What are stem cells and what are they used for?
Imagine your body is like a city. Over time, some parts can become damaged, like potholed streets or buildings that need repair.
Stem cells are like skilled workers that can become whatever the city (your body) needs: repairing tissues, regenerating organs, or healing wounds.
Exosomes are the materials and tools that these cells use to communicate and make repairs faster and more efficient.
In regenerative medicine, doctors use stem cells and exosomes to help the body recover from injuries or diseases, optimizing its own healing capacity.
Security & traceability
At Lonvida, we work exclusively with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from rigorously selected, allogeneic, placenta-derived donors who undergo pathogen testing and strict quality control. Our stem cells are cultured in pristine, sterile environments using advanced bioreactor technology that precisely regulates temperature, oxygen, and vital nutrients to ensure their purity and stability.
Better quality of life
Once in the body, mesenchymal stem cells work by reducing inflammation, promoting tissue regeneration, and releasing healing signals that stimulate the body's self-repair mechanisms. Results are not immediate; it is a gradual process where improvements are usually noticeable over a few weeks to a few months.
Regenerative chain
When administered, stem cells first act in the lungs, where they tend to concentrate due to chronic inflammation associated with urban pollution. This process, called pulmonary sequestration, causes approximately 60% of the cells to remain there during the first infusion to repair damaged tissue. Subsequently, the remaining cells are distributed throughout the body, where they reduce inflammation, modulate the immune system, promote nerve and tissue regeneration, prevent fibrosis, and stimulate the formation of new blood vessels. Therefore, several infusions are usually required to achieve an optimal systemic regenerative effect.
Specialized doctors.
Each journey begins with a comprehensive consultation, followed by a personalized wellness plan powered by genetic analysis and artificial intelligence, and supported by ongoing medical guidance.
Why is Mexico a leader in regenerative medicine?
Before comparing prices, it's important to understand what is legal—and what is legally available—in each country. The price difference exists because three regulatory bodies reached three different conclusions about the same therapy.
United States · FDA
Restrictive by design
WHAT IS APPROVED · 2026
Only Ryoncil (remestemcel-L), approved in December 2024, is an FDA-cleared MSC therapy — and it's authorized exclusively for pediatric steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease.
Every other MSC application — orthopedic, autoimmune, longevity — is classified as investigational. Culture-expanded allogeneic cells are regulated as Section 351 biologic drugs, requiring full BLA approval.
Clinics offering them outside FDA-registered trials operate in a legal gray zone.
Canada · Health Canada
Effectively unavailable
WHAT IS APPROVED · 2026
Health Canada regulates all cell therapies as drugs under the Food and Drugs Act. Only one MSC product — Prochymal/remestemcel-L for GvHD — has received market authorization.
The agency has publicly warned Canadians against unauthorized clinics offering MSC therapy. The practical result: most Canadian patients seeking elective regenerative medicine travel outside the country.
European Union · EMA
Approved, then withdrawn
WHAT IS APPROVED · 2026
The EU regulates cell therapies as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), requiring centralized EMA approval. The only authorized MSC therapy — Alofisel, for Crohn's-related fistulas — had its marketing authorization withdrawn in December 2024.
Remaining stem-cell ATMPs (such as Holoclar) treat only narrow conditions like corneal burns. For orthopedic, autoimmune, or longevity use, MSC therapy remains investigational — available only through trials or limited national "hospital exemption" schemes.
Mexico · COFEPRIS
Regulado y accesible
WHAT IS APPROVED · 2026
Since 2012, Mexico's Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) has authorized cell therapies under a specific regulatory framework.
Clinics must hold specific cell therapy and health licenses, and laboratories must comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
The result: young, selected, and allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)—cultured and expanded under quality control—are legally available to qualified patients. Lonvida operates under Cell Therapy License No. 25-TR-09-016-0001.
Fuentes: Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de EE. UU. (carta de aprobación de Ryoncil, diciembre de 2024); Ley de Alimentos y Medicamentos de Salud Canadá, guía sobre terapia celular (2024); Agencia Europea de Medicamentos (retirada de la autorización de comercialización de Alofisel, diciembre de 2024; Holoclar EPAR); Reglamento de Insumos para la Salud de COFEPRIS, enmiendas del Título 14 (2012); Directrices de la ISSCR para la investigación con células madre y la traslación clínica (edición de 2024).
Direct price comparison
I'm ready to take the next step, what's next?
Whether it's to address specific conditions or optimize lifelong well-being, Lonvida offers top-tier treatments to help you embrace a fuller, healthier life. Start by choosing one of the paths we have for you or contact our Medical Concierge for a more personalized solution.
For a better navigation experience, we recommend browsing the tables on desktop.
Lo que un paciente paga realmente, por tipo de traramiento.
