Concierge hip preservation · UK
Private hip arthroscopy in the UK, by a hip preservation surgeon.
Keyhole hip surgery through two to four small portals — for femoroacetabular impingement, labral tears and joint preservation. Done properly, in a specialist centre, by a surgeon who does this every week.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A hip preservation surgeon, not a general orthopod
Hip arthroscopy is a niche within a niche. We only route you to consultants who do this operation weekly, in a specialist centre.
- 02
Honest about who this helps — and who it does not
Well-selected FAI does brilliantly. Established OA or dysplasia does badly. We tell you which camp you are in before you book.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private hip arthroscopy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner specialist centres. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Hip arthroscopy with labral repair in our network: £8,000–£12,000, home same day or one night.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Discharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip arthroscopy — FAI with labral repair | £8,000–£12,000 | 90–180 min | Same day or 1 night |
| Hip arthroscopy — labral debridement only | £6,000–£9,000 | 60–90 min | Same day |
| Hip arthroscopy + chondroplasty / microfracture | £8,500–£13,000 | 120–180 min | Same day or 1 night |
| Iliopsoas release (internal snapping hip) | £5,500–£8,500 | 45–75 min | Same day |
| MRI arthrogram of the hip (pre-op) | £650–£950 | 45 min | 48 hours |
| Consultant hip preservation consultation | £250–£450 | 45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by centre, by the specific consultant, by whether cartilage work or microfracture is added, and by whether a night in hospital is chosen. NHS funding is available via specialist hip preservation services. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right hip, the right operation.
Hip arthroscopy is one of the most technique-sensitive operations in orthopaedics — and one of the most consequential when patient selection goes wrong. We fix both before you commit.
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Not sure it is the right operation?
A worn hip needs a replacement, a dysplastic hip needs a PAO, and neither is helped by arthroscopy. We route on imaging, not hope.
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Worried about who does the surgery?
A named consultant hip preservation surgeon in a specialist centre, not a general orthopod doing the odd case.
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Want the rehab that actually works?
Four to six months of protocol-driven specialist hip physio — arranged, not left to chance.
The journey
From enquiry to return-to-sport — what happens, in order.
One coordinated pathway from first message to the six-month physio review — including the rehab that decides your outcome.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the centre
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Groin pain, C-sign, pivoting sports, previous MRI or X-ray — whatever you have.
- 02
Before
Imaging review before we route you
We look at your standing pelvic X-ray, MRI arthrogram and any CT — to confirm this is FAI or a labral tear, not early OA or dysplasia.
- 03
Before
We arrange the consultant appointment
A hip preservation surgeon, usually within two weeks. Any blood-thinning medication is reviewed with the team.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the specialist centre
GA plus a regional block (fascia iliaca or adductor). Supine on a distraction table, image intensifier ready.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
90 to 180 minutes. Two to four keyhole portals, cam osteoplasty under fluoroscopy, labral repair with suture anchors, capsular repair.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day or one night
Crutches, a written physio protocol, and someone to collect you. Most patients are home within a few hours.
- 07
After
Specialist hip physio for four to six months
This is not optional — labral repair protocols exist for a reason. We arrange the physio, review at six weeks and again at three months.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Return to pivoting sport: 6–9 months.
When it helps
When hip arthroscopy is the right operation.
The situations we see most, plus the one where the honest answer is a different operation altogether.
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FAI with labral tear
Femoroacetabular impingement — cam, pincer or mixed. Groin pain, positive C-sign, restricted internal rotation, MRI-confirmed labral tear.
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Isolated labral tear
A labral tear without significant bony impingement — often from a twisting injury or repetitive pivoting sport.
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Loose bodies in the joint
Osteochondral fragments or synovial chondromatosis causing catching, locking or sudden giving-way.
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Ligamentum teres injury
A torn or frayed ligamentum teres — a cause of deep, poorly localised hip pain in athletes.
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Snapping hip — internal or external
Iliopsoas snapping over the femoral head, or IT band snapping over the greater trochanter — both can be treated arthroscopically.
