discharge. The cells used, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from Wharton's jelly of the umbilical cord, are prepared in a COFEPRIS-licensed laboratory under Good Manufacturing Practice standards and delivered for your scheduled treatment date.

This guide describes the location, what to expect when you arrive, how transportation works and why the setting matters for a safe treatment.

Location

• Clinic: Russald Medical, part of Grupo MedicalMex.
• Address: medical tower, Torres Plaza Agua Caliente, Floor 2, Suite CM3, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
• Distance: about 20 to 40 minutes from the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa border crossings, depending on traffic.
• Neighborhood: the Agua Caliente area is a central zone of Tijuana with medical towers, hotels, restaurants and shopping, commonly visited by medical travelers.

The exact map location is shared in your travel information before your visit.

What the facility includes

• Consultation rooms for your in-person evaluation with the doctor.
• Procedure rooms for ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided injections, intrathecal applications and IV infusions.
• Overnight rooms where patients stay after treatment with nursing and medical monitoring.
• On-site laboratory sample collection for pre-treatment blood tests.
• Imaging coordination: if you need an MRI before treatment, it can be arranged at a nearby imaging center.

How you get there

Transportation is part of most treatment plans:

1. Pickup: our driver meets you in the San Diego airport area, or at an agreed location such as your hotel in San Diego.
2. Border crossing: the driver crosses the border with you into Tijuana.
3. Clinic and hotel: you are taken to the clinic for your evaluation and, when your plan includes a hotel night, to a nearby hotel such as Grand Hotel Tijuana.
4. Return: after discharge, the driver takes you back across the border to the San Diego airport area.

Wheelchair-accessible transportation and help with luggage can be arranged in advance. If you prefer to arrange your own transportation, let the team know so your plan can be adjusted.

What a typical visit looks like

Based on the travel information our team sends to patients:

• Arrival day: arrive at the clinic in the morning, ideally between 8:00 and 11:00 am. You have blood tests, including tumor markers, complete medical forms, finalize payment and have your in-person consultation with the doctor. Afterward, you rest at your hotel.
• Treatment day: you return to the clinic in the morning, usually between 8:00 and 9:00 am, for the application. After treatment, you stay overnight at the clinic so the team can closely monitor your response.
• Discharge day: the doctor reviews how you feel, gives you written instructions and a medical report, and the driver takes you back to San Diego.

Some plans are shorter or longer depending on the treatment, and the exact schedule is confirmed in your written plan. Your coordinator stays in contact throughout the visit by phone or message, so you always know the next step, the pickup times and who will meet you. If anything changes, such as a delayed flight, the coordinator adjusts the schedule with you.

Why the setting matters

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) encourages patients to ask where a treatment will be performed, who will perform it and how safety is monitored. At our facility:

• Procedures are performed by physicians in a medical setting, with image guidance when indicated.
• Monitoring of vital signs is available during and after treatment.
• Overnight observation with nursing and medical care is part of the plan.
• Cells come from a COFEPRIS-licensed laboratory, prepared for your date.

In Mexico, establishments that handle cell therapies operate under sanitary licenses from COFEPRIS, the federal health regulator. An overview by the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) describes the Mexican regulatory framework for cell therapies.

Safety in Tijuana

Many patients ask about safety when traveling to Tijuana. Our team plans your visit so you are accompanied throughout: you are picked up by our driver, taken directly to the clinic and hotel, and returned to San Diego after discharge. The Agua Caliente area is a busy, central part of the city with many medical facilities and hotels used by international patients. As with any travel, follow your coordinator's recommendations and keep your documents and belongings secure.

Why patients choose Tijuana

Tijuana is one of the most visited medical travel destinations in North America. For patients from the United States and Canada, its main advantages are proximity, with the clinic less than an hour from the San Diego airport area; short visits, usually two or three days; and lower costs than many comparable services elsewhere. Many patients fly into San Diego in the morning and begin their evaluation the same day.

Accessibility

The medical tower has elevator access, and our team can arrange wheelchair-accessible transportation, help with transfers and rooms adapted to patients with limited mobility. If you use a wheelchair, walker or other equipment, let your coordinator know in advance so everything is ready when you arrive.

If you need an MRI

If your MRI is older than three months or does not show the area to be treated, an MRI can be scheduled at a nearby imaging center in Tijuana before your evaluation. You go directly to the imaging center at the scheduled time and then to the clinic, where the doctor reviews the images with you.

Questions patients often ask

Is the clinic inside a hospital? The clinic is located in a medical tower within the Torres Plaza Agua Caliente complex, an area with other medical facilities. Your coordinator can share details about nearby hospital services if they are relevant to your case.

Can I walk around the area? Many patients enjoy nearby restaurants and shops on their arrival day. Your coordinator can recommend options close to the clinic and hotel.

Do I need a visa or special documents? Most U.S. and Canadian citizens need only a valid passport or passport card to enter Mexico and return. Check the requirements for your nationality before traveling.

Do I need pesos? Not necessarily. Payments at the clinic can be made in U.S. dollars, and many places in the area accept cards.

What to bring

• Passport or passport card, since you will cross back into the United States.
• Medical records and imaging reports, if not already sent.
• Your medications for the whole trip plus extra days, in your hand luggage.
• Comfortable clothes and personal items for an overnight stay, such as toiletries and a phone charger.
• Walking aids, braces or medical supplies you use.
• A phone with international service or messaging apps to stay in contact with your coordinator.

Companions

A companion is welcome during your visit and can stay with you at the hotel. Ask your coordinator about arrangements for companions during the overnight stay at the clinic, which can depend on your needs and the type of treatment.

What our patients usually receive

Based on the treatment plans our team prepares, a typical plan includes the application of Wharton's jelly MSCs, PRP when indicated, one night at our facilities with nursing and medical monitoring, the consultation with your doctor and the stem cell specialist, pre-treatment laboratory tests and ground transportation from the San Diego airport area.

Questions to ask your coordinator

• Where exactly will I be picked up, and at what time?
• Will I need a hotel night before treatment?
• Can my companion stay with me at the hotel and during the overnight stay?
• What happens if my flight is delayed?
• Who should I contact during my stay if I have a question at night?

Bottom line

Stem cell treatments at Stem Cell Mexico are performed at Russald Medical, in the medical tower of Torres Plaza Agua Caliente in Tijuana, with procedure rooms, overnight rooms for monitoring and transportation from the San Diego airport area included in most plans. The cells come from a COFEPRIS-licensed laboratory, and our team accompanies you throughout your visit. A medical evaluation can help determine whether this type of regenerative treatment is appropriate for your condition, goals and medical history.