Hip Replacement

Living an active life and doing what you love isn’t always easy when you have constant hip pain. You may grow increasingly frustrated if it doesn’t improve with medications or physiotherapy. Hip replacement surgery can make a difference.

Before we schedule your procedure, we will meet with you for an evaluation. This visit allows you to meet your surgeon and other experts on your team. It also helps us get to know you and learn why you have hip pain.

What to expect during your pre-assessment visit

At your appointment, you can expect to answer many questions. Your surgeon will talk with you about how long you’ve had pain and what sort of treatments you may have already tried.

Your consultant will also do a physical examination to check your overall health and look for signs of swelling in your leg and hip. This helps them pinpoint conditions like arthritis, soft tissue strains and tears, fractures and other types of hip injuries or damage. 

You can also expect to have imaging tests like an MRI, CT scan or hip X-ray. Our team may also do an arthrogram to get a closer view of your hip joint.

Once your team of consultants finalises your treatment plan, our self-pay team will give you a detailed cost estimate. After you approve the cost, we will schedule your hip replacement surgery on a day and time that suits you.

Anterior hip replacement surgery

Cleveland Clinic London orthopaedic surgeons specialise in minimally invasive, muscle-sparing hip replacement using the anterior approach. Unlike traditional methods that access your hip from the back (posterior) or side (lateral), our surgeons operate through a small incision (about 6 centimetres, roughly the width of a credit card) at the front of your hip, near the groin crease.

Instead of cutting muscle, we’ll carefully navigate between soft tissues and nerves to reach the joint, either manually or with robotic assistance. Once there, we will replace the damaged joint with a prosthesis made from metal, plastic or ceramic.

This technique preserves healthy tissue, leading to a smoother, more comfortable recovery. Other benefits include:

• Reduced pain and less reliance on pain medication after surgery
• Possibility of same-day discharge or a shorter hospital stay (24 to 48 hours)
• Greater likelihood to be up and walking sooner, with minimal help from mobility aids
• Lower risk of hip instability and dislocation
• Smaller incisions and reduced chance of visible scarring
• A quicker overall recovery

What to expect during surgery

Hip replacement surgery usually lasts about one or two hours. During this time, you will have anaesthesia and not feel pain during surgery. Depending on the extent of your surgery, you may be able to leave the hospital that same day. Other times, you may need to stay for a few nights. Your surgeon will let you know what to expect once they complete your surgery.

Recovering From Hip Replacement Surgery

It will take a few weeks before you can use your hip without restrictions. During this time, you will meet with a physiologist who will teach you exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles surrounding your hip joint. You’ll also practice walking, bending and climbing stairs.

You may notice a dramatic reduction in hip pain and stiffness as you recover. When you reach full recovery, you may discover your hip moves better than before and that you can walk and climb more easily.

Hip Revision Surgery

Hip implants don’t always last a lifetime. Sometimes replacements wear out or get damaged, often from infection. If that happens, we may recommend hip revision surgery to help your implant fit better or work properly. Our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in all revision procedures, including complex cases, with full surgical support right here in hospital. Our team of specialists will review all cases before a recommendation for revision is made.

Paying for Private Hip Replacement Surgery

Whether you’re using self-pay services or private medical insurance, we can guide you through the process. Our billing specialists will provide you with a transparent estimate of your costs, and will update you if anything changes. If you want to pay for hip replacement surgery costs over time, we offer flexible instalment options through a finance partner, Chrysalis Finance.

What’s Next?

If you’re debating a hip replacement, Cleveland Clinic London’s consultants can help you make an informed decision. Our team will answer your questions and help you determine if you’re ready to move forward with treatment. You will receive elite care in a comfortable environment with clearly outlined self-pay options. We are here to help you get the private hip replacement surgery you need — when you need it.