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Focal chondral defect
A small, contained cartilage lesion — treated with chondroplasty, microfracture or matrix-associated chondrocyte implantation (MACI).
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Synovectomy for PVNS or synovitis
Pigmented villonodular synovitis, inflammatory synovitis or (rarely) septic arthritis needing a thorough joint washout.
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Not for you: established OA or dysplasia
Tonnis grade 2–3 OA, joint space under 2mm, or significant dysplasia do badly with arthroscopy — a PAO or hip replacement is the honest answer.
Procedure options
What can actually be done through those small portals.
The building blocks of a hip arthroscopy — usually combined in one operation, tailored to what the joint actually needs.
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Cam osteoplasty
The bony bump on the femoral head-neck junction is trimmed under fluoroscopy with a high-speed burr — the core fix for cam-type FAI.
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Pincer rim trimming
The over-covering acetabular rim is carefully reduced. Over-resection causes instability, so a conservative, image-guided trim is essential.
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Labral repair with suture anchors
The torn labrum is re-fixed to the acetabular rim with small anchors — now standard where the tissue is repairable.
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Labral debridement
A frayed, irreparable labrum is trimmed to a stable edge. Second-choice to repair, but sometimes the only option.
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Capsular repair
The joint capsule is closed at the end of the operation — increasingly standard, to reduce iatrogenic instability.
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Chondroplasty and microfracture
Cartilage lesions are smoothed, and small defects treated with microfracture or MACI to encourage a fibrocartilage repair.
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Iliopsoas release
For internal snapping hip or iliopsoas impingement after hip replacement — the tendon is lengthened arthroscopically.
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Synovectomy and loose body removal
For PVNS, synovial chondromatosis or free osteochondral fragments — a thorough clearance of the central and peripheral compartments.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of hip preservation surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant hip preservation surgeons in specialist centres across the UK. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we have reviewed your imaging.
Selection criteria
How we choose every hip surgeon in our network.
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Consultant hip preservation surgeons — arthroscopy is their weekly work, not an occasional add-on
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Specialist centre with hip distraction table and image intensifier as standard
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Regional anaesthesia (fascia iliaca or adductor block) offered alongside GA
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Named specialist hip physiotherapist for the four- to six-month rehab that decides your outcome
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Hip arthroscopy is a safe operation in the right hands and the right hip. The things worth planning are the rehab, the traction-related numbness, and the honest conversion-to-replacement rate.
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Traction-related nerve numbness is common but usually transient
Perineal numbness (pudendal nerve) and outer-thigh numbness (lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) affect a real minority of patients. Almost always temporary — worth knowing about.
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Partial weight-bearing for one to two weeks
Crutches from day one. Some protocols allow full weight-bearing immediately — your surgeon will tell you which, based on what was done.
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Specialist hip physio is not optional
Four to six months of protocol-driven rehab. Skipping it, or using a physio unfamiliar with labral-repair protocols, is the commonest reason good operations underperform.
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Pool from two weeks, cycling from four to six
Early low-impact work protects the repair. Running is off the table for three to four months; pivoting sport for six.
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Iatrogenic chondral injury is a real risk
Distraction and instrumentation in a tight joint can scuff cartilage. High-volume surgeons in dedicated centres see it far less often — which is why we route carefully.
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Instability from over-resection
Too aggressive a pincer trim, or a capsule left open, can leave the joint unstable. Careful bony work and capsular repair are the answer.
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DVT, infection and heterotopic ossification
DVT and PE prophylaxis is standard. Infection is under 1 per cent. Heterotopic ossification is uncommon and, when it happens, usually mild.
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Conversion to hip replacement — the number that matters
Roughly 5–10 per cent of patients need a hip replacement within five years — much higher if there was OA at the time of arthroscopy. Patient selection is everything.
