Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine in Nashville, TN
When surgery feels like too much but doing nothing is not an option, regenerative medicine offers a path worth considering. Stem cell therapy uses your body's own cells to repair damaged tissue, reduce inflammation, and support healing in joints, tendons, and cartilage that have stopped responding to conservative treatment. New technologies have made these therapies more powerful in the last few years.
Dr. Damon H. Petty is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. He is fellowship-trained in sports medicine, with over 25 years of experience treating knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip injuries. He has served as Head Orthopedic Team Physician for the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2026. Dr. Petty is the only Nashville provider with true expertise in stem cell therapy and the full range of orthopedic surgery options for the shoulder, knee, hip, and elbow. That distinction matters because he does not just offer stem cell treatment. He knows when cell therapy can help, when it cannot, and when surgery is the better choice.
Every procedure is performed by Dr. Petty personally under ultrasound guidance at his Nashville clinic through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA). This is not a wellness clinic or a med-spa adding stem cells to a menu. This is evidence-based regenerative orthopedics from a surgeon who has published research in the American Journal of Sports Medicine and treats professional athletes with the same care he provides to everyday patients in Nashville.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that uses cells capable of developing into cartilage, bone, tendon, and muscle. When concentrated and injected into a damaged area, these cells reduce inflammation, restart the repair process, and promote new tissue growth. Unlike cortisone or pain medication that masks symptoms, cell therapy targets the underlying damage. The goal is not just pain relief but actual tissue repair and regeneration
Types of Stem Cells Used in Regenerative Medicine
Understanding the source of stem cells matters, because not every Nashville stem cell clinic uses the same approach.
-
Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC). This is what Dr. Petty uses. Stem cells are harvested from your own bone marrow, typically from the pelvis, concentrated using a specialized centrifuge, and injected into the treatment area during the same visit. Because the cells come from your own body, the risk of rejection is zero, minimizing the risk of an adverse reaction. BMAC contains mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins and is the gold standard in orthopedic regenerative medicine.
-
Adipose (Fat-Derived) Stem Cells. Harvested from the patient's own fat tissue through mini-liposuction. Used by some clinics but with less orthopedic research support than bone marrow aspirate concentrate.
-
Umbilical Cord and Wharton's Jelly Products. Sourced from donated birth tissue, not from the patient. These products are marketed by many stem cell clinics, but the FDA has raised concerns about their regulation and the viability of live stem cells in commercial products is debated in the medical literature. Dr. Petty uses autologous cells, not donated tissue, because the evidence is stronger and the sourcing is transparent.
Regenerative Orthopedics: Our Approach
BMAC is the foundation of Dr. Petty's regenerative medicine program. The procedure concentrates mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, and anti-inflammatory proteins from your bone marrow into a single targeted injection delivered directly to the damaged tissue under real-time ultrasound guidance.
What sets this practice apart from a typical stem cell clinic in Nashville is precision and expertise. As a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who completed training under Dr. James Andrews at one of the most selective sports medicine fellowships in the country, Dr. Petty understands the anatomy of every joint he treats at a surgical level. Ultrasound-guided injection ensures the stem cells reach the exact tissue that needs repair, not the surrounding area.
Stem cells promote healing through differentiation into new tissue cells (cartilage, bone, connective tissue), paracrine signaling that recruits your body's own repair cells to the injury site, anti-inflammatory effects that reduce chronic tissue breakdown, and scaffold support when combined with gelling agents to fill cartilage defects. Cell therapy does not produce overnight results. The biological repair process takes weeks to months, with most patients experiencing meaningful improvement between 6 weeks and 6 months after treatment.
Conditions Treated with Stem Cell Therapy in Nashville
Dr. Petty's practice focuses exclusively on orthopedic conditions where the evidence for cell therapy is strongest. Unlike some Nashville stem cell clinics that advertise treatment for autism, Alzheimer's, diabetes, hair loss, or erectile dysfunction, this practice treats musculoskeletal conditions only.
The Stem Cell Therapy Procedure: Step by Step
The entire procedure is performed in a single visit at Dr. Petty's Nashville office, typically 60 to 90 minutes. Most patients drive themselves home the same day.
Stem Cell Therapy vs. Surgery: When to Choose Each
Dr. Petty is the only Nashville provider offering both stem cell therapy and full surgical capability from the same physician. Your treatment plan is based on your diagnosis, not the limitations of the clinic.
