ChondroFiller® at the Liquid Cartilage
Injectable, Structural Regenerative Implant for Cartilage Care
Protect • Repair • Regenerate
Don’t Let Cartilage Damage Limit Your Life
Cartilage injuries can turn simple movement into a challenge. Without timely treatment, damage may progress and increase the risk of arthritis or future joint replacement.
At Liquid Cartilage, our goal isjoint preservation and regeneration—not replacement. WithChondroFiller®, we deliver advanced, evidence-led care on Harley Street.
Why Healthy Cartilage Matters
Cartilage provides the smooth, low-friction surface that lets your joints move comfortably. It doesn’t readily self-repair, but with the right scaffold and biological cues,regeneration is possible.
Act early to preserve more of what you have.
What Is ChondroFiller®?
ChondroFiller® is an acellular,biologic collagen scaffold delivered in liquid form. Once placed, itgels within minutes, filling the defect and providing a framework that invites your cells to rebuild cartilage.
Think of it like “epoxy” for cartilage—without the plastic.
- Shields the damaged zone from further wear
- Attracts native cells into a 3D scaffold
- Supports hyaline-like regeneration (not just fibrous scar)
One treatment. One step. A chance to keep your joint for the long term.
The Evidence
How Does It Compare?
ChondroFiller® sits in a different class—structural regenerative implant.
| Treatment | Analogy | What it Does | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HA (Hyaluronic Acid) | WD-40 | Improves lubrication for short-term comfort | Temporary; does not regenerate tissue |
| Arthrosamid® | Silicone | Acts on the synovium to reduce pain signalling | Not regenerative; literature notes complication rates up to 30% |
| ChondroFiller® | Epoxy resin | Fills defects, stabilises, and promotes true cartilage repair | Most robust injectable option for structural repair |
Treatment Options at Liquid Cartilage
ChondroFiller®: our structural, regenerative approach to focal cartilage defects.
Small joints: thumb, fingers, elbow, AC joint, toes, TMJ…
- No incisions; minimal downtime
- 1 ml of ChondroFiller
- In-clinic procedure
From £2,100
Large joints: knee, hip, shoulder, ankle
- In-clinic procedure
- 2.3 ml of ChondroFiller
- No incisions; minimal downtime
From £2,800
Best for knee, hip, shoulder
- Arthroscopic debridement
- Direct ChondroFiller placement under vision
- Ideal for larger/complex defects
- ACIC (autologous collagen-induced chondrogenesis)
- AMIC (autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis)
From £6,500 (knee), £9,500 (hip/shoulder)
Our proprietary MSC Co-Delivery Technique
- Combines ChondroFiller® with MSC (medicinal signalling cells)from marrow, fat, or PRF
- Inspired by ACI / MACI principles—delivered ina single procedure
- Designed for larger or more complex defects
- Best-in-class solution for cartilage loss
- ACIC with cells
- AMIC with cells
Keyhole: from £9,500 – Liquid Cartilage™
Your Journey with Us
Introductory offer: your consultation fee is credited toward treatment if you proceed.
Step 1
Discovery Call
Quick, no-obligation chat
Step 2
Consultation + MRI
Comprehensive assessment with Prof. Paul Lee
Step 3
Treatment Plan
Injection, Keyhole, or Liquid Cartilage™
Step 4
One-Day Procedure
Precise and minimally invasive
Step 5
Specialist Rehab & Follow-Up
Why Liquid Cartilage?
- Prof. Paul Lee— Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Honorary Professor of Sports Medicine; international leader in cartilage regeneration
- Harley Street facilities withmotion capture and AI-supported diagnostics
- Recognised as the UK ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
- Regeneration-first philosophy: preserve joints whenever possible
Take the Next Step
Cartilage damage won’t reverse on its own—yet with the right plan it can beprotected, repaired, and regenerated.
At Liquid Cartilage, you access world-leading science and a joint-preservation vision on Harley Street.
