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A Patient’s Checklist for Adipose Stem Cell Therapy in Japan

7 min read

Hello, I am Dr. Hidenori Shimada of Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic in Osaka, Japan.

Traveling to a new country for medical care, such as adipose-derived stem cell therapy, is a significant decision. Proper preparation can make the process smoother and more effective. For international patients considering treatment at Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic, arriving with a comprehensive set of medical records from your home country is a crucial first step. This information provides our physicians with a clear understanding of your health history, allowing for a thorough and productive initial consultation. This article serves as a practical checklist to help you gather the necessary documents before your journey to Japan.

Why Comprehensive Medical Records are Essential

When you consult with a physician in Japan, they will need to build a complete picture of your health status. Unlike a simple check-up, regenerative medicine requires a deep understanding of your past and present conditions, previous treatments, and overall physical state. Bringing detailed records from your primary physician or specialists helps bridge the information gap, reduces the need for redundant testing, and enables a more personalized treatment plan. Well-organized documents ensure that your consultation time is focused on your specific goals and concerns, rather than on piecing together your medical history. This preparation is key to evaluating whether adipose-derived stem cell therapy is a suitable option for you.

Core Medical Documents to Bring from Home

To facilitate a comprehensive evaluation, we recommend preparing a folder with the following essential medical information. Whenever possible, please ensure these documents are in English or accompanied by an English translation.

  • Physician’s Summary Letter: A referral or summary letter from your current primary care physician or specialist. This should outline your primary diagnosis, the history of the condition, treatments you have already tried (and their outcomes), and the reason you are exploring stem cell therapy.
  • Complete Medical History: A detailed record of past and current health issues, including chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, or heart disease. Information on past surgeries, major illnesses, and hospitalizations is also vital.
  • List of Current Medications and Supplements: Provide a complete list of all prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements you are currently taking. Include the name, dosage, and frequency for each.
  • Allergy Information: A clear list of any known allergies to medications, foods, or other substances.
  • Recent Laboratory Test Results: Bring copies of recent blood tests from the last 6-12 months. This may include a complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (liver and kidney function), inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, ESR), and any other tests relevant to your condition.
  • Diagnostic Imaging Reports: For conditions like joint pain or osteoarthritis, include written reports from X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. While the images themselves can be useful, the radiologist’s interpretive report is often more critical for the initial consultation.

Information Specific to Your Health Concerns

Beyond the general records, certain information is particularly helpful depending on your reason for seeking treatment. For example, if you are consulting for joint-related issues such as osteoarthritis, documents detailing the extent of joint damage, records of previous injections or physical therapy, and assessments of pain levels or mobility limitations would be very useful. For those exploring therapy for systemic inflammatory conditions or for healthy aging purposes, providing results from more specialized tests (e.g., specific inflammatory markers, hormone panels) and a history of lifestyle factors can contribute to a more nuanced discussion with the physician.

Understanding the Process in Japan

Adipose-derived stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that utilizes your body’s own cells. The process typically involves collecting a small amount of fat tissue, isolating and culturing the mesenchymal stem cells in a specialized facility, and then administering the expanded cells back into your body, often through an IV infusion. It is important for patients to understand that this is considered a private-pay (non-insured) medical service in Japan. All regenerative medicine treatments, including this one, are provided under the strict regulations of Japan’s Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine, which ensures high standards for safety and cell processing. Your eligibility for this treatment is not guaranteed and can only be determined by a physician after a thorough medical examination and review of your health status.

Final Checklist Before Your Trip

Before you travel to Osaka for your consultation, please double-check the following points to ensure you are fully prepared:

  • Gather and Organize: Collect all the documents listed above in a single, organized folder.
  • Translate if Necessary: If your primary medical records are not in English, consider getting key documents, such as the physician’s summary, translated.
  • Contact Us in Advance: Feel free to reach out to our clinic’s international support staff if you have questions about which records are most important for your specific situation.
  • Prepare Your Questions: Write down any questions you have about the therapy, the process, potential outcomes, and costs. A consultation is a two-way conversation.

Learn More at Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic

Preparing your medical information is the first step toward an informed discussion about your health. At Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic, we are committed to providing clear and comprehensive information to our international patients. A physician’s consultation is essential to determine if adipose-derived stem cell therapy is an appropriate option for your individual circumstances. During this consultation, the doctor will review your records, discuss the treatment process, and explain the potential risks, side effects, expected number of treatments, and total costs. This therapy is not a guaranteed cure for any disease and results can vary between individuals.

For a detailed overview of our adipose-derived stem cell therapy, we invite you to review our informational page. It provides further details on the treatment features and process. Please visit the following link to learn more before your consultation.

Learn more about Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Therapy

Learn more about Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Therapy

References

Supervising Physician

Hidenori Shimada

Director, Medical Corporation Shimada Clinic
Head of Clinical Practice, Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic

Hidenori Shimada

Graduated from the University of Tokushima Faculty of Medicine in 2005. After his initial residency, he obtained U.S. medical certification (ECFMG) and trained as a sub-intern in general surgery at the University of Washington. After completing the doctoral program at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and working as a researcher at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, he founded Shimada Clinic in 2013. At Grand Green Osaka Umekita Clinic (https://umekitaclinic.org), he is engaged in a wide range of care, from internal medicine and pediatrics to cell therapy and aesthetic medicine.

* The physician supervision of this article covers its academic content only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific treatment or product.

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