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Hip replacement surgery
- No.1 in London for private orthopaedic care
- 97% of orthopaedic patients rate our care ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’
- Appointments confirmed within 24 hours
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HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
We’re one of the most trusted providers of orthopaedic care in the UK, and 97% of our orthopaedic patients say they’d recommend us to family and friends. Our dedicated hip specialists will use start-of-the-art imaging technology to accurately diagnose the condition of your hip and devise a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs. So, you can be confident that your hip surgery is in experienced and skilled hands.
We’re committed to making sure you get the care you need at every stage of the process. It’s why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
We’re committed to making sure you get the care you need at every stage of the process. It’s why we have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
Hip replacement is one of the most common joint replacement surgeries. It involves removing your damaged or worn hip joint and replacing it with an artificial one called a prosthesis, which can be metal, ceramic or plastic. The procedure can help relieve extreme hip pain, make you more stable and allow you to move your hip more freely again.
Every patient is different, and your consultant will talk to you in detail about your surgery and how it can help relieve your symptoms.
Every patient is different, and your consultant will talk to you in detail about your surgery and how it can help relieve your symptoms.
Hip replacement surgery is usually recommended when you have severe hip pain that’s having a significant impact on your everyday life, and other treatments haven’t been successful.
Every patient is different, and your consultant will talk to you in detail about your symptoms, but there are some common signs that your hip might need to be replaced:
Every patient is different, and your consultant will talk to you in detail about your symptoms, but there are some common signs that your hip might need to be replaced:
- Hip or groin pain: A severely damaged hip can lead to consistent, unrelenting pain on the outside of your hip or groin and extend down your upper leg to your knee. The pain usually increases with walking or exercise and recedes when you rest.
- Problems with mobility and sleep: Severe hip pain can interfere with your everyday movement, such as climbing the stairs or walking to the shops. It can also interrupt your sleep or prevent you from sleeping altogether.
- Stiffness in your hip: Hip damage can make it difficult to carry out everyday movements, because your hip joint isn’t moving and flexing the way it should. For example, it might be a struggle to put your shoes and socks on. You might also feel your hip joint clicking, popping or grinding when you move it.
- Previous treatments haven’t helped: Your hip is still painful or stiff despite having physiotherapy, medication or other treatments.
Modern hip replacements now regularly last 20-30 years, but it’s important to take good care of your new hip, particularly in the first three months after your surgery. Your consultant and team will give you detailed advice tailored to your lifestyle, but these steps can help:
- Avoid putting pressure on the wound from your surgery - for example, don’t lie or sleep on that side
- Try not to bend over more than 90 degrees
- Don’t sit with your legs crossed
- Avoid high-impact activity or exercise that puts stress on your hip joint, such as running or playing football
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic care
10
specialist orthopaedic fields offering personalised treatment
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments bookable online or by phone
Expert orthopaedic treatments
from specialist hip and pelvis consultants
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
THE HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY PROCESS
What to expect
Our consultants and multi-disciplinary teams know how hard it can be to live with hip pain, and you’ll get time to discuss your symptoms and preferences in detail and get a fast, accurate diagnosis. This will help your specialist devise a treatment plan tailored to your needs, and you’ll be cared for by experts at every stage.
01
Initial consultation
The first step is a consultation with a GP or a hip specialist. It’s an opportunity to talk about your hip in detail, including your pain levels, your mobility, any previous hip treatments and how effective they’ve been. You’ll also be asked about your medical history, your lifestyle and your general health overall.
They might suggest non-surgical treatments to try before recommending a hip replacement, such as physiotherapy, pain medication, steroid injections or a less invasive surgery. If a hip replacement is the best option, your consultant will talk you through the procedure in detail.
They might suggest non-surgical treatments to try before recommending a hip replacement, such as physiotherapy, pain medication, steroid injections or a less invasive surgery. If a hip replacement is the best option, your consultant will talk you through the procedure in detail.
02
Investigations and diagnosis
Before the surgery, your consultant will need to carry out a thorough physical examination of your hip to see how much pain you’re in, when and where you feel it, and how it’s affecting your mobility. They might ask you to move in a certain way or gently manipulate your hip to assess your range of movement. Then they’ll order imaging tests such as an X-ray, an ultrasound or an MRI scan so they can see the inside of your hip joint in more detail. You should get the results the same day, and then your consultant will talk you through the specific surgery you need in detail.
