Cartilage regeneration
NanoACi®
A non-arthroscopic Seed, Soil and Signal pathway using an auricular-cartilage micrograft, collagen scaffold and platelet-rich fibrin.
Consultant-led joint preservation · 66 Harley Street
Cartilage specialists for regeneration, repair and replacement
Tissue-first care for cartilage, meniscus, tendon and ligament damage—combining advanced non-surgical pathways with specialist surgery when structure must be corrected.
20+ years
Specialist experience
Harley Street
Central London clinic
Start with the right category
The treatments patients ask about most
These treatments solve different problems. Some are image-guided injections; others repair structural damage through surgery. Your diagnosis and scans—not the best-known treatment name—determine the right path.
No operation
Non-surgical treatments
Platelet-rich fibrin
ArthroZheal®
An autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix prepared from your own blood to provide a sustained biological signal for selected joint and soft-tissue treatments.
UK-exclusive access
ChondroFiller®
An injectable, cell-free type-I collagen scaffold for selected focal cartilage defects.
Knee osteoarthritis
Arthrosamid®
A single-dose polyacrylamide hydrogel injection used to treat symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Operation required
Surgical treatments
Surgery is considered when a structural problem needs to be repaired, restored or replaced—not simply because pain has persisted.
Cartilage surgery · now available
CartiHeal
A single-stage biphasic scaffold implanted into selected knee cartilage and underlying bone defects.
STARR · tissue-preserving surgery
ACL repair
Repair of a suitable recently torn ACL while preserving the patient’s own ligament rather than taking a tendon graft.
Knee preservation surgery
Meniscus repair
Keyhole repair for selected meniscus tears where preserving the knee’s natural shock absorber remains possible.
Professor Lee's regenerative framework
RegenRepair™
Seed. Soil. Signal.
Start with the tissue and its mechanical job—not a generic injection. RegenRepair™ combines patient-derived biology, a collagen scaffold and a biological signal in tissue-specific pathways for cartilage, meniscus, tendon and ligament damage.
Signature procedure
Signature procedureRepair your ACL.
Repair your ACL.
Keep your own tissue.
STARR is the cartilage-preserving ACL repair pioneered by Professor Paul Lee. No tendon graft taken from your leg, recovery in six weeks to three months, and the ligament you were born with stays where it belongs.
- No graft harvested
- 6 weeks to 3 months
- Native ligament preserved
Founder & Surgical Director
Care led by Prof Paul Lee
MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhD · GMC 6115197
Internationally recognised cartilage surgeon, regenerative medicine doctor, and medical engineer. Founder of London Cartilage Clinic, MSK Doctors, and The Keep Clinic. Honorary Professor at the University of Lincoln, Visiting Professor at the University of Chester, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Ambassador, and Founding President of the International Association of Regenerative Medicine.
2026 · BOA
Robert Jones Medal & Association Prize
International leadership
Founding President, IAMRegen
Cartilage education
ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
Featured in
You may have more options than you've been told
Preserve. Repair. Regenerate. Replace.
Most patients arrive thinking the only path is replacement. We see your joint as a spectrum of choices, and replacement is the last resort, not the first.
Preserve
Protect what you still have. Targeted injections and treatments that slow cartilage wear, manage arthritis, and keep your joint working.
Repair
Fix specific damage. A torn meniscus, a damaged ligament, a kneecap problem. Procedures that restore what is broken — time matters.
Regenerate
Rebuild damaged cartilage. Advanced biological treatments that stimulate your body to grow new tissue. Several available only at London Cartilage Clinic.
Replace
When other options are exhausted, replacement restores function — but only after we have explored every alternative.
Advanced Regenerative Therapy
Stem Cell / Medicinal Signaling Cell injections
Knee
Stem Cell / Medicinal Signaling Cell therapy has proven to be a very effective way of treating symptoms of degenerative conditions in the knee. If you’re looking for the best possible option regardless of the cost, Stem Cell / Medicinal Signaling Cell injections could be right for you.
Learn More
Cartilage
We specialise in utilising Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs) for the regeneration and repair of cartilage. Offering an effective, non-invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods by harnessing the body's innate ability to repair tissue.
Learn More
Shoulder
Offering state-of-the-art shoulder therapy utilising MSCs. Our innovative approach targets the natural regeneration of shoulder joint tissues, aiming to restore mobility and reduce pain without invasive surgeries.
