STACi cost in the UK
- UK Exclusive
- ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
- 173+ verified patient reviews
At a glance
How much does STACi cost in the UK?
STACi cost in the UK is £28,000 at LCC, the only centre delivering it. The figure is inclusive of theatre, the cell scaffold, the on-the-day biological augmentation, the consultant anaesthetist and a twelve-month follow-up programme. STACi is single-stage cartilage implantation, a UK-exclusive form of cartilage regeneration developed at this clinic. It is delivered by Professor Paul Lee at an ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence and is not available elsewhere in the UK.
Inclusive price
£28,000
All-inclusive of theatre, the biology, the consultant anaesthetist, and follow-up. Same price across applicable joints.
STACi cost in the UK explained
STACi is single-stage cartilage implantation that combines a regenerative cell scaffold with the patient’s own biological augmentation, harvested and processed during the same operative session. That removes the need for the second-stage surgery that MACI requires, but it does not remove the underlying complexity of cartilage regeneration. A typical STACi case takes two and a half to four hours of theatre time and uses both surgical and laboratory resources within the same operative window.
At LCC STACi is performed by Professor Paul Lee, who developed single-stage cartilage implantation within the cartilage regeneration programme at this ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence. The £28,000 figure covers theatre time, the cell scaffold, the biological augmentation, the consultant anaesthetist’s fee, and a structured follow-up programme out to twelve months. Nothing about the regenerative biology is quoted as an extra; cartilage regeneration is the point of the procedure, not an add-on.
What is included in the price
Included in the price
- Pre-operative consultation with Professor Lee (60 minutes)
- Pre-admission anaesthetic review
- Theatre fee, surgical disposables and anaesthetic agents
- The STACi cell scaffold
- On-the-day biological augmentation (PRF, mFat, BMAC where indicated)
- Operating surgeon’s fee
- Consultant anaesthetist’s fee
- Cryotherapy and on-the-day medications
- Bracing and walking aid where required
- Two post-operative consultations (typically week 2 and week 6)
- Three-month, six-month and twelve-month outcome reviews
- Direct line to the surgical team for post-operative concerns
Not included, quoted separately
- MRI imaging at £450, where pre-operative mapping is needed and not already available
- Pre-operative bloods if not already available
- Onward physiotherapy beyond the post-operative reviews, quoted separately by your physiotherapist
- Travel and accommodation for international patients
Why STACi at LCC
A UK-exclusive cartilage regeneration procedure
Single-stage cartilage implantation is performed only at LCC in the UK. If you have come across STACi in your reading on cartilage regeneration, this is where it is delivered. Patients travel from across the UK and internationally for cartilage regeneration with this technique.ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
LCC is recognised by the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society as a Teaching Centre of Excellence. Cartilage regeneration is the principal interest of the clinic and the published outcome database is among the largest in Europe.Single-stage cartilage implantation, not two
Where MACI requires a first-stage cartilage harvest and a second-stage implantation, single-stage cartilage implantation delivers the cell scaffold and the biological augmentation in a single operative session. Less time off, fewer hospital visits, no waiting between stages for the cells to be cultured.Founder credential
Professor Paul Lee, who leads LCC, holds a PhD in medical engineering and has authored eighty-plus peer-reviewed publications cited a thousand-plus times. He developed STACi single-stage cartilage implantation within the broader cartilage regeneration programme at this ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence.The surgeon you see is the surgeon who operates
Pre-operative consultation, surgery and post-operative reviews are with Professor Lee. There is no transfer to a registrar or to another consultant between consultation and theatre.
Your STACi journey
- 1
Discovery call (free, 15 minutes)
A clinical coordinator confirms whether STACi cartilage regeneration looks like the right treatment to investigate, books the consultation if so, and answers cost questions. - 2
Consultation with Professor Lee (£350, 60 minutes)
Imaging review, examination, and a treatment plan in writing. STACi is one of several cartilage regeneration options; we will tell you which is right for your case. - 3
Pre-operative preparation
MRI mapping, bloods, anaesthetic review and consent process. Typically two to four weeks before surgery. - 4
Day of surgery
Day-case admission at our partner hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. The cell scaffold and your own biological augmentation are placed in a single two-and-a-half to four hour cartilage regeneration session. - 5
First two weeks
Brace, crutches and protected weight-bearing while the implant integrates. Direct line to the surgical team for any concerns during this period. - 6
Weeks 2 to 12
Progressive return to function with your physiotherapist. Two follow-up consultations included with us in this window. - 7
Three, six and twelve-month reviews
Outcome assessment, imaging where indicated, and confirmation of return to higher-impact activity. The data feeds into the published cartilage regeneration outcome database.
Funding, insurance and payment
Self-pay
£28,000 settled by bank transfer or card before surgery.
We can discuss finance options on request rather than promoting a specific finance partner.
Private medical insurance
London Cartilage Clinic is a private-pay practice and does not work with UK insurance panels. STACi is not routinely available on the NHS or via UK insurers in any case.
We can provide an itemised invoice for you to submit to your insurer if you wish to claim, but the agreement is between you and your insurer.
International patients
Outcomes after STACi
STACi is a cartilage regeneration procedure. The aim is durable cartilage regeneration of the articular surface rather than immediate symptom relief. Most patients are walking unaided by week six and return to recreational activity between four and eight months after STACi, with continued improvement in joint function as new cartilage establishes within the scaffold over six to twelve months. We confirm return-to-sport readiness at the twelve-month review.
Outcomes are measured at three, six and twelve months and feed into the published ICRS-aligned cartilage regeneration outcome database we maintain. Your individual result will sit somewhere on that distribution; we will tell you, in writing at consultation, what to expect for your specific defect.
Patient stories
I was told a knee replacement was inevitable in my forties. STACi has given me my knee back. Eighteen months on I am running again, which I had not done in years.
Frequently asked questions
How much does STACi cost in the UK?
Is STACi available anywhere else in the UK?
Can I claim STACi on private medical insurance?
Does the price include the anaesthetist and the biology?
How does STACi compare to MACI or ACi?
What happens if there is a complication after surgery?
How long is recovery and is physiotherapy included?
Why is STACi priced where it is?
Can I pay in instalments?
Is the surgeon I see at consultation the same one who will operate?
Where will the surgery happen?
Can I have STACi on a joint other than the knee?
Ready to talk
Two paths from here
For when you want to talk first, the discovery call costs nothing. For when you have decided you want to be assessed, book a consultation with the operating surgeon. Either way you can learn how the procedure works on the STACi page.