If you have a complete ACL tear and need a stable knee again, ACL reconstruction may be the right path forward. This procedure replaces the damaged anterior cruciate ligament with a graft, restoring the knee’s ability to handle pivoting, cutting, and dynamic movement.
Dr. Reza Jazayeri is a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, with over 15 years of experience treating athletes and active adults throughout the greater Los Angeles area. He uses a biologically optimized approach to ACL reconstruction that combines precise surgical technique with metabolic preparation and structured recovery protocols.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a critical structure in your knee that provides stability during pivoting, cutting, and dynamic movement. ACL injuries typically occur during sports, sudden stops, or twisting motions. They can range from partial tears to complete ruptures, and if left untreated, may result in joint instability, difficulty with activity, and long-term cartilage damage.
Treatment Options:
1. Non-Operative Management (for Partial or Low-Grade Tears)
Some partial ACL tears—especially low-grade or functionally stable injuries—may not require surgery. Select patients may benefit from a comprehensive non-operative treatment plan, which includes:
- Tailored physical therapy
- ACL specific knee bracing
- Orthobiologic therapy using Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC), derived from the patient’s iliac crest, which provides mesenchymal stem cells to support biologic healing
This approach is ideal for those who maintain good functional stability and are motivated to engage in a structured rehabilitation program.
2. ACL Repair (When Feasible)
For ACL tears located near the ligament’s bony attachment (proximal), where the tissue is most amenable to healing, ACL repair is a viable option that allows preservation of the native ligament.
Key Benefits of ACL Repair:
- Maintains your natural ligament, preserving proprioceptive fibers
- No need for graft harvesting (reduces donor site pain)
- Avoids full bone tunnel drilling
- Less postoperative pain
- Faster recovery (return to sport in ~6 months)
Mechanical and Biologic Augmentation of ACL Repair:
Mechanical Support Options:
- Internal Brace: A suture tape reinforcement that acts like a seatbelt for the healing ligament
- BioBrace™: A collagen scaffold that provides mechanical load sharing while encouraging native tissue regeneration
Biologic Support Options:
- BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate): Autologous stem cells and growth factors harvested from the pelvis to accelerate ligament healing.
- BEAR® Implant (Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair): A collagen scaffold that bridges the torn ends of the ACL, using the patient’s blood to promote biologic healing, best for proximal tears
- Allograft augmentation: May be considered as a biologic scaffold in select cases.
All these options are discussed with the patient in a shared decision-making process, ensuring the plan is aligned with the individual’s goals, activity level, and expectations.
Watch: ACL Primary Repair Using the TightRope® RT Implant With InternalBrace™ Ligament Augmentation
3. ACL Reconstruction (Gold Standard)
For complete ACL tears, midsubstance ruptures, or tissue that is not repairable, ACL reconstruction remains the gold standard, especially in young, active individuals and athletes.
Dr. Jazayeri’s “All-Inside” Minimally Invasive ACL Reconstruction Technique:
- Utilizes precisely placed anatomic sockets within the native ACL footprint, preserving native bone and maximizing proprioception
- Avoids traditional full tunnel drilling, resulting in:
- Less postoperative pain
- Bone preservation
- Improved graft placement and function
- Performed using small arthroscopic incisions with a focus on minimally invasive surgery
Details On ACL Reconstruction Techniques
ACL reconstruction repairs a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, a common injury in sports that involve cutting, pivoting, or sudden stops. Dr. Jazayeri uses his Biologically Optimized ACL Technique, known as the. This framework combines precise surgical reconstruction with biologic augmentation and a structured recovery plan.
The technique draws on his sports medicine fellowship training at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic and his years of experience treating competitive athletes and combat sports practitioners. He also incorporates prehabilitation, conditioning the knee before surgery to build strength and improve post-operative outcomes.
Graft Options:
- Autografts (preferred for patients under 35 and athletes)
- Quadriceps tendon (Dr. Jazayeri’s graft of choice)
- Patellar tendon
- Hamstring tendon
- Allografts (cadaver tissue; considered for patients >35 or lower-demand patients)
Autografts have consistently shown lower retear rates in younger, athletic populations. Dr. Jazayeri favors the quadriceps tendon autograft, taken via a minimally invasive arthroscopically assisted 3cm incision from the operative leg.
Augmentation for ACL Reconstruction:
- Internal Brace and BioBrace™ can be added for enhanced mechanical support and biologic healing.
- In high-risk cases (e.g., athletes, revisions), BMAC may be used to enhance graft incorporation and healing at the bone-ligament interface.
Recovery Timeline After ACL Surgery
Recovery follows a phased progression that typically spans six to twelve months. The first phase focuses on controlling swelling and restoring full extension. By two-three weeks, most patients walk without crutches and begin more active strengthening.
Watch: All-Inside ACL Reconstruction with Arthrex® GraftLink®
4. Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis (LET):
In select patients, Dr. Jazayeri may perform a (LET), a procedure that enhances rotational knee stability by using part of the iliotibial band (ITB) to reinforce the ACL.
Ideal Candidates for LET:
- High-level cutting or pivoting athletes
Individuals at high risk of retear (e.g., young athletes, hyperlaxity) - Revision ACL cases
- ACL Repair
Benefits:
- Additional “seatbelt” protection for the ACL
- Performed through a small incision (~5cm)
- Does not delay recovery time
- Highly effective in reducing re-injury rates
Watch: Iliotibial Band Tenodesis Using the FiberStaple™ Technique
Watch: BioACL™ Technique
Bio-Fertilization™ Technique: Biologically Optimized ACL
A modern, comprehensive protocol to enhance outcomes and accelerate return to play.
