Regenerative Medicine in Los Angeles

Regenerative medicine is a fairly new field of study that focuses on developing and applying new treatments to heal organs and tissues, as well as restore function due to disease, injuries, defects, or ageing by stimulating the body’s own regenerative capabilities. The human body has the natural ability to heal itself in many ways. For example, the liver can grow back to its original size after transplantation and our skin can repair itself after a cut. Regenerative medicine holds the promise of using this naturally occurring ability for a wide range of conditions. 

Regenerative medicine encompasses a broad range of scientific disciplines, including molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and immunology. It goes beyond disease management to search for and discover therapies that can support the body in repairing, restoring, and regenerating itself to a state of well-being. The main goal of regenerative medicine is to find a way to cure formerly untreatable diseases and injuries. 

Regenerative medicine can help facilitate healing in numerous conditions. These include, but are not limited to:

• Cancer and blood-related diseases, such as lymphoma, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and neuroblastoma.Musculoskeletal and spine injuries, such as cartilage loss, disc degeneration, mild to moderate osteoarthritis, muscle strain, tendonitis, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
• Nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple system atrophy.
• Cosmetic reasons, such as to improve skin health and anti-ageing.

The following are some of the most common regenerative medicine procedures available today:

• Stem cell therapy
• Bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant)
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
• Prolotherapy
• Surgeries for cartilage regeneration.

How Long Should I Stay in Los Angeles?

Your length of stay depends on the type of regenerative procedure you have and your specific condition. For most procedures, such as prolotherapy, stem cell therapy, and PRP, you should be able to leave Los Angeles on the same day. However, it is still recommended that you stay for at least 3 days before you travel home. This is because, in some cases, your doctor may schedule a follow-up appointment to see how your body is reacting to the treatment. After a bone marrow transplant, you may want to stay in Los Angeles for at least 4 weeks. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

If you undergo stem cell therapy, PRP, or prolotherapy following an injury or for a disease, you may be recommended to rest for a few days, but these recommendations are more related to the injury/diseases and less to the procedure. For other types of regenerative medicine procedures, such as bone marrow transplants, the recovery time can take weeks and even months. Your doctor will likely give you a specific recovery timeline.

What Aftercare is Required?

Aftercare instructions specifically designed for your conditions will be given to you by your doctor. You must follow all of the instructions to get optimum results and avoid complications. Depending on your injury or disease, you may need to attend lifelong regular checkups. If you cannot travel to Los Angeles regularly for the checkups, you should be able to do the checkups with your local doctor at home.

What's the Success Rate?

When performed by qualified professionals, regenerative medicines are proven to be safe and effective. Regenerative medicine is still relatively new, so more research is needed. However, the field has made significant progress and has been proven to have high success rates. All kinds of medical procedures carry some potential risks. With regenerative medicine, the risks include infection, nerve injuries, and tissue damage.

Are there Alternatives?

The alternatives can be different for everyone, depending on the injury/disease and its extent. For example, those with osteoarthritis may undergo joint replacement surgery as an alternative.

Regenerative Medicine in and around Los Angeles

About Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles, often called by its initials L.A., is the second-most populous city in the United States. It is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. This sprawling metropolis is best known as home to Hollywood, natural beauty, and its Mediterranean climate. Near-perfect weather, clear blue skies, mountains, and sunny beaches beckon tourists from all around the globe to visit. In 2018, 50 million people visited this city, and among those visitors were medical tourists. The cost of medical treatment in the US may be rising, but with well-trained medical professionals, cutting-edge technology, world-class medical centers, and a wide range of procedures, people from all over the world still seek to get treated in Los Angeles. The city is widely known to have some of the best surgeons as well as some of the best medical centers in the world. 

Popular Areas in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a lot to offer, and there is something to suit everyone in this beautiful city. Many people will start their travel by seeing the infamous Hollywood sign and visiting Hollywood Boulevard to enjoy the Walk of Fame. However, there is so much more in the city than Hollywood. The following are some of the top sites to see in Los Angeles.