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Red flags after surgery
A hot, swollen, red joint, calf swelling and breathlessness, or fever, are not normal — call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever combination of bony work, labral repair and cartilage treatment was done, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and pathology confirmed at arthroscopy
Why the operation was done — cam FAI, pincer, mixed, isolated labral tear — and what was actually found when the joint was inspected.
- 02 Technique
Portals, bony work and labral repair
Which portals were used, the cam osteoplasty and rim trim done under fluoroscopy, whether the labrum was repaired with anchors or debrided, and whether the capsule was closed.
- 03 Findings
Cartilage, ligamentum teres and any incidental issues
The state of the acetabular and femoral cartilage, the ligamentum teres, and anything unexpected — synovitis, loose bodies, chondral flaps.
- 04 Impression
Weight-bearing, physio protocol and return-to-sport timing
Read this first: how long on crutches, when to start the pool and bike, when running and pivoting sport can restart, and when the surgeon wants to see you again.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for hip arthroscopy varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when FAI or a labral tear is confirmed on imaging. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hip arthroscopy.
Quick answers on candidacy, cost, rehab, risks and how much of the operation you really need.
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What is hip arthroscopy — and what does it actually treat?
It is keyhole surgery of the hip through two to four small portals, done under GA on a distraction table. The commonest reason to have it is femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) with a labral tear — a cam or pincer bony deformity that catches the labrum. It also treats isolated labral tears, loose bodies, ligamentum teres injuries, focal chondral defects and snapping hip.
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Am I actually a candidate — or is my hip too worn?
Hip arthroscopy is for a joint that is still preservable. Established osteoarthritis (Tönnis grade 2–3, joint space under 2mm) does badly with arthroscopy — the honest answer there is a hip replacement. Significant dysplasia usually needs a peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO), not arthroscopy. Standing pelvic X-ray and MRI arthrogram sort this out before you commit.
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How long is the recovery from hip arthroscopy?
Crutches for one to two weeks, pool work from two weeks, cycling from four to six weeks, running at three to four months, and pivoting or professional sport at six to nine months. Specialist hip physiotherapy runs for four to six months — it is not optional if you want a good outcome.
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How much does private hip arthroscopy cost in the UK?
Roughly £8,000–£12,000 for FAI with labral repair, £6,000–£9,000 for a straightforward labral debridement, and £8,500–£13,000 when chondroplasty or microfracture is added. Pre-op MRI arthrogram is £650–£950. NHS funding is available via specialist hip preservation services.
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What are the risks?
The commonest are traction-related nerve numbness (pudendal — perineal; lateral femoral cutaneous — outer thigh), almost always transient. Less common: iatrogenic cartilage injury, instability from over-resection or an unrepaired capsule, DVT/PE, heterotopic ossification, infection under 1 per cent, CRPS, and re-tear of the labral repair. Around 5–10 per cent of patients need a hip replacement within five years — much higher if OA was already present.
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Why does patient selection matter so much?
Because the operation works well in the right hip and poorly in the wrong one. Well-selected FAI has 70–90 per cent good or excellent results at five years. Add in OA or dysplasia and the failure rate climbs quickly. Getting the imaging and the assessment right beforehand is the single most important thing we do.
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Is NICE guidance supportive of hip arthroscopy for FAI?
Yes. NICE Interventional Procedures Guidance IPG403 endorses arthroscopic femoroacetabular surgery for hip impingement, provided it is done in specialist centres by surgeons with appropriate training. British Hip Society and BOA guidance take the same line.
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What is the difference between labral repair and labral debridement?
Repair fixes the torn labrum back to the acetabular rim with tiny suture anchors — the modern default where the tissue is repairable, because it preserves the seal that keeps the joint healthy. Debridement trims a frayed, irreparable labrum to a stable edge. Repair generally gives better long-term outcomes when it is technically feasible.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Hip impingement surgery
Focused guide to FAI surgery — cam and pincer.
Learn more -
Hip preservation surgery
PAO and open options for dysplasia and complex cases.
Learn more -
Hip physiotherapy
Specialist hip rehab — before or after surgery.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more