Bio-Fertilization™ includes:
1. Preoperative Optimization
- Metabolic evaluation with blood markers
- Prehabilitation exercises
- Personalized dietary planning
- Targeted amino acid supplementation
2. Surgical Precision
- Ligament repair or reconstructionusing an all-inside technique
- Use of biologic and mechanical augmentation (BioACL, BioBrace, BMAC, Internal Brace)
- Bio ACL
3. Postoperative Recovery
- Personalized rehabilitation protocols initiated immediately post-op
- Integration of MyHealthTrack, a digital rehab platform
- In-person physical therapy customized to your tear pattern, graft type, and intraoperative findings
What Happens Next?
Whether you’re a high school athlete, weekend warrior, or professional competitor, Dr. Jazayeri will guide you through your options using a personalized, evidence-based, and patient-first approach. You’ll receive a plan tailored to your anatomy, sport, goals, and injury characteristics.
Key Takeaway:
- ACL reconstruction remains the most common and effective solution for complete ACL tears.
- ACL repair, when feasible, offers an exciting option for certain tear patterns—especially when biologically and mechanically augmented.
- Non-operative strategies may be appropriate for select partial tears, especially when supported by orthobiologics.
- Advanced augmentation techniques (BioBrace, BEAR, Internal Brace, BMAC) are enhancing outcomes across the board.
- Dr. Jazayeri’s ensures every patient is metabolically, surgically, and rehabilitatively optimized for the best possible recovery.
ACL RECONSTRUCTION POST OPERATIVE PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS
What to expect with your ACL surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About ACL Reconstruction Surgery
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ACL reconstruction surgery is a procedure to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. This surgery replaces the damaged ligament with a graft, helping restore stability and function to the knee.
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Good candidates for ACL reconstruction are typically young, active individuals or athletes who have a complete ACL tear. If you experience knee instability, pain, or difficulty returning to sports, this surgery may be recommended.
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Recovery after ACL reconstruction usually involves a structured rehabilitation program. Most patients start physical therapy right after surgery, and returning to sports can take 9 to 12 months, depending on individual healing and adherence to the rehab plan.
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Grafts can be autografts, using your own tissue, or allografts, using donor tissue. Autografts, like the quadriceps tendon, are often preferred for younger athletes due to lower retear rates.
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Before your appointment, gather relevant imaging studies like MRI reports and a list of your medications. Discuss any health conditions with your surgeon to ensure a detailed evaluation.
Dr. Jazayeri’s Personalized Approach to ACL Injuries
Each ACL tear presents uniquely in its pattern, and therefore, treatment is customized to address the specific characteristics of each individual case.
Dr. Jazayeri’s approach centers on preserving the native ACL whenever possible. Each patient is evaluated holistically—taking into account their build, anatomy, sport, position, timing in the season (or life), and the exact injury pattern. No two athletes or injuries are the same, and treatment recommendations are tailored accordingly.
Whenever feasible, a preservation-first philosophy is applied, utilizing a combination of advanced surgical techniques, biologic augmentation, and rehabilitation protocols to promote healing and expedite safe return to activity.
Meet Dr. Reza Jazayeri
Dr. Reza Jazayeri specializes in sports medicine with expertise in shoulder, knee, and elbow injuries. A Southern California native, Dr. Jazayeri combines an engineering background with elite surgical training, completing his orthopedic surgery residency at the nationally ranked NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and a sports medicine fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.
After more than 15 years caring for patients within the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Dr. Jazayeri joined DOCS Health to expand a practice focused on personalized orthopedic and sports medicine care and surgical excellence. As Director of Longevity at DOCS Health, he leads the development and implementation of optimization protocols and regenerative medicine strategies designed to improve long-term musculoskeletal health and extend healthspan.
His published work includes a 2026 coauthored review of nutritional optimization in spine surgery in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. View Dr. Jazayeri’s research publications and training.
I shattered my collarbone playing hockey and Dr. Jazayeri was my surgeon. Throughout the entire process he did a great job of explaining what he would be doing, making me feel comfortable and he did a masterful job of putting the plate and screws into my collarbone. I’m 3 months out and I’m already back in the gym 5 days a week, I have a full range of motion, and Dr. Jazayeri continues to check in on my progress and make sure I’m doing well. I couldn’t have asked for a better surgeon. I don’t think anyone hopes to have to see an orthopedic surgeon again, but if I ever do have another injury that requires surgery, I hope Dr. Jazayeri is my surgeon again. Thanks again for everything, and for anyone doubting whether or not they should get the surgery or not…get it. Dr. Jazayeri is a true master of his craft.
Schedule Your Consultation For ACL Reconstruction
If you are dealing with knee instability from an ACL tear, a consultation can help you understand your options. Dr. Jazayeri is a double board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing ACL reconstruction for patients throughout the greater Los Angeles area. His practice uses a biologically optimized approach that combines precise surgical technique, metabolic preparation, and structured recovery protocols.
Virtual consultations are available for patients across California and beyond. Reach out today to schedule your evaluation and take the next step toward a stable, functional knee.
Medically reviewed by Reza Jazayeri, M.D. on
