UC-MSC vs PRP vs Exosomes: What You Are Actually Buying
Thai clinics use the phrase 'stem cell therapy' for at least six different products. This guide explains what each one is, what it costs, and how well supported it is.
Side by side
| Treatment | What it is | Thailand cost | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC-MSC (umbilical cord) | Living donor stem cells | $4,200 – $14,000 | Systemic, joint, longevity |
| Autologous MSC (fat / marrow) | Your own cells, harvested | $6,000 – $18,000 | Orthopaedic, sports injury |
| Exosomes | Cell-free signalling vesicles | $1,400 – $5,600 | Aesthetics, skin, hair, add-on |
| PRP | Concentrated own platelets | $420 – $1,300 | Joints, hair, skin |
| NK cells | Immune cells, expanded | $8,000 – $25,000 | Immune support programs |
| NAD+ | Coenzyme IV infusion | $420 – $1,700 | Energy, longevity add-on |
How they differ in practice
UC-MSC — umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells
Sourced from donated umbilical cords, usually from Wharton's jelly. Cells are young, consistent and available in large numbers without harvesting anything from you. This is what most Thai clinics mean by "stem cell therapy". Key questions: cell count, viability percentage, sterility testing, and whether the cells are fresh or cryopreserved.
Autologous MSC — your own cells
Harvested from your abdominal fat or bone marrow, processed, then re-administered. No rejection risk and fewer regulatory hurdles, but cell quality declines with age and the harvest is a minor surgical procedure with its own recovery.
Exosomes
Nanoscale vesicles released by stem cells, containing proteins and RNA. No living cells, so they cannot engraft, but they carry signalling cargo. Widely used in aesthetics and as an infusion add-on. Product quality varies enormously; ask for the source and the characterisation data.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma
Your blood is drawn and spun to concentrate platelets, then injected. Cheap, low risk, and the best-evidenced of everything on this page for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis and certain tendon injuries. It is not stem cell therapy and should never be priced as such.
NK cells and NAD+
NK (natural killer) cell expansion is offered in immune-support and oncology-adjacent programs and is among the most expensive options. NAD+ is a coenzyme infusion sold as an energy and longevity add-on; it is not a cell therapy at all.
Evidence strength, honestly
Multiple randomised trials and meta-analyses show short to medium-term pain improvement versus placebo in mild to moderate disease.
Small trials report symptom improvement with a good safety profile. Structural cartilage regeneration is not established.
Mechanistically plausible immunomodulation with early-phase trial data. No regulatory approvals outside specific graft-versus-host indications.
Mostly preclinical. Human data is limited and product standardisation is a significant unresolved problem.
Active research area with substantial commercial marketing far ahead of the published evidence.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between stem cells, exosomes and PRP?
- PRP uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. Exosomes are cell-free signalling vesicles derived from stem cells. Stem cell therapy administers living cells, usually umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. They differ in cost, regulation and what they can plausibly do.
- Are exosomes better than stem cells?
- Not better — different. Exosomes carry no living cells, so they avoid some cell-related risks and are easier to store, but they also cannot engraft or persist. Evidence for both is early; exosome products are less regulated in most jurisdictions.
- What is Wharton's jelly?
- Wharton's jelly is the connective tissue of the umbilical cord and a common source of mesenchymal stromal cells. Cells from this source are young, plentiful and do not require harvesting from the patient.
- Should I choose autologous or allogeneic cells?
- Autologous means your own cells, harvested from fat or bone marrow — no rejection concern, but quality declines with age and the harvest is an extra procedure. Allogeneic donor cells (typically umbilical cord) are younger and more consistent, and are what most Thai clinics use.
- How many cells should I receive?
- Typical IV protocols range from 50 to 200 million cells; joint injections from 10 to 50 million per joint. What matters more than the headline number is the documented viability percentage and sterility testing.
Filter the directory by the treatment you are researching and compare documented protocols, cell sourcing and pricing transparency.
Last updated: July 2026
Information on this page is for general guidance only and may not reflect the most current regulations or pricing. Always verify visa requirements, clinic licences, and treatment costs directly with the relevant authorities and clinics before making travel or treatment decisions.
StemCell Guide is an independent directory. We are not medical advisors, travel agents, or treatment brokers.