- Start with a Discovery Call.
- Or book your Consultation with Prof. Lee today.
(Consultation fee credited towards treatment if you proceed.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about ChondroFiller® at Liquid Cartilage.
What is ChondroFiller® and how does it support natural repair?
ChondroFiller® is an acellular collagen gel that fills cartilage defects and forms a scaffold for your own cells to regenerate healthy tissue. Unlike temporary injections, it supports hyaline-like restorationfor smoother motion and protection long-term.
How does it compare with other injections or joint replacement?
HA or Arthrosamid® may give short-term pain relief, while ChondroFiller® aims to rebuild cartilage. Compared with replacement, it preserves your natural joint and avoids prosthesis risks. Our approach is regenerate-first.
What outcomes have been reported?
Studies show +30 IKDC in knees,+33 Harris Hip Score in hips, and improved ankle metrics. MRI (MOCART) typically reads 70–87. Globally,>19,000 cases support safety and function.
Who is a good candidate?
Best for focal defects up to 6 cm² in knees, hips, ankles, or small joints. Active younger patients often benefit, but older patients may qualify if surrounding cartilage is stable.
What is the procedure and recovery like?
Delivered via precise injection orkeyhole surgery. The gel sets in minutes. Expectpartial weight-bearing ~6 weeks, steady return to cycling/swimming, and most sports around~12 months alongside specialist rehab.
Why choose us?
Harley Street location; UK ICRS Centre of Excellence. Led byProf. Paul Lee, with advanced options likeLiquid Cartilage™ (ChondroFiller® + cells) to prioritise preservation.
Download our Leaflet
Discover what makes ChondroFiller® unique at Liquid Cartilage.
Latest Blog
View all →
Is Liquid Cartilage right for hip or ankle defects
Liquid Cartilage™, meaning ChondroFiller™, is an arthroscopic collagen matrix used for localised hip or ankle cartilage defects, not diffuse osteoarthritis. In a small 2021 hip cohort, 17 of 21 patients available at 3 to 5 years had good or excellent results, but ankle evidence remains thinner than for microfracture.
Which cartilage repair option fits your defect
Cartilage repair choice is driven first by defect size, joint and damage pattern: smaller isolated lesions tend towards OATS or scaffold-based repair, while larger symptomatic defects more often need AMIC, MACI or OCA. In the knee, MACI outperformed microfracture at 2 and 5 years for larger defects.
How long is the preservation window in knee OCD
Knee OCD has no single countdown clock; the preservation window is the stable-lesion stage before instability or detachment, with MRI and clinical assessment driving decisions. In children with open growth plates, stable lesions are often given a 3- to 6-month joint-preserving trial because healing remains plausible.
When Liquid Cartilage may be considered
Liquid Cartilage™ is considered for a defined symptomatic cartilage defect treated arthroscopically, not for diffuse joint wear: ChondroFiller™ is a cell-free type I collagen scaffold placed into the defect and sets into a hydrogel in about 3–5 minutes.
Early knee osteoarthritis and the preservation window
Early knee osteoarthritis sits in a grey zone: X-rays can be normal or only mildly abnormal while cartilage, meniscal or bone-marrow damage is already present. A preservation window is usually still open in mild-to-moderate disease, but only after ruling out other causes of pain and stiffness.
When cartilage damage on scans needs action
Cartilage damage on a scan matters most when it lines up with ongoing symptoms — persistent pain, recurrent swelling, catching, locking, giving way or lost movement — rather than as an isolated finding. Across the knee, hip and ankle, focal symptomatic defects usually need specialist assessment: a knee with a focal lesion on MRI that keeps swelling and clicking, a hip with deep groin pain and a labral tear that does not self-repair, or a painful or unstable talar lesion after injury all warrant review. Conservative care and watchful waiting can be enough when a lesion is stable and symptoms settle, particularly in children with nondisplaced talar lesions, but a defect that matches the clinical pattern rarely heals on its own.