Will I be sedated? Will the procedure hurt?

Most patients feel little or no discomfort during the application. IV infusions do not require sedation: you only feel the small needle in your arm. After joint and spine injections, moderate soreness in the first 24 hours is common, and our team gives you pain medication that does not interfere with your treatment during your night at our facilities. If you are anxious about needles or pain, tell us during your consultation so the doctor can plan your comfort.

Fear of pain is one of the most common reasons patients hesitate before a regenerative treatment. The good news is that our procedures are designed with comfort in mind. This guide explains how sedation works, what you will feel during each type of procedure, what to expect afterwards and how we manage discomfort.

Why we use sedation for injections

Sedation serves two purposes:

• Your comfort: you are relaxed and do not feel the procedure as you would while fully awake.
• Precision: when you are comfortable and still, the specialist can guide the needle with ultrasound or fluoroscopy and place the cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) exactly where they are needed, including the main joint and the surrounding areas that also need treatment.

Not every procedure requires sedation. Whether yours includes it depends on the area treated and the doctor's recommendation, and your written plan specifies it. When it is used, it is administered by our medical team.

What type of sedation is it?

The sedation we use for injections is similar to the sedation used for procedures such as a colonoscopy. It is not general anesthesia:

• You breathe on your own. You do not need a breathing tube.
• You are deeply relaxed or asleep, and you do not feel pain during the application.
• You are monitored throughout, with oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure checked continuously.
• You recover faster than after general anesthesia, and the sleepy feeling wears off over a few hours.

MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, explains that with procedural sedation patients usually do not need help with their breathing and recover quickly, with normal activities resumed the next day. In our case, you rest under monitoring after the procedure and spend the night at our facilities.

What you will feel, procedure by procedure

Joint injections (knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist)

• Before: an IV line is placed and, if your procedure includes it, the sedation is given.
• During: the skin is cleaned and a local anesthetic is applied. The doctor uses ultrasound guidance to place the cells and PRP. With the local anesthetic, and sedation when indicated, most patients feel little discomfort.
• After: pressure, fullness or soreness in the joint. Many patients feel moderate to high soreness in the first 24 hours, which then improves gradually over the following days.

Spine injections

• During: with local anesthetic and, when indicated, sedation, the doctor uses fluoroscopy to reach the correct level.
• After: back soreness is common, and it can last longer than after a joint injection, sometimes a few weeks, improving gradually.

IV infusion

• During: you feel the small needle when the IV line is placed. The infusion itself is calm. Many patients read, rest or talk with the nurses.
• After: some patients feel tired or have a mild, temporary fever, which resolves on its own.

Erectile dysfunction treatment

• A numbing cream and, when needed, a small local anesthetic injection are applied. The injections are done with very fine needles in a private room.

Hair and scalp treatments

• The scalp is numbed, and most patients describe the procedure as tolerable. For hair restoration, our sister clinic TJ Hair System (opens in a new tab) offers specialized protocols.

Why some soreness after the procedure is normal

Regenerative treatments work with your body's healing response. After an injection, the treated area goes through a controlled inflammatory response, which is part of how PRP and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) act. This is why soreness or swelling in the first days is expected, and why we ask you not to take anti-inflammatory medication after the procedure.

How we manage pain after the procedure

• During your night at our facilities: the nursing team monitors you and can give you pain medication, including through your IV line, if needed.
• At home: paracetamol (acetaminophen, Tylenol) and tramadol are the only painkillers that do not interfere with your treatment. Tramadol is not appropriate for everyone, for example if you take some antidepressants or MAO inhibitors, so ask the team first.
• Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac or aspirin for pain, unless the doctor says otherwise.
• Ice and heat: do not apply ice or heat on the treated area on the day of your treatment or the following day. From the third day, you may apply heat or ice for 10 minutes and then rest for 2 to 3 hours before applying again.
• Rest: rest completely on the day of your treatment and the following day.

Before your procedure

• Come fasting on the morning of your procedure, since sedation, when used, is safer on an empty stomach. Water is allowed and encouraged.
• Tell us about your health, especially sleep apnea, heart or lung disease, previous reactions to anesthesia and all your medications.
• Tell us if you are anxious. The team can explain each step and plan your comfort.

After sedation

• Do not drive for the rest of the day.
• Avoid important decisions or signing documents until the sedation has fully worn off.
• Have assistance when walking until you feel steady.

These instructions are easy to follow, since you spend the night at our facilities and our transportation team takes you where you need to go.

Your treatment morning, step by step

1. Arrival: you arrive fasting, and the team confirms your plan and your laboratory results from the previous day.
2. Preparation: the nurses check your vital signs and place an IV line.
3. PRP preparation: for joint treatments, a small blood sample is taken to prepare your PRP.
4. Sedation, when included: the medical team gives the sedation and monitors you continuously.
5. Application: the doctor applies the cells and PRP with image guidance.
6. Recovery: you rest in the recovery area, and the team checks how you feel and controls any discomfort.
7. Rest and a meal: once you are ready, you eat and rest for the night at our facilities under nursing and medical monitoring.

When to contact the team

After you return home, contact us or seek medical care if you notice:

• Fever that is high or lasts more than two days.
• Increasing redness, heat or swelling at an injection site.
• Pain that gets worse after the first few days instead of improving.
• New weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, especially after a spine procedure.

Is sedation safe?

Sedation is a routine part of many outpatient procedures. It is administered by our medical team, with continuous monitoring. The risks are low and are reviewed with you before treatment, especially if you have sleep apnea, heart or lung disease, or a history of reactions to anesthesia.

Common questions

Will I be asleep? With the sedation used for injections, most patients are deeply relaxed or asleep and do not remember the procedure afterwards.

Do I need sedation for an IV infusion? No. IV infusions are done while you are awake and comfortable.

How long does the procedure take? Most applications take less than an hour, depending on the number of areas treated and the guidance used.

When will the sedation wear off? Usually within a few hours. You rest under monitoring and stay the night at our facilities.

What if I do not want sedation? Talk with the doctor. The medical team will explain the options for your procedure.

Will I be in pain on the flight home? Soreness is usually most noticeable in the first 24 hours and improves gradually. Your discharge instructions include how to manage it during your trip.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Will my procedure include sedation?
• What will I feel during and after the application?
• Which pain medication can I take at home?
• What should I avoid in the first days?

Bottom line

Direct injection procedures are performed with a local anesthetic and, in many cases, sedation anesthesia, so most patients feel little or no discomfort during the application, while IV infusions only involve the small needle in your arm. Soreness in the first 24 hours after injections is common and is managed with medication that does not interfere with your treatment. A medical evaluation can help determine whether this type of regenerative treatment is appropriate for your condition, goals and medical history.