San Francisco · Knee Specialist
Knee specialist in San Francisco.
A precise diagnosis for knee arthritis, meniscus, ligament and tendon problems — and a non-surgical plan when that is the right answer.
Pinpoint what is failing inside the knee.
Too often the only options offered for a painful knee are cortisone, which can mask the problem, or surgery, which is hard to undo. RegenCore takes a different path: pinpoint exactly what’s failing inside the knee, then use your own biology and targeted energy therapy to repair it. For the right candidate, that can mean real improvement without ever entering an operating room.
At the San Francisco clinic we combine a hands-on exam, your history, prior imaging and in-clinic diagnostic ultrasound to identify the specific structure causing your pain before recommending anything.
Read our full guide to knee pain, or see the San Francisco clinic page for the map and directions.
Who it suits
When to see a knee specialist.
- Told you need a replacement and want to understand the alternatives first
- Offered another cortisone injection and hesitant about a third or fourth
- Getting different explanations from different doctors
- Managing on anti-inflammatories rather than actually improving
- Knee pain from arthritis, a meniscus tear, ligament strain or patellar tendinopathy
For an end-stage, bone-on-bone knee, replacement may genuinely be the better answer — we will tell you which one you are.
How it works
Your first visit at the San Francisco clinic
An evaluation comes first. No referral is required.
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Book at San Francisco
Call (650) 328-4411 or request an evaluation online. Our concierge team arranges a time at 2100 Webster St, Suite 424.
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History & hands-on exam
What your knee stops you doing, what you have already tried, and a hands-on exam.
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Ultrasound in the room
In-clinic diagnostic ultrasound, alongside any prior imaging, to identify the specific structure causing your pain.
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The realistic options
You leave knowing the diagnosis and the realistic options, whether or not you book anything.
Our team
The physicians behind this care
Both clinics offer the same physicians and protocols. Our concierge team will match you to the right physician when you book in San Francisco.
Dr. Rowan Paul, MD
Pioneer in regenerative interventional orthopedics; head physician for the San Francisco Ballet.
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Dr. Ian Barrett, MD
Mayo- and Stanford-trained orthopedic surgeon; arthroscopy & joint replacement.
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Dr. Kentaro Onishi, DO
Two-time Olympic physician and tendinopathy expert; ultrasound-guided regenerative sports medicine.
View profileVisit the San Francisco clinic
Address
2100 Webster St, Suite 424, San Francisco, CA 94115 — in the Pacific Professional Building, Pacific Heights.
Get directionsPhone & hours
(650) 328-4411 — speak with our concierge team. Open Monday–Wednesday, 7:30am–5:00pm (alternating Thursdays).
Call nowParking & transit
Paid parking on-site and nearby; accessible by Muni and a short ride from BART. The clinic serves the city and the North Bay.
San Francisco clinic pageKnee Specialist in San Francisco — common questions
What kind of knee specialists are at RegenCore?
Fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Rowan Paul specializes in the knee among other joints, and Dr. Ian Barrett’s practice covers arthroscopic procedures of the knee and knee replacement — so you hear both the non-surgical and the surgical view.
How is this different from the cortisone I have already had?
Cortisone suppresses inflammation and the relief fades as the underlying tissue is unchanged. Regenerative treatment aims at the tissue itself. It is slower and it is not right for everyone, which is what the evaluation is for.
Can regenerative treatment really delay or avoid a knee replacement?
For mild-to-moderate arthritis and many tendon and meniscus problems, yes — it can meaningfully improve pain and function. For bone-on-bone, end-stage arthritis it may not, and we’ll tell you honestly.
Do I need a referral or new imaging first?
No referral is required. If you have prior imaging or records, bringing them helps — but it isn’t necessary to get started.
Book your San Francisco evaluation.
Concierge regenerative orthopedics at 2100 Webster St, Suite 424. Prefer the Peninsula? Our Palo Alto clinic at 2248 Park Blvd offers the same physicians and protocols.