Your all-in total, including travel.
The fairest comparison is total out-of-pocket cost — therapy plus flights, hotel, and time off. Even with a five-day stay in Polanco, the math typically favors Mexico by tens of thousands of dollars.
Why does the same therapy cost three times more north of the border?
The price difference isn't due to cuts in cell quality, sterility, or experience. It's due to four very specific cost structures within the U.S. healthcare system that don't directly translate to Mexico.
Costos de la vía regulatoria
El proceso de aprobación de un producto biológico por la FDA cuesta, en promedio, entre 1.000 y 2.000 millones de dólares. Incluso el uso clínico fuera de las indicaciones autorizadas conlleva costes adicionales relacionados con los comités de ética, las demandas por negligencia médica y el cumplimiento normativo, que las clínicas estadounidenses deben tener en cuenta en sus presupuestos.
Professional negligence and insurance
En Estados Unidos, las primas de los seguros de responsabilidad profesional médica para especialistas en medicina regenerativa superan habitualmente los 40.000 a 100.000 dólares anuales por médico. En México, una cobertura similar cuesta una fracción de ese precio.
Costos inmobiliarios y operativos
Top-tier medical facilities, equipment financing, and staff in major U.S. markets (Los Angeles, Miami, New York) are combined in one complex. Mexico City offers world-class infrastructure at a significantly lower cost.
Gastos administrativos
Administrative costs for healthcare in the US account for approximately 8% of total spending (compared to the OECD average of 3%). Billing, coding, pre-authorization—it's all included in the price, even for cash-paid services.
Your Lonvida Journey
Evidence supports that MSCs are immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and pro-cell repair products that act primarily through their secretome (paracrine signaling) rather than through long-term grafting.
Whether it's to address specific conditions or optimize lifelong well-being, Lonvida offers top-tier treatments to help you embrace a fuller, healthier life.
Want to know if you're a candidate? Schedule a free assessment today and we'll guide you through the entire process.
Articulaciones de oro
Knee, elbow or shoulder injuries.
Reduce la inflamación, regenera el cartílago y puede ayudar a retrasar o evitar cirugías invasivas.
Salud general
Your path to sustainable well-being.
It helps with vitality, increased energy and resilience, slows age-related decline and optimizes cellular function.
Salud sexual
Male or female sexual health.
It improves blood flow and cellular vitality for sexual health, enhances lubrication, and regenerates damaged tissue.
Breathe protocol
Prolonged COVID or lung damage.
Are you suffering from lung damage or post-COVID? It helps repair lung tissue damage, improves oxygen capacity, and reduces chronic inflammation.
Autoimmune protocol
MS, type 1 diabetes, RA, SLE, Crohn's.
It helps calm overactive responses, reduces chronic inflammation, and restores balance to the immune system.
Chronic pain management
Mejor calidad de vida y menos dolor.
Actúa sobre la inflamación a nivel celular para aliviar el dolor. Promueve cicatrización de tejidos dañados. Puede ayudar a reducir la necesidad de procedimientos invasivos.
NOT ALL CLINICS IN MEXICO ARE THE SAME
What separates premium clinics from the rest.
The rise of medical tourism in Mexico has led to the emergence of top-tier clinics and operators who exploit regulatory loopholes. Here we detail the procedures, infrastructure, and partnerships that make Lonvida a trustworthy company, and what every potential patient should ask any clinic before booking an appointment.
1
COFEPRIS-licensed cell therapy
Lonvida opera bajo la Comisión Federal Mexicana de Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios con Licencia Sanitaria No. 2509135036X00247. Verificable en el registro público.
2
GMP-compliant lab partnership
Cells produced exclusively by Livceller under ISO 5/6/7/8 cleanroom standards, with in-house R&D and quality control. Pathogen-tested placental allogeneic donors, full traceability documentation provided.
3
Physician-led
Every protocol designed and supervised by board-certified physicians specializing in regenerative and longevity medicine. Diagnostic-first approach using 1,000+ biomarkers via our Salud.ia precision platform.
4
Prime location, security and access.
Goldsmith 38, in Mexico City's most secure and walkable neighborhood. 35 minutes from MEX international airport. Direct flights from 30+ U.S. and Canadian cities.
Our partner laboratory, Livceller, guarantees a process of obtaining the highest quality and safety, complying with controlled conditions, advanced technology and strict scientific protocols to ensure the purity and efficacy of our mesenchymal stem cells.
Controlled Conditions
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Strict sterility in areas and processes.
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Supply of high-quality nutrients, without compounds of animal origin and compatible with clinical therapy.
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Precise control of temperature, pH and humidity.
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CO₂ regulation to 5% to maintain the optimal cell culture environment.
