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ChondroFiller injection
A single ultrasound-guided injection that lays a fresh layer of natural collagen over the worn surface of your joint, so your own cells can rebuild cartilage. No surgery and no general anaesthetic. Given by Professor Paul Lee at our Lincolnshire clinics.
- About
- A single in-clinic collagen injection for worn or damaged cartilage, placed under ultrasound guidance. Walk in, walk out. No surgery or general anaesthetic.
- Referrals
- Not Needed
- Booking
- Instant-book option available
- Cost
- £3,000 Lincolnshire
What it is
A fresh collagen layer over worn cartilage
ChondroFiller is a biological collagen scaffold that comes as a liquid. Once it is placed on the joint surface it gels within minutes and becomes a framework that your own cells grow into. It contains no cells of its own and nothing synthetic: it is the same type of collagen your cartilage is built from.
The product was designed to be packed into a single cartilage hole during keyhole surgery. The injection we offer is different. Professor Lee delivers the same collagen through a needle, under ultrasound, so it coats the worn surface across the joint rather than filling one discrete defect. That opens the treatment up to joints that are broadly worn, not only those with one contained hole, and it means there is no operation to recover from.
Think of it as resurfacing a road where the surface is worn but the structure underneath is sound. A protective layer goes down across the whole stretch in a single pass.
Shields the worn surface
The collagen layer covers the exposed area so it is protected from further wear while repair gets under way.
Invites your own cells in
The set gel is a three-dimensional scaffold. Cells from the surrounding tissue migrate into it over the following months.
Supports new cartilage
Those cells lay down hyaline-like cartilage within the scaffold, rather than the softer scar tissue the joint would make on its own.
How it works
A short appointment, then repair that runs for months
- 01
Map the damage
Your MRI is reviewed at consultation to confirm where the cartilage is worn, how large the area is and what the rest of the joint looks like. We have an open MRI scanner on site at MSK House if you need a scan.
- 02
Deliver under ultrasound
A 30 to 45 minute outpatient appointment under local anaesthetic. Professor Lee places the collagen gel onto the worn surface with real-time ultrasound guidance, so it goes exactly where it is needed. No incision, no general anaesthetic.
- 03
The gel sets in minutes
ChondroFiller is liquid when it goes in and gels in place within minutes, forming a scaffold across the treated surface.
- 04
Repair tissue builds over months
Your own cells move into the scaffold and build new tissue over six to twelve months. Most people notice the first improvement at six to twelve weeks, with benefit continuing to build through the year.
One treatment, one short appointment, and a cartilage repair process that carries on in the background. Had the injection already? Read the ChondroFiller injection aftercare guide.
Who it is for
From a single worn patch to a joint worn across the surface
There is no upper age limit and no limit on the size of the worn area for the injection. It is particularly useful for active people who have been told a joint replacement is coming and would rather preserve their own joint first. Suitability is always confirmed by Professor Lee at consultation, after reviewing your scans.
Good candidates include
- Cartilage wear in the joint, from a contained focal defect to diffuse wear across the surface
- Any age, including active patients in their 60s, 70s and beyond
- People told they need a joint replacement who want to try preserving their own joint first
- Cartilage damage after an injury, such as a chondral lesion or damage following a meniscal tear
- A stable joint, without untreated ligament instability or major malalignment
- Realistic expectations: new tissue takes six to twelve months to form
- Knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, foot, hand or wrist
Where caution is needed
- A single, contained defect in an otherwise healthy joint may be better served by a surgical cartilage repair
- Untreated joint instability or significant malalignment, which need correcting first
- Active infection in the joint or elsewhere
- Immunosuppression or poorly controlled diabetes
- An expectation of immediate or guaranteed pain relief: this is a repair treatment, not a painkiller
The appointment
Awake, under ultrasound, home the same hour
The injection is given as an outpatient appointment at one of our Lincolnshire clinics. The skin is numbed with local anaesthetic, Professor Lee scans the joint and guides the needle to the worn surface under live ultrasound, and the collagen is delivered and left to set. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the visit.
You leave on your own feet with a small dressing. There is no brace, no crutches and no weight-bearing restriction. Keep the first three days quiet, take it at about half your usual pace for two weeks, then build back to normal by week six. A telephone review at six weeks and an MRI at twelve months, reviewed with Professor Lee, are part of the treatment.
If you have searched online and found recovery timelines with a brace and six to eight weeks of restricted weight-bearing, those describe the surgical implant of ChondroFiller. They do not apply to this injection.