03
Treatment
A hip replacement is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, or sometimes under an epidural, which numbs the lower half of your body. Your new hip joint will be plastic, metal or ceramic, depending on what your consultant recommends.
Robotic technology might be used to measure the exact size, location and placement of your prosthetic hip before the operation begins.
Then your surgeon will make an incision over your hip so they can access your hip joint, remove any damaged tissue or bone, and prepare the top of your thigh bone (femur) and your hip socket (acetabulum) before inserting the new hip ball and socket.
The surgery usually takes around two hours.
Robotic technology might be used to measure the exact size, location and placement of your prosthetic hip before the operation begins.
Then your surgeon will make an incision over your hip so they can access your hip joint, remove any damaged tissue or bone, and prepare the top of your thigh bone (femur) and your hip socket (acetabulum) before inserting the new hip ball and socket.
The surgery usually takes around two hours.
04
Recovery and aftercare
You’ll need to stay in hospital for a few days after the surgery. Once you’ve recovered from your anaesthetic and you feel ready, one of our physiotherapy team will help start your recovery process. They’ll encourage you to try walking around with crutches and show you some exercises that will build strength in your hip. You’ll also get any pain medication you need.
You’ll take your crutches and any medications home with you, and you’ll probably need to use the crutches for a few weeks until your hip joint’s strong enough to bear your full weight.
Full recovery depends on your age, your general health and your lifestyle, but your consultant will give you a detailed plan about how soon to get back to your everyday life, including exercise, work or driving.
You’ll take your crutches and any medications home with you, and you’ll probably need to use the crutches for a few weeks until your hip joint’s strong enough to bear your full weight.
Full recovery depends on your age, your general health and your lifestyle, but your consultant will give you a detailed plan about how soon to get back to your everyday life, including exercise, work or driving.
Locations
Where can I get hip replacement surgery?
Dedicated hip replacement specialists and support teams are available at locations across London and at our flagship hospitals in Birmingham and Manchester. You’ll receive expert, experienced care at every stage, from initial consultation through to treatment and recovery.
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
The Wilmslow Hospital
52-54 Alderley Road Wilmslow SK9 1NY Cheshire
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Hip replacement surgery FAQ
Hip replacement surgery is a very common procedure, and complications are rare. However, all major operations carries some degree of risk, and potential complications can include:
Your consultant will talk to you in detail about your specific condition, your surgery and any potential complications.
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots in your legs or lungs
- Your prosthetic hip becoming loose, dislodging or not functioning properly
- Fracture
- Pain or stiffness in your hip joint
- Injury to the nerves or blood vessels around your knee
Your consultant will talk to you in detail about your specific condition, your surgery and any potential complications.
As soon as you’ve recovered from surgery, someone from the physiotherapy team will encourage you to try walking with crutches or a walker.
You’ll probably need some help to walk for the next four to six weeks. That might mean continuing to use your walker, using two crutches or moving on to just one crutch if you’re able to. Some people then transition to using a cane or walking unaided once they’re strong enough.
You’ll hopefully be able to walk without any assistance at all after six to twelve weeks and return to more strenuous activity such as physical work or sports within a year.
Your team will give you specific exercises to help build strength and mobility in your new hip, and the more closely you follow the program, the better your recovery and return to walking will be.
You’ll probably need some help to walk for the next four to six weeks. That might mean continuing to use your walker, using two crutches or moving on to just one crutch if you’re able to. Some people then transition to using a cane or walking unaided once they’re strong enough.
You’ll hopefully be able to walk without any assistance at all after six to twelve weeks and return to more strenuous activity such as physical work or sports within a year.
Your team will give you specific exercises to help build strength and mobility in your new hip, and the more closely you follow the program, the better your recovery and return to walking will be.
It depends on your age, your overall health and your specific surgery, but most people are ready to drive after around six weeks. When you can put your full weight on your hip and it doesn’t hurt, then you should be ready to drive.
