Twelve questions to ask a stem cell clinic before you book

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Choosing a clinic in this field is difficult precisely because every website says the same things. Everyone is advanced, certified, world-class and patient-focused. None of those words can be checked.

The questions below can be. We would rather you asked them of us too.

About the people

  • Who is the physician who will treat me, and what is their licence number? In Mexico this is the cédula profesional, searchable in a public federal registry.
  • Will I speak to that physician before I travel, or only to a coordinator?
  • Who decides whether I am accepted, and on what criteria? If the answer is vague, the criteria are probably commercial.

About the material

  • Which laboratory supplies the cells, and can I see the certification?
  • What exactly am I receiving — cells, exosomes, or platelet-rich plasma from my own blood?
  • What is the viability figure for the batch, and where does it come from?

About the outcome

  • What proportion of patients with my condition see no meaningful improvement?
  • What will you not promise me? This is the most revealing question on the list.
  • Who do you turn away? If the answer is nobody, ask yourself what that means about the last patient they accepted.

About the money

  • Is this the full price, and what is excluded? Get it in writing before you book travel.
  • What happens if the physician decides I need more material once I arrive?
  • What does follow-up consist of, and is it included?

Two answers that should end the conversation

The first is a guarantee. Regenerative therapy produces variable results, and any clinic promising a specific outcome is promising something it does not control.

The second is pressure. Limited availability, a price that expires, a deposit needed today to hold your place. Legitimate medicine does not work to a countdown.

One more thing

Ask what they would say if the treatment is not appropriate for you. A clinic willing to lose your booking is a clinic whose recommendation means something.