Learn More
Hip
Our pioneering hip therapy provides non-surgical solutions using MSC regenerative capabilities. This treatment aims to enhance joint function and alleviate pain in patients experiencing chronic hip issues.
Learn MoreKnee
Stem Cell / Medicinal Signaling Cell therapy has proven to be a very effective way of treating symptoms of degenerative conditions in the knee. If you’re looking for the best possible option regardless of the cost, Stem Cell / Medicinal Signaling Cell injections could be right for you.
Learn MoreCartilage
We specialise in utilising Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs) for the regeneration and repair of cartilage. Offering an effective, non-invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods by harnessing the body's innate ability to repair tissue.
Learn MoreShoulder
Offering state-of-the-art shoulder therapy utilising MSCs. Our innovative approach targets the natural regeneration of shoulder joint tissues, aiming to restore mobility and reduce pain without invasive surgeries.
Learn MoreHip
Our pioneering hip therapy provides non-surgical solutions using MSC regenerative capabilities. This treatment aims to enhance joint function and alleviate pain in patients experiencing chronic hip issues.
Learn MoreWhat patients say
Real stories, real patients
From an Olympian's return to movement, to everyday patients getting their pain under control, these are the outcomes we work for.
Olympian
Sharron Davies on her recovery with Prof Paul Lee
Olympian Sharron Davies talks through her consultation, treatment and return to movement, the same patient-led approach we apply to every case.
Verified patient reviews
“I had ACL surgery a few months ago and was really worried about the recovery process. A friend recommended Professor Lee and I am so glad I followed her advice. The surgery was successful, and I recovered much faster than I expected.”
Private patient
Verified
“Thank you, Professor, for reviewing all of my notes and going over the scans with me. I had consulted five private orthopaedic specialists, but none picked up on my knee plica. I am very grateful for your time and expertise.”
Private patient
Verified
“I cannot believe the incredible improvement in my knee pain since I had a meniscus repair with biological scaffolding. Professor Lee has been amazing throughout the entire process.”
Private patient
Verified
“My doctor recommended Professor Lee's meniscus repair with cells. The treatment has been very effective in reducing my pain and improving my mobility. I would highly recommend.”
Private patient
Verified
Been told you need a joint replacement?
There may be options worth exploring first. A discovery call with our team is the fastest way to find out.
Browse by body part
Find your treatment path
Each hub explains your options across all four approaches — from simple injections to advanced cartilage care.
Key surgical treatments
Specialist procedures
Cartilage
Repair, regeneration and replacement — chosen to match the size, location and depth of the defect, and your own goals.
Learn more
Meniscus
Repair, partial repair, regeneration, and replacement — keeping the meniscus where possible to protect your underlying cartilage.
Learn moreSignature
ACL repair — STARR
Cartilage-preserving ACL repair pioneered by Professor Paul Lee. No graft harvested, recovery in six weeks to three months.
Learn moreMeet the team
Looking for a specialist opinion?
Consult with our team to discuss the best treatment path for your condition.
Ready to take the next step?
Get clarity on your options
A short discovery call is the fastest way to understand what's possible for your joint — without travelling, paying, or waiting.
London Cartilage Clinic
Latest Insights
Clinical updates, cartilage treatment guidance, and recovery-focused articles from our specialist team.
Knee OA
Eleanor Hayes
Knee cartilage risk after an untreated ACL tear
An untreated ACL tear permits 3–5 mm excess tibial movement during ordinary weight-bearing, progressively overloading cartilage that cannot repair itself; symptomatic osteoarthritis develops in approximately 35% of patients within ten years.
Knee Cartilage Repair
Eleanor Hayes
How joint preservation extends a damaged knee's life
Knee replacement at forty-five carries a 35% lifetime revision risk versus 5% at seventy; osteotomy corrects load distribution, cartilage repair restores the surface, and load management reduces forces, together deferring replacement by a decade or two.
ChondroFiller / Liquid Cartilage
Eleanor Hayes
ChondroFiller combined with Arthrosamid for Grade III/IV knee OA
Grade III/IV knee osteoarthritis presents cartilage loss and synovial inflammation as separate problems in distinct anatomical compartments. ChondroFiller scaffolds the cartilage surface whilst Arthrosamid's permanent hydrogel cushions the synovial lining, neither product reaching the other's target and allowing both to be injected in a single appointment.