The present invention relates to a method of treating a tissue defect in a human or animal body comprising the steps of implanting into said body an unseeded scaffold; allowing or effecting a wound healing response at the site of said defect; allowing said scaffold to be vascularized until a substantially sufficient fluid flow through said scaffold is assured for the transport of nutrients and/or waste products, and seeding said vascularised scaffold with a suitable population of tissue-regenerating cells.