• Venice Beach comprises a variety of artistic venues, exclusive boutiques, and surfers. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun. The much-admired Venice Breakwater is a famous local surfer spot where the waves break on both sides. Take a stroll at the Venice Boardwalk to discover the most diverse ocean front walk in the world. Here, tourists will find numerous restaurants, spas, street entertainers, artists magicians, and skaters.
• Disneyland in Anaheim is less than 30 miles from Los Angeles. It is called the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Take a day trip here and enjoy the rides, such as the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain. In the park, tourists are encouraged to immerse themselves in the enchanting worlds of Disney stories and feel like a kid.
• Getty Center has a stellar art collection of photographs, drawings, manuscripts, and pre-20th-century European paintings. Tourists can see famous paintings such as Wheatstacks by Monet, Irises by Van Gogh, and The Abduction of Europa by Rembrandt from up-close. Besides the art, the architecture of this museum is fascinating, which was designed by Richard Meier. On clear days, tourists are able to get spectacular views of the city and ocean.
• Griffith Park is the second-largest park in the United States. It is a great place for picnics and to hang around with friends. For an incredible view of the city, follow the hiking trails that lead up to Mulholland Drive. Tourists can also enjoy the LA Zoo, The Space Observatory, and the Autry Western Museum.

Weather and Climate in Los Angeles

Los Angeles enjoys a Mediterranean climate and has plenty of sunshine throughout the year. 

• Spring months from March to May is known to be the best time to visit the city since the weather is pleasant. There will be loads of sunshine and minimal rain during this season. The average temperature is around 21 °C, but it can be much cooler near the ocean. 
• Summer comes in June and ends in August. It is also the peak tourist season, so expect the tourist areas to be crowded. Gray fog overruns the city in June, particularly in the early mornings. Generally, the weather is warm and sunny during this season, which allows tourists to enjoy the beaches. Note that the temperature can get unbearably hot inland.
• Autumn is from September to November. The weather starts to cool down, and the summer heat subsides, with the average temperature hovering around 23 °C. However, November is the start of Los Angeles’ rainy season.
• Winter is from December to February, and rain is prevalent during these months. The weather is still pleasantly mild, but it will be rainier than usual in February. 

Getting Around in Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport or mostly referred to as LAX is the primary international airport in the city. It serves a number of domestic and international flights to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Both major and budget airlines operate flights from the airport. JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines are some of the low-cost carries tourists can choose for budget travel. From the airport, FlyAway bus, taxi, or car hire are available to get to the city center.

The best way to travel around Los Angeles is to hire a car, but if you want to avoid the hassle of driving, you can always hire a car and driver. Nevertheless, using public transportation is a lot more cost-effective. The city has a Metro Rail subway system, but the routes are still limited. You can purchase a pass at the self-service machines at each station. The pass is also valid for the city buses. The best alternative is to ride a public bus. The public bus travels to the entire city and charges the same fares as the metro. If you want to visit several attractions, there are a variety of sightseeing bus tours that can save you from the trouble of figuring out the public bus routes.

Taxis are available, but they can be expensive since LA is big and has bad traffic. The fares are metered and can be organized over the phone. Uber, UberX, and Lyft are popular in Los Angeles.    

Tourists Visas in Los Angeles

Visa exemption and visa waiver program are available for 42 countries, including Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Canada. Holders of passports that are not listed in the visa exemption or visa waiver agreement need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country. The visa is generally valid for 90 days. It is advisable to visit the nearest United States Embassy to learn about the visa policy.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the US dollar ($). It is the world’s primary reserve currency and used in most international transactions.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widely available, and credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, hotels, and shops. Cards are required for reservations. Tipping is not optional, tip 18% to 20% in restaurants.
3. Local Language: English is the most widely spoken language, but since Los Angeles is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, there are 223 other languages spoken. These languages include Korean, Filipino, Chinese, Armenian, and Persian.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The largest religion in Los Angeles in Roman Catholicism, followed by Judaism. Smaller groups of Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and several other religions.
5. Public Holidays: Some of the largest holidays in Los Angeles are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.