Published outcomes
What the clinical studies report
Headline figures from peer-reviewed ChondroFiller studies across the knee, hip and smaller joints. These come from selected patients with appropriate defects. Your own outcome depends on the size and position of the damage and the condition of the rest of the joint.
- ChondroFiller procedures worldwide
- 19,000+
- Knee IKDC score improvement in published series
- +30
- Hip Harris Hip Score improvement in published series
- +33
- MOCART MRI cartilage repair scores
- 70 to 87
- One injection, one outpatient appointment, no surgery and no general anaesthetic
- Placed under real-time ultrasound guidance, so the collagen goes exactly where the wear is
- Treats the whole worn surface, not just one hole, with no upper age limit and no defect-size limit
- Supports your own cells to build new cartilage, rather than masking pain
- Walk out the same hour, with no brace or crutches
- Works in the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, elbow, foot, hand and wrist
How it compares
Where ChondroFiller sits among injections
Hyaluronic acid lubricates, Arthrosamid dampens pain from the joint lining, and ChondroFiller is the only one of the three that gives the joint a structure to rebuild cartilage on. They are often used at different stages, and sometimes together.
| Treatment | Think of it as | Main action | Cartilage regeneration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid | Oil for the joint | Lubrication | None |
| Arthrosamid | A permanent cushion in the joint lining | Pain dampening | None |
| ChondroFiller | Resurfacing the road | Structural repair | Supports new cartilage |
Cost
£3,000 for a single injection
The price covers the ChondroFiller product, the ultrasound-guided injection and the six-week telephone review, and is the same whichever joint is treated. Your initial consultation and any MRI are charged separately. ChondroFiller is a self-funded treatment: it is not available on the NHS and is not routinely covered by private medical insurance.
Cost and paying
How to Pay
We offer a range of flexible payment options to make your treatment experience smooth and stress-free.
Instalment Plans
We’ve partnered with GoCardless to offer interest-free instalment options. You can easily set up a Direct Debit to spread the cost of your treatment over time.
Finance Options
Looking for a financing plan? You can apply through Kandoo, our trusted finance partner.
- Instant online decision
- No impact on your credit score
- Multiple lenders for competitive rates
Private Medical Insurance (Limited Availability)
We work with a small number of approved insurance providers. However, due to restrictions from many insurers, not all treatments are covered. Please check with your insurer and speak to our team before booking to avoid disappointment.
What happens
Treatment Booking Process
- 01
Online booking/call
Use our website to book an initial consultation, or give us a call.
- 02
Consultation
Our doctors might request you arrange a scan before your initial consultation. Or, they’ll chat with you (face to face or online) and recommend a scan after your initial consultation, if they think you need one.
- 03
Treatment
Once your scan results have been reviewed, and your doctor has explained your options, you will be booked in for treatment.
- 04
Rehab
Following your treatment, your doctor will give you rehab recommendations.
- 05
Follow Up
You will be booked in for a follow-up consultation, so your doctor can check your progress. You might need further rehab after this consultation.
- 06
Discharge
Once your doctor is happy with your recovery, you will be discharged. After discharge, we are always here for further questions or support, should you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a ChondroFiller injection the same as ChondroFiller surgery?
How long does it take to work?
What is the recovery like?
You walk out the same hour, without a brace or crutches. The local anaesthetic wears off after about six hours and mild soreness or stiffness for a few days is normal. Keep the first three days quiet, do about half your usual activity for the next two weeks, then build back up to normal by week six. A telephone review takes place at six weeks and an MRI at twelve months is reviewed with Professor Lee.
Which joints can be treated?
Is there an age limit, or does "bone on bone" rule me out?
What are the risks?
How much does it cost, and what is included?
Recent Articles & Medical Insights
Explore InsightsChondroFiller01 Jul 2026
ChondroFiller injection cost in the UK versus Germany
ChondroFiller, a collagen scaffold for cartilage regeneration, is delivered by ultrasound-guided outpatient injection in UK clinics (£3,000–£8,000) rather than arthroscopic surgery in Germany (€3,800–€10,000).
Read the articleChondroFiller17 Jun 2026
ChondroFiller injection for thumb base cartilage damage
ChondroFiller is an injectable collagen scaffold that self-gels into focal cartilage defects at the thumb base, recruiting the patient's own progenitor cells to rebuild damaged tissue — treating the gap between pain-r...
Read the articleChondroFiller08 Jun 2026
ChondroFiller hip injection: why ultrasound guidance is essential
ChondroFiller gels within three to five minutes of injection, creating a temporary scaffold that recruits the body's repair cells to form cartilage; misplaced material cannot be salvaged, and the hip's 3.5–7 cm depth—...
Read the articleFree discovery call
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