Peyronie's Disease Treatment in Dallas: Stem Cells + Acoustic Wave Therapy

Quick Answers About Stem Cell Treatment for Peyronie’s Disease

Innovations brought acoustic wave therapy (AWT) to the USA from Switzerland in 2005. For Peyronie’s disease, we combine AWT with your own fat-derived stem cells in one protocol: Dr. Bill Johnson performs the fat harvest and the injection, and his medical staff deliver the AWT sessions.

1. Will stem cells from my fat help my Peyronie’s disease?

Most patients improve, but results vary from man to man and we can’t promise a specific result. Published research on fat-derived cells for Peyronie’s disease is still early and based on small studies, and experts are still discussing the best way to deliver the cells. At your consultation, Dr. Johnson will tell you honestly whether you’re a good candidate.

2. Can stem cells help straighten my penis?

Some men see less curvature after treatment, and men in small early studies have reported reduced curvature. We can’t promise straightening. How much change is possible depends on factors such as how long you’ve had the plaque, whether it has hardened (calcified) and how severe the curve is.

3. How many treatments will I need?

Typically one treatment is done. Some patients choose a second treatment, usually 6–12 months later, for further improvement or if the curvature comes back.

4. Should I do AWT (ESWT) with the stem cells?

AWT appears to have an additive effect, so we recommend it. AWT is also easy to repeat for further results.

5. How much does it cost?

The first treatment is $16,500, and AWT is included. That covers your medical evaluation, the AWT sessions, the stem cell harvest and processing, the injection into the plaque, and follow-up care. A second treatment, if needed, is $10,000, including AWT. Financing is available. Contact us directly and we’ll help you apply.

6. How is the treatment done?

The treatment combines three AWT sessions with one fat harvest and injection. If you live locally, you can split it over several days: an AWT session, then 2–3 days later a second AWT session with the fat harvest, processing and injection into the area of the plaque, then a third AWT session 2–3 days after that. If you’re coming from out of town, as most of our Peyronie’s patients are, we combine everything into one day, and you can fly home the next morning.

What Is Peyronie’s Disease?

Peyronie’s Disease is a localized fibrotic disease of the penis that results in a deformed penis, pain, and often erectile dysfunction. Estimates depend on how it’s counted. About 0.5–1% of U.S. men have a doctor’s diagnosis, but as many as 11–13% report symptoms that suggest Peyronie’s disease (Stuntz et al., 2016; DiBenedetti et al., 2011). The prevalence increases with age. The actual number of affected men may be underestimated because some older men never seek treatment. This page is written to help readers gain an understanding of the use of adult stem cells for Peyronie’s Disease. We also want to help you evaluate if stem cell treatment should be an option for you or your loved one. The page covers the following:

1. What causes Peyronie’s Disease?
2. What are the current medical treatment options for Peyronie’s Disease?
3. How are adult stem cells deployed for Peyronie’s Disease?
4. How is Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) used in Peyronie’s Disease?
5. What to expect after deployment of adult stem cells for Peyronie’s Disease?

Read more about Peyronie’s disease symptoms, causes and diagnosis

Feel free to skip to sections that provide information that is helpful to you. For more information including definitions and descriptions of Peyronie’s Disease visit:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peyronies-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353468
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/p/peyronies-disease

What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?

The underlying cause of Peyronie’s Disease is unknown. It is believed that multiple factors have a role in the development of the fibrous area known as plaque. Factors that are believed to have a role are a genetic predisposition, local trauma, and blood flow changes to the area. Some studies have found a weak association between Peyronie’s Disease and:

• Genital or lower body injuries
• Radical prostatectomy
• Paget’s disease
• Gout
• Lipomas

The natural course of Peyronie’s disease

Early studies suggested that many plaques resolved in about a year without treatment. However, later studies have shown this to occur only about 12% of the time. The curvature worsens in the first year in 40-48% of men.

The early phase of the disease is believed to be inflammatory and is often associated with penile pain. The inflammatory phase usually resolves in around 18 months. Over 90% of men also see resolution of pain by about 18 months. Unfortunately, up to 50% of men are unable to have adequate sexual function even after the pain resolves. For more on the cause of Peyronie’s Disease see: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/penile-curvature-peyronies-disease.

