Kim Kardashian, the global icon, beauty mogul, and reality TV star, is known for sharing every part of her life, from glamorous fashion moments on the red carpet to unfiltered glimpses of her family milestones. Now, she’s revealing a deeply personal health journey that, she says, changed her life. Kim has revealed that she turned to stem cell therapy after struggling with years of painful injuries, and says the results were ‘life-changing.’
The 44-year-old SKIMS founder shared on Instagram that she tore her shoulder two years ago while lifting weights. The pain, which she described as ‘debilitating,’ refused to go away despite trying ‘every treatment’ available in the United States.
“I’m so excited to share my stem cell journey,” she wrote. “I regained full range of motion, and my shoulder has felt completely normal ever since.”
Kim revealed that she learned about stem cell therapy through Dr. Adeel Khan at Eterna Health in Mexico. She underwent a procedure using Dezawa Muse cells, a type of stem cell therapy, and says she felt relief almost immediately.
Encouraged by this result, she returned to Mexico to treat her chronic back pain with the same therapy and claims it worked again. “The unbearable pain was finally gone,” she wrote, thanking Dr. Khan and his team for giving her “hope when I thought I had none left.”
Why Kim had to go to Mexico
Stem cell therapy, like the one Kim underwent, is not available in the United States. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict regulations on such treatments and has banned certain types, particularly those involving embryonic stem cells, over safety, ethical, and unproven effectiveness concerns.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some stem cell procedures, especially unapproved ones, can carry risks, including infection, tissue rejection, and even tumour growth. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned about ‘medical tourism’ for unregulated stem cell treatments, advising patients to carefully check the safety and scientific backing of such procedures.
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that while stem cells hold great promise, only a few treatments are currently proven safe and effective for certain conditions, such as some blood disorders and immune system diseases.
How much does it cost?
Global Stem Cell Therapy data shows that the shoulder procedure Kim had can cost between 4,000 and 15,000 dollars, depending on the clinic and location. This cost, along with the need to travel abroad, makes it an option only a few can consider.
What exactly is stem cell therapy?
Stem cells are special cells that can develop into many different types of cells in the body. They can come from various sources, including embryos, umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, and even breast milk.
Some forms, like those using embryonic stem cells, are highly controversial because of ethical debates about how the cells are obtained. Other forms, such as using adult stem cells from the patient’s own body or from umbilical cord tissue, are considered less controversial but may have more limited uses.
Is it safe? Experts answers
Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in the US, has said that while stem cell research is advancing, “patients should be cautious of clinics promising quick cures without scientific proof.”
Similarly, the FDA has issued multiple warnings against unapproved stem cell treatments, stating that they have not been proven safe or effective for conditions like joint injuries, back pain, or neurological diseases.
The WHO also recommends that patients consult qualified doctors before undergoing such procedures abroad.
While Kim Kardashian’s experience with stem cell therapy was positive, experts explain that her case is personal and not proof that the treatment works for everyone. In the US, many such procedures remain banned due to safety and ethical concerns, and major health bodies urge people to research thoroughly before considering costly, unregulated medical treatments overseas.
