Concierge orthopaedics · UK
Private hip replacement in the UK, by a high-volume consultant hip surgeon.
A proper total hip arthroplasty by a consultant whose weekly list is hips — with the approach and implant chosen around your age and activity, and an NJR record you can see before you commit.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant hip surgeon, high-volume
Not a generalist and not a trainee. A named consultant whose weekly list is hips — with an NJR record you can see before you commit.
- 02
Approach and implant chosen for you
Posterior, anterior or a robot