Knee Cartilage
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Cartilage cell therapy pricing
MACI cost in the UK: what you need to know
MACI has no standard UK price because it is not available here. The UK route is STACi, all-inclusive.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026Quick answer
There is no standard UK price for MACI, because it is not currently available here as a licensed product. MACi’s EU authorisation was suspended in 2014 and it is now a US, knee-only treatment. The UK route for cartilage cell therapy is STACi — from £28,000, all-inclusive, at London Cartilage Clinic.
Why you will not find a standard UK MACi price
If you are searching for the cost of MACi in the UK, the honest answer is that there is not one to quote. MACi is not currently available in the UK as a licensed product: its European marketing authorisation was suspended in 2014 after its EU manufacturing site closed, and it is now a US product, FDA-approved in 2016 for the knee only. Because it is not licensed or sold here, there is no established UK price list for it.
Any figure you see attached to “MACi in the UK” should be treated with caution. What patients are really asking when they price MACi is: what does modern autologous cartilage cell therapy cost in the UK? That question does have a clear answer. Read the full detail on MACi UK availability.
The UK price for this treatment is the STACi price
The modern, UK-available evolution of MACi is STACi, offered at London Cartilage Clinic. STACi is priced at £28,000, all-inclusive. That single figure is designed to cover the pathway rather than leave you with a stack of separate invoices.
Pricing
STACi cost in the UK
From £28,000, all-inclusive at London Cartilage Clinic. See the full cost breakdown of what is included. A consultation confirms the plan for your specific joint and defect.
Why an all-inclusive price matters
Two-stage cell therapies like MACi carry costs at more than one point — a biopsy operation, laboratory cell culture, and then a second implantation operation weeks later. That structure can make the true total hard to pin down in advance.
STACi’s single, all-inclusive figure reflects a different pathway. Because it is most often a single operation — the laboratory step is brought into theatre rather than run as a separate stage — there is no second surgery to price separately and no weeks-long lab wait sitting between two invoices. You are quoted for the treatment as a whole. Exactly what is included is set out on the STACi cost page; a consultation confirms the plan for your specific joint and defect.
Getting a figure that fits your case
The right price for you depends on your imaging, the size and location of the damage, and whether STACi alone or a combination approach is best. The most reliable next step is to have that reviewed:
- Free discovery call (15 minutes). A no-cost conversation to understand your situation and whether an assessment is worthwhile.
- Consultation (£350). Professor Lee reviews your imaging and history and confirms the recommended treatment and its cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does MACI cost in the UK?
There is no standard UK price for MACi because it is not currently available here as a licensed product — its EU authorisation was suspended in 2014, and it is now a US, knee-only treatment. London Cartilage Clinic offers STACi, the modern single-stage equivalent, from £28,000, all-inclusive.
Why can’t you give a MACI price?
Because MACi is not licensed or sold in the UK, there is no established UK price list for it. Pricing it here would be misleading. The meaningful figure is the cost of the UK-available equivalent, STACi.
What does STACi cost, and what is included?
STACi is £28,000, all-inclusive. The single figure is designed to cover the treatment pathway rather than a series of separate invoices. The full breakdown is on the STACi cost guide, and a consultation confirms the figure for your specific case.
Why is STACi quoted as one price when MACI had two operations?
STACi is most often a single operation, with the laboratory step brought into theatre. There is no second surgery to price separately and no lab wait between two invoices, so it can be quoted as one all-inclusive figure.
Is STACi available on the NHS?
STACi is a UK-exclusive procedure at London Cartilage Clinic and is offered privately. If you would like your suitability and the cost reviewed, start with a free discovery call or book a consultation.
Could the price change after my consultation?
The consultation exists to confirm the right plan for your joint and defect. STACi is quoted as an all-inclusive £28,000; any variation, for example if a combination approach is advised, is discussed clearly and in advance, never after the fact.
Still have more specific concerns?
Free Discovery CallWant a clear price for your case?
MACi has no UK price — but the UK route, STACi, is all-inclusive. Start with a free fifteen-minute discovery call, or book a consultation to have your imaging reviewed and the cost confirmed.
London Cartilage Clinic
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