Peyronie’s Disease Treatment Options

The current strategy for treating Peyronie’s Disease is rapidly evolving. Most experts believe that early intervention using medications is likely to be more effective than waiting until the disease has stabilized. Commonly used treatment options are:

1. Pentoxifylline (brand name: TRENtal). This is an oral drug that blocks the effect of a destructive growth factor that is present in the forming plaque in Peyronie’s Disease. Pentoxifylline effects may not be present for 4-6 months, so continuation of the drug is important even if no effects are seen. Pentoxifylline is effective when used early on, but less so with a well-established or calcified plaque.

2. Other oral drugs include:

• Vitamin E
• Potassium para-aminobenzoate (aka. Potaba)
• Colchicine
• Tamoxifen
• Carnitine

None of these drugs have been shown to be effective in good clinical trials. Most are rarely used today.

3. Injections into the plaque (intralesional therapy) are safe, well-tolerated, and have been shown to work in several studies. Medications used include:

• Verapamil
• Interferon alpha-2b
• Collagenase

All of these treatments have been effective in some patients. Recommendations vary widely as to how to best use these treatments

Collagenase (brand name Xiaflex) is the only drug approved by the FDA specifically for Peyronie’s disease. A urologist injects it into the plaque, and it is approved for men who have a plaque that can be felt and a curve of at least 30 degrees.

4. Topical treatments. Many creams and lotions have been tried, but none have been shown to be consistently effective.

5. Penile traction. This technique stretches the flaccid penis and is usually used with medications. Early studies show traction to be effective in many patients.

6. Surgery. Several different techniques can be used. One small study showed a patient satisfaction rate of 86%.

Our Peyronie’s Disease Protocol, Step by Step

How are adult stem cells deployed for Peyronie’s disease?

We refer to using the adult stem cells/SVF as deployment. The typical deployment for Peyronie’s Disease is into the shaft of the penis using a small needle. We do some special treatments to the penis using a device called Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT). We begin with an AWT treatment. After 2-3 days we do another AWT treatment and harvest and deploy the SVF. The SVF is deployed into the shaft of the penis using a needle. First, we numb the penis, and then we deploy the SVF into the area of the Peyronie’s plaque. Some work is done to disrupt the plaque during the injections of SVF. Finally, after 2-3 more days a third AWT treatment is performed. For out-of-town patients, all three AWT treatments and the SVF deployment are combined into one day. To read more on stem cells see our blogs What are Stem Cells and Understanding Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

How is acoustic wave therapy (ESWT) used in Peyronie’s disease?

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) devices are used widely for the treatment of kidney stones. These devices focus shock waves to the area of the stones and break them apart. The devices used for kidney stones are very large. Smaller versions of ESWT are used for cellulite on women’s legs, orthopedic injuries, and scar improvement. ESWT treatments have been used for erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s Disease without the deployment of adult stem cells/SVF. Most patients say the treatment is most similar to a deep massage.

For Peyronie’s disease, we give three ESWT treatments, about 2-3 days apart for local patients or all on one day for patients traveling in. Dr. Johnson’s medical staff deliver these sessions. On the day of the second treatment, we deploy the adult stem cells/SVF as described above. This combination of adult stem cell/SVF deployment and ESWT treatment is our advanced protocol for Peyronie’s disease.

What to expect

• Consultation: You’ll meet with Dr. Bill Johnson, who reviews your medical history, how long you’ve had Peyronie’s disease, your curvature and any pain or ED, and what you’ve already tried. You may be asked to bring a photo of your erect penis to help with the evaluation. You’ll leave with a personalized plan.
• AWT sessions: Dr. Johnson’s medical staff deliver the three non-surgical AWT sessions.
• Scheduling: If you live locally, you can split the AWT sessions over several days, about 2–3 days apart. If you’re traveling in (most of our Peyronie’s and ED patients are), we combine the AWT sessions, fat harvest and injection into one day, and you can fly home the next morning.
• Fat harvest and injection: On the day of your second AWT session (or on your single treatment day if you’re traveling in), Dr. Johnson takes a small amount of fat from your belly or thighs with a minimally invasive liposuction technique under local anesthesia. The fat is processed in our clinic to isolate the cells, and Dr. Johnson then injects them into the area of the plaque himself.
• Comfort: The procedure is done under local anesthesia, not general anesthesia, so discomfort is usually mild.
• Recovery: Most patients get back to normal activities within a few days. Liposuction and injections are minimally invasive, but they do carry risks such as bruising, swelling, soreness and infection. We’ll go over these with you.
• Results take time: Any changes build gradually over several weeks to months.