Stem Cell Therapy
Mild to moderate cartilage loss, partial tears, chronic inflammation
Days to weeks of modified activity
Local anesthesia, in-office
Tissue repair and pain reduction
Surgery
Complete tears, severe joint deformity, bone-on-bone arthritis
Weeks to months of rehabilitation
General anesthesia, operating room
Structural reconstruction or replacement
Best for
Recovery
Setting
Goal
PRP vs. Stem Cells: Understanding Your Options
PRP concentrates growth factors from your blood and is best for milder conditions and tendon injuries. Stem cell therapy (BMAC) concentrates mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow for more advanced cartilage damage and deeper structural repair.
Dr. Petty offers both and sometimes combines them in a single session.
Are You a Candidate?
Ideal candidates Stem cell therapy
Mild to moderate osteoarthritis
With preserved joint space, focal cartilage defects, chronic tendon or ligament conditions unresponsive to conservative care
Patients wanting to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery
Focal (isolated) cartilage defects from trauma or surgery are often correctible with BMAC grafting.
Stem cell therapy may not be appropriate if
Severe bone-on-bone arthritis with no remaining cartilage
Joint deformity requiring surgical correction
Active infection
Certain blood disorders
Inability to follow post-procedure restrictions.
If Stem cell therapy
Is not the right fit, Dr. Petty discusses surgical alternatives during the same consultation. You will never need a second appointment elsewhere to find out if you need surgery.
Join the Club of Patients Avoiding Joint Replacement Surgery
You are not alone. Patients come to Dr. Petty specifically to avoid joint replacement surgery, and many succeed. Some travel over 500 miles, from as far as Kansas City, for the combination of regenerative expertise and surgical judgment few providers can offer. With the right mix of PRP and stem cell therapy, they are getting back to the activities they love without the surgery, the metal, or the long rehab. Join the club.
This is not a guarantee. Some patients still need surgery, and Dr. Petty is honest about it when they do. But for the right candidate with the right diagnosis, regenerative medicine can postpone joint replacement by months or years, and in some cases avoid it entirely. The patients who succeed share three things in common: an accurate diagnosis, realistic expectations, and a treatment plan from a provider who can manage them all the way through, whether that means another round of injections, a course of physical therapy, or eventually surgery.
Cost of Stem Cell Therapy in Nashville
Stem cell therapy is self-pay. Cost depends on the joint being treated, severity of the condition, and whether single or multiple injections are recommended.
Single joint BMAC treatment
$3,000 to $5,000
Multiple joints
$5,000 to $8,000
BMAC combined with PRP
Varies by protocol
No Nashville stem cell clinic currently publishes pricing. Dr. Petty's office provides transparent cost estimates during consultation
Why Choose Dr. Petty for Regenerative Medicine in Nashville
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon. Harvard BA (honors), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic residency, fellowship under Drs. James Andrews and William Clancy. Member of AAOS and AOSSM. Published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine
Tennessee Titans Team Physician. Head Orthopedic Team Physician from 2018 to 2026, using the same regenerative protocols for NFL athletes and everyday patients.
Surgeon-Performed, Ultrasound-Guided. Every stem cell procedure performed by Dr. Petty personally. Never delegated to a PA, NP, or technician.
Full Spectrum of Care. Unlike clinics that only offer injections, Dr. Petty provides regenerative therapy through joint replacement surgery, all from the same provider. Evidence-based, not hype. His motto: "Always do what in your heart is best for your patient."
Patient Reviews
"This doctor deserves the Nobel Prize in Medicine. He is skilled and knows very well the appropriate plan for each patient to recover as quickly as possible. He is self-confident and calm, and you feel reassured when you talk to him."
- Healthgrades
"So refreshing to find a bright, sensitive and experienced physician who advocates for your health (not wealth)!"
- Vitals
"Dr. Petty's kinesiological understanding and client care interaction and follow-through are exceptional. I was suggested to visit Dr. Petty through various positive testimonials from friends and family. If you're in TN and looking for Ortho, Damon is hard to beat."
- Vitals
"Everyone I interfaced with were true professionals. Dr. Petty was as always direct and in agreement with a treatment plan. I have found over the years he is a caring professional!"
- Healthgrades
Case Study:
Advanced BMAC Procedure
Patient: 47-year-old male distance runner from Nashville with chronic midfoot pain worsening over 14 months.
Diagnosis: Focal cartilage lesion on the navicular bone with subchondral edema and early degenerative changes
Frequently Asked Questions About Stem Cell Therapy
Schedule a Stem Cell Therapy Consultation in Nashville
Dr. Petty sees patients through Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) at 8 City Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209 (ONEC1TY). Phone: (615) 329-6600. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
We serve patients from Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Lebanon, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Dr. Petty also sees patients who travel for world-class care, some from over 500 miles away, including recent patients from Kansas City, drawn by his specific expertise and reputation.