Placenta implants: uses, benefits and risks

The placenta implant is one of the regenerative medicine options people in Mexico ask about most: what it is for, what the benefits are and whether it causes side effects. Here we summarize what the available studies say and what is worth clarifying with a physician first.

What is a placenta implant?

It is a product made from human placental tissue processed in a laboratory. In the lyophilized version, the tissue is freeze-dried to preserve it. A physician then administers it through a procedure, according to the manufacturer’s presentation. Find more details in our guide to the lyophilized placenta implant.

“Placenta products” are often discussed as if they were all the same. They are not. There are implants, injectable extracts and amniotic membranes for wounds. Each has its own manufacturing process, and what is shown for one does not automatically apply to the others.

What is it for, and which benefits have been studied?

Placenta contains growth factors, peptides and other molecules, so it is being studied to support tissue repair. It is offered for many purposes, including general wellness, fatigue and anti-aging. However, the evidence is not equally strong for all of them:

• Better supported: wounds. Amniotic membrane, a related tissue, has clinical trials in chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
• Limited evidence: general uses. An assessment by South Korea’s NECA agency concluded it was difficult to establish the effectiveness and safety of human placenta injections for off-label uses, because the evidence was scarce and of low quality. That review dates from 2010, so ask your physician whether there are newer studies of the specific product.

Testimonials of improvement may be sincere, but they do not demonstrate effectiveness: without a comparison group, there is no way to know how much of the change is due to the product.

Do placenta implants work for diabetes?

This is one of the most common searches, and two things should be kept apart:

• Wounds in people with diabetes. A meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials and 465 participants found that amniotic membrane, added to standard care, increased complete healing of diabetic foot ulcers at 6 and 12 weeks compared with standard care alone.
• Diabetes control. That result refers to wound healing with a product applied to the wound. It does not show that an implant controls blood sugar or cures diabetes.

No implant should replace insulin or other medications. Do not stop your treatment unless your physician tells you to.

Side effects and risks

The data depend on the product and how it is administered:

• A retrospective study of 3,000 patients in China, using an injectable placental peptide product, reported a single adverse reaction attributed to the product: mild dizziness (0.03%). It had no comparison group or long-term follow-up, and its results cannot be applied to an implant.
• A case report published in Korea lists fever, rash, itching, nausea and vomiting as effects of placenta extracts, along with rare cases of anaphylaxis. It also describes a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis after an injection.

As with any procedure and biological product of human origin, it is also important to ask about the risk of infection at the administration site and how donated tissue is selected and tested.

How much does a placenta implant cost?

The price varies by laboratory, presentation, physician and what the visit includes. Before comparing, ask whether the cost covers evaluation, product, administration and follow-up. The content on our site is informational: we do not publish prices or sell online. You can read information on this product line and, if you would like to know more, message us.

What to ask before having one

• Which laboratory makes it, and which documents identify its lot?
• How are donors selected, and what tests are done on the tissue?
• What studies exist for this product and my condition?
• Do I have a condition that rules it out, such as pregnancy or allergies?
• What should I do if I have a reaction, and who will follow up with me?

The bottom line

Placental tissue has its clearest support in wound care. For general purposes, such as anti-aging or chronic disease, the evidence is limited. If you are considering it, do so with a physician who evaluates your case and explains the benefits, risks and alternatives. If you need one, contact us and we can refer you to a physician on our list in your state.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace evaluation by a health professional. It has not been evaluated by the FDA.