Before your surgery, you should buy raised toilet seats and get them fitted at home. These allow you to lower and raise yourself on the toilet with less strain and weight going through your new hip. You’ll probably need to use them for around six weeks after your surgery, as you heal, regain strength and get more mobility. Then you should be able to use a regular toilet after that.
Your team will be able to give you specific advice that relates specifically to your surgery and recovery plan.
Your team will be able to give you specific advice that relates specifically to your surgery and recovery plan.
There are two main methods of hip replacement surgery, but there’s no ‘best’ way to do it. It depends on your specific circumstances, including your age, your overall health, the condition of your hip and whether you’ve had any previous surgeries. Your consultant will talk you through your specific circumstances and explain the treatment path and recommend an approach that’s tailored to your needs.
For the first six weeks or so, it’s best to try and sleep on your back with a pillow between your knees. The pillow helps keep your hips aligned properly and prevents you from rolling over onto your side while you’re asleep.
If your recovery’s going well, your consultant might give you the all-clear to sleep on your operated side, keeping the pillow between your knees.
It’s crucial to pay close attention to your body during those first weeks of recovery and avoid any position that causes discomfort or pain. If you’re in any doubt, you can talk to your consultant, and they’ll give you specific advice.
If your recovery’s going well, your consultant might give you the all-clear to sleep on your operated side, keeping the pillow between your knees.
It’s crucial to pay close attention to your body during those first weeks of recovery and avoid any position that causes discomfort or pain. If you’re in any doubt, you can talk to your consultant, and they’ll give you specific advice.
It’s usually best to avoid any flights at all for the first six weeks or so after your hip replacement surgery, because flying means sitting still for long periods of time, which can increase the risk of developing blood clots, especially deep-vein thrombosis.
After six weeks, you may be able to take short-haul flights (less than four hours), but any flights longer than that should be avoided for the first three months of your recovery.
When you do fly, it’s important to take precautions, so make sure you wear compression socks, stay hydrated and remember to get up and move around during the flight as aften as you can.
If you’re planning to fly in the weeks and months after your hip replacement surgery, talk to your consultant and they’ll be able to give you personalised advice.
After six weeks, you may be able to take short-haul flights (less than four hours), but any flights longer than that should be avoided for the first three months of your recovery.
When you do fly, it’s important to take precautions, so make sure you wear compression socks, stay hydrated and remember to get up and move around during the flight as aften as you can.
If you’re planning to fly in the weeks and months after your hip replacement surgery, talk to your consultant and they’ll be able to give you personalised advice.
It’s best to avoid baths for around six weeks because your surgical wound needs to stay clean and dry to prevent it getting infected. Getting in and out of a regular bath also puts a lot of strain on your hip.
You can get clean either by having a strip wash over a sink, using a long-handled sponge to reach every area of your body without having to bend too much, or in a walk-in shower, making sure to keep your wound and dressing dry.
When you’re washing yourself, it’s important not to strain your new hip, so avoid bending past 90 degrees, crossing your legs or rotating your hip inwards.
Your consultant will be able to give you specific instructions and personalised advice about the best way to wash yourself when you’re recovering.
You can get clean either by having a strip wash over a sink, using a long-handled sponge to reach every area of your body without having to bend too much, or in a walk-in shower, making sure to keep your wound and dressing dry.
When you’re washing yourself, it’s important not to strain your new hip, so avoid bending past 90 degrees, crossing your legs or rotating your hip inwards.
Your consultant will be able to give you specific instructions and personalised advice about the best way to wash yourself when you’re recovering.
The costs depend on the condition of your hip, the specific surgery you need and the kind of implant you receive. Your consultant will be able to explain your procedure and the associated costs in detail. If you’re self-paying, please ask your consultant about one of our fixed-price hip replacement surgery packages, which can help to give you financial clarity and peace of mind. Get in touch and we can explain your options.
Our patients’ stories
Verna’s victory: Triathlons after a hip replacement
As a long-time sport enthusiast, Verna knew sports could come with their fair share of aches and sore muscles. A bike accident in 2019 meant Verna needed physiotherapy.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
“ I was able to walk the same day, and I was discharged the next day, which was fantastic.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.