One of the most common things patients say after their first visit to Dr. Scheinberg’s Santa Barbara clinic is that they wish they’d come sooner. What often held them back wasn’t doubt about the treatment — it was not knowing what to expect. This article walks you through the entire process, from first contact to follow-up, so there are no surprises.
Before Your First Visit
The first step is a consultation, not an injection. Dr. Scheinberg does not offer orthobiologic treatments to patients who haven’t been properly evaluated. This is a meaningful distinction from many clinics where biologics are administered on the same day as the first visit with minimal assessment.
Before your appointment, you’ll be asked to bring any relevant imaging — X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasound studies — so Dr. Scheinberg can review them ahead of your visit. If you don’t have recent imaging, that may be arranged as part of your assessment.
The Initial Assessment
Your first appointment is a surgical-grade orthopedic evaluation. Dr. Scheinberg will review your history, examine the affected joint or tissue, and assess your imaging with the same scrutiny he would bring to a pre-surgical workup. The goal is accurate diagnosis — understanding precisely what is damaged, to what degree, and what the most appropriate treatment approach is.
This assessment determines candidacy for treatment. Not every patient is an appropriate candidate for every biologic protocol, and Dr. Scheinberg will tell you honestly where you stand. Some patients with early-stage problems are best served by PRP alone. Those with more advanced degeneration may be candidates for BMAC, or for the combined approach that uses both PRP and BMAC together. Others, in rare cases, may be better served by surgical intervention — and if that’s the case, you’ll hear it clearly.
The clinic is located on Chapala Street in Santa Barbara, on the same campus as the Pueblo Surgical Center — an AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgical facility. This means that patients have access to a full surgical infrastructure alongside their orthobiologic care.
Treatment Day
If you’ve been cleared as a candidate and you’re proceeding with treatment, here is what happens on the day of the procedure.
For PRP: The process begins with a blood draw — typically 30 to 60 milliliters, drawn from your arm like a routine lab test. The blood is processed in a centrifuge for approximately 15 to 20 minutes to concentrate the platelet-rich plasma. While the PRP is being prepared, the treatment site is evaluated and prepared. The injection itself is delivered with precision, guided by anatomical knowledge and imaging as appropriate. The entire visit typically takes 60 to 90 minutes.
For BMAC: Bone marrow aspiration requires a bit more preparation. The posterior iliac crest (the back of your pelvis) is the harvest site. A local anesthetic is administered to the area, and a specialized needle is used to withdraw a controlled amount of bone marrow. The aspirate is then centrifuged and concentrated. The resulting BMAC is injected into the target joint with surgical-level precision. The total time in the clinic is typically 90 to 120 minutes.
For the combined approach: Both procedures are performed in sequence during the same visit. This is the most comprehensive protocol and is reserved for patients with the most significant joint degeneration or complex pathology.
Most patients drive themselves home afterward. Sedation is not typically used for these procedures.
What You’ll Feel
During PRP, most patients feel mild pressure and brief discomfort at the injection site. It is not described as acutely painful by most patients. There may be temporary soreness or mild swelling for 24 to 48 hours afterward — this is expected and reflects the healing response being initiated.
BMAC involves the additional step of the bone marrow harvest, which patients typically describe as a feeling of deep pressure rather than sharp pain, thanks to the local anesthetic. The injection site may be sore for a few days.
Recovery and Activity
For both PRP and BMAC, the general guidance is to avoid strenuous activity that loads the treated joint for one to two weeks. This isn’t rest — gentle walking and low-impact movement are encouraged. The goal is to protect the initial healing response while allowing it to take hold.
At the four-to-eight-week mark, most patients begin noticing meaningful improvements. The full benefit builds over three to six months. Follow-up visits are scheduled to assess your progress and determine whether additional treatment is warranted.
Follow-Up and Ongoing Care
Dr. Scheinberg’s approach doesn’t end at the injection. He monitors your progress, adjusts recommendations based on how you’re responding, and is available to answer questions. For patients traveling from Bakersfield, Montecito, or elsewhere on the Central Coast, much of the follow-up coordination can be handled efficiently.