Abhay Deol Reveals He Got Stem Cell Therapy – Expert Shares All About This Treatment

When celebrities talk about a health condition or medical treatment, it garners attention. The same thing happened when recently Bollywood actor Abhay Deol spoke about receiving stem cell therapy. The actor, who has always been guarded about his personal life, took to social media to open up about it. Want to know more? Read ahead.

To get an expert view on what stem cell therapy is, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Dr Shrey Srivastav, Senior Consultant-Internal Medicine, Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida.

Abhay Deol Opens Up On Stem Cell Therapy Treatment

In an elaborate Instagram post recently, the actor shared: “I never speak about my health or personal issues on a public platform, but I felt the need to share this. For a long time, I've had pain in my knees and sciatica in my left leg due to the slip disc.” Then Abhay Deol explained how he was feeling stuck, especially because he did not want to undergo a surgery. But then he read about stem cell therapy, and decided to give it a shot. His caption further mentioned: “I'd been reading about stem cell therapy, and thought it to be safe enough to give it a shot. It's amazing how natural and safe the procedure felt – no synthetic materials, just my own cells helping my body heal itself.”

Abhay Deol said he underwent the procedure at a clinic in Korea. He added that he would return for a second round of treatment and said his stem cells have been stored for future use. The actor shared photos with the doctor who treated him – Dr Abraham An. Abhay Deol identified him as “Korea’s leading experts in regenerative medicine and aesthetic surgery.”

 

 

 

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A post shared by Abhay Deol (@abhaydeol)

What Is Stem Cell Therapy? 

The first thought that might have crossed any layman’s mind while reading Abhay Deol’s post is – what is stem cell therapy? Our expert explains.

“Stem cell therapy is a medical treatment that uses stem cells to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues or cells. The cells have the ability to grow into specialised cells, which can help restore the function of a damaged or diseased organ,” explains Dr Srivastav.

So, can stem cell therapy be used to treat pain? “Yes, stem cell therapy can be used to treat pain by reducing inflammation and repairing damaged tissues, particularly in the joints, muscles, and nerves. It is particularly used to treat arthritis, back pain, and sports injuries, although with some controversy.”

Also Read: Can Regenerative Medicine Speed Up Sports Injury Recovery? Expert Weighs In

What Are The Side Effects Of Stem Cell Therapy?

Are you wondering whether this treatment is safe or not? Our expert explains this too. Dr Srivastav shares that the side effects of stem cell therapy may include infection, pain at the injection site, inflammation, allergic reactions, or failure of treatment. “In some cases, the misuse of cells may lead to the development of abnormal tissues,” he adds. On this note, the expert lists down stem cell therapy’s cons. Let’s take a look.

Common Short-term Side Effects

• Injection Site Reactions: Pain, swelling, bruising, and redness at the site of the injection or catheter placement.
• Systemic Reactions: Low-grade fever, chills, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and fatigue
• Digestive Issues: Diarrhea, vomiting, or mouth sores (particularly in cases involving prior chemotherapy).
• Immune Response: Mild reactions to introduced cells.

Potential Serious or Long-Term Risks

• Infection: Due to a weakened immune system, particularly after higher-dose treatments.
• Unintended Tissue Growth/Tumors: Risk of uncontrolled proliferation, where stem cells form tumors or grow into unwanted tissues (example, bone forming in muscles).
• Organ Damage: Potential for damage to surrounding tissues if the procedure is not performed correctly.
• Graft-vs-Host Disease (GVHD): In cases using donor cells (allogeneic), the new cells might attack the patient's body.
• Blood Clots: Although rare, some people – particularly in IV treatments – may experience thromboembolism.

What Is The Recovery Time For Stem Cell Therapy?

A 2025 study mentioned that patients with weak heart function – who receive stem cell therapy shortly after a heart attack – are at lower risk of developing heart failure and related hospital stays compared with standard care. This finding was published by The BMJ journal. Thus, this treatment comes with cons as well.

Having said that, let’s talk about the recovery time. “The recovery time for stem cell therapy depends on the condition treated, the type of stem cells, and the method of delivery. Patients can take one to three days to recover and return to light activities. There may be some temporary pain or swelling. Functional recovery will be observed after a few weeks or months as the body heals from the treatment,” explains Dr Srivastav.

Last but not the least, is stem cell therapy cancerous? “Stem cell therapy is not cancerous if it is well regulated and approved by a doctor. This is because the doctor can control the type, quantity, and activity of the cells. The application of unproven and unregulated stem cell therapy may cause abnormal growth, which is dangerous,” concludes Dr Srivastav.

The Final Word

Actor Abhay Deol recently opened up about receiving stem cell therapy from Korea to treat pain in his body. His social media post went viral, and garnered attention about this treatment. Stem cell therapy is a medical treatment that uses stem cells to repair, replace, or regenerate damaged tissues or cells. The cells have the ability to grow into specialised cells, which can help restore the function of a damaged or diseased organ.

Also Read: Heart Health: Understanding Stem Cells And Its Role In Cardiac Care