How Stem Cell Therapy May Work for Peyronie’s Disease

In Peyronie’s disease, scar tissue (plaque) forms inside the penis and causes the curve. Fat-derived cells injected into the area may help reduce plaque size, help remodel collagen, and improve the flexibility of the penile tissue. As a result, some men may have less pain, better erections and less curvature. Stem cells may also help slow further progression of the condition. These effects are still being studied.

What Results Can I Expect?

Although the early results using adult stem cells/SVF and ESWT are very promising, insufficient numbers of patients have been treated to give a definitive answer to this question. Fortunately, we do have enough experience to talk about early trends in therapy. Numbers are small, but most patients improve, with better erectile function and less penile curvature. Results vary, and we can’t guarantee any specific result.

It is likely that some patients will want a repeat round of ESWT and adult stem cell/SVF deployment about 6-12 months after the initial deployment. We do not yet know the percentage of patients that will undergo a second round.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Stem cell therapy is not right for everyone. At your consultation, Dr. Johnson weighs how severe your curvature and any erectile dysfunction are, how long you’ve had Peyronie’s disease and what likely caused it, what treatments you’ve already tried, and your overall health before recommending a plan.

If you are a man who is doing well with one or more of these options, this might not be the right time to consider adult stem cell treatment. See our blog Understanding Adipose-Derived Stem Cells. If you have not responded or you do not like the options available to you, adult stem cell therapy is an option you may wish to consider.

Peyronie’s Disease and Erectile Dysfunction

Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction (ED) often go together. The plaque can make erections painful or difficult and sometimes leads to ED. If erections are your main concern, see our page on stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction.

Who Performs the Treatment: Dr. Bill Johnson

Dr. Bill Johnson has been a physician since 1983 and has practiced in the Dallas–Fort Worth area since 2000. He has offered stem cell therapy at Innovations since late 2012, giving him nearly 14 years of experience using patients’ own fat-derived cells, including for erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease. He performs the Peyronie’s fat harvest and injection himself, and his medical staff deliver the non-surgical AWT sessions. He builds a personalized plan for each patient based on his exam and your history. Read Dr. Johnson’s bio.

Cost of Peyronie’s Disease Stem Cell Treatment

Our adipose-derived stem cells yield 100 million cells per treatment – compared to just 100,000 from bone marrow.

$16,500 for initial treatment (AWT included)

Your investment includes:
✅ Complete medical evaluation
✅ 3 AWT (acoustic wave therapy) treatments
✅ Stem cell harvest & processing
✅ Targeted injection into plaque
✅ Follow-up care included

Second treatment (if needed): $10,000, including AWT. Financing is available. Contact us directly and we’ll help you apply. Learn about financing.

Traveling to Dallas for Peyronie’s Treatment

Most of our Peyronie’s patients travel to see us, from Plano and Fort Worth, from Tyler and other East Texas towns, and from farther away. For patients coming from out of town, we combine the AWT sessions, the fat harvest and the injection into one treatment day, so you won’t need repeat trips for AWT, and you can fly home the next morning. Your first conversation can happen by phone before you book your trip, and our team will help you plan the visit. Our clinic is at 12660 Coit Rd, Suite 100, in Dallas. If you live locally, you can split the AWT sessions over several days.

If You Have Peyronie’s Disease, Innovations Medical Can Help You

Innovations Medical provides Stem Cell Therapy procedures at our Dallas practice location. We hope we have answered the majority of your questions. If you have other questions about Peyronie’s Disease or wish to schedule a consultation please call us at (972) 893-9849 or contact us online.

Sources:

• Stromal Vascular Fraction Combined with Shock Wave for the Treatment of Peyronie’s Disease
• Biotherapies for erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease: Where are we now?
• Stem-cell therapy for erectile dysfunction
• Stem cell therapy for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease
• Stuntz et al., 2016: Prevalence of Peyronie’s disease in the United States
• DiBenedetti et al., 2011: A population-based study of Peyronie’s disease
• Mayo Clinic: Peyronie’s disease diagnosis and treatment

Related Pages

• Stem Cell Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
• ESWT (Acoustic Wave Therapy) + Stem Cells
• Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Prostatitis
• Peyronie’s Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors and Diagnosis