High-Quality Technology and Equipment
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Selection of specialized equipment from nationally and internationally certified manufacturers.
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Periodic maintenance and calibration of equipment and work areas.
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Constant monitoring of process performance and validation of equipment to ensure optimal standards.
Safe and Controlled Work Environment
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Spaces with specialized disinfection systems and periodic effectiveness tests.
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Mandatory use of personal protective equipment.
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Manipulation of culture media and cells with sterile material, using moist or dry heat sterilization processes as appropriate.
Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance
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Highly trained and experienced team in regenerative medicine.
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Strict protocols to ensure stability and purity in each cell line.
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Full compliance with legal regulations, ethical principles and health regulations.
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Quality management system for traceability and documentation at each stage of the process.
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Stem cells primarily support the body's natural repair and regeneration processes. They are characterized by their ability to modulate inflammation, communicate with other tissues, and stimulate cellular recovery mechanisms.
In the body, they act as a kind of intelligent support system: they help create a more favorable environment for healing, balance the immune system's response, and contribute to maintaining healthier tissues. Their action is not to "replace" organs, but rather to promote regeneration from within, supporting the body's own biological processes.
For this reason, stem cell therapies are used as part of personalized medical approaches focused on recovery, prevention, and long-term well-being.Mesenchymal stem cells or "stem cells" can be injected directly into a joint, such as the knee or shoulder; in other cases, they are administered by intravenous infusion into the bloodstream; and in some cases, they are applied by local injections in specific areas such as joints, skin, or soft tissues.
The cost of stem cell treatment can vary significantly, as it depends on each patient's specific needs and the number of cells required. This type of therapy is measured in millions of cells per application, and the dosage is personalized after a medical evaluation.
At Lonvida, our stem cell treatments start with 10 million cells, with an initial cost of $15,000 MXN. From there, the treatment can be adjusted according to the therapeutic objectives and the recommendation of our medical team.
Stem cell therapies should not be understood as a guaranteed “cure” for diseases. Their use depends on the diagnosis, the health status of each patient, and, above all, the scientific evidence available for each condition.
In medicine, stem cells are researched and used primarily for their potential to support repair processes, modulate inflammation, and promote recovery in certain contexts. At Lonvida, any recommendation is made only after a medical evaluation and with a clear explanation of what can realistically be expected: potential benefits, limitations, risks, and alternatives.
If you are considering this type of therapy, the most responsible thing to do is to evaluate your case individually to determine if it could be a complementary option, and if there is sufficient clinical support for your specific situation.
The effectiveness of stem cell treatment varies from person to person and depends on multiple factors, such as the diagnosis, general health status, the stage of the condition being treated, the dose used, and the individual response of the body.
In medicine, these types of therapies are considered supportive or complementary approaches, aimed at promoting the body's natural processes such as tissue repair, inflammation regulation, and functional recovery. There is no guarantee of results, nor will every patient experience the same response.
Therefore, at Lonvida, each case is evaluated individually. Our medical team focuses on providing clear, evidence-based information, honestly explaining what benefits can be expected, what results are uncertain, and what the limitations of the treatment are, so that each patient can make an informed decision.
Scientific evidence on stem cell therapies is constantly evolving. Currently, numerous preclinical studies, clinical trials, and medical publications are investigating their safety, mechanisms of action, and potential applications in various medical contexts. However, the level of evidence is not uniform across all conditions, and in many cases, research is ongoing.
In medicine, it is important to distinguish between established uses, research uses, and complementary applications, all of which must be evaluated according to ethical and scientific criteria. Therefore, results observed in studies or in other patients do not guarantee the same effect in all individuals.
A note on transparency
All consultations, procedures, and regenerative therapies described on this page are performed at our licensed clinic in Polanco, Mexico City, under the regulatory supervision of COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks), Mexico's federal health authority. Some treatments and devices used in our protocols are FDA-approved; others, including allogeneic biological cell therapies, are not FDA-approved and are administered exclusively in accordance with Mexican regulations.
The price comparisons on this page are illustrative average values obtained from clinic-published price pages, third-party medical tourism databases, and peer-reviewed cost analyses cited throughout the text. Individual quotes, both at Lonvida and other clinics, depend on the complexity of the protocol, dosage, diagnostic requirements, and accommodation options.
The content presented here is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice or a solicitation of medical services in jurisdictions where this is prohibited. Stem cell therapy carries clinical risks; individual results vary. We recommend that all potential patients verify our licenses in the COFEPRIS public registry, request GMP certification from our partner laboratory, and review their personal medical situation with a qualified physician before scheduling treatment.
Contact
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location
Goldsmith 38 – 3rd floor
Polanco, Mexico City.
Lonvida, 2026.
Health license: 25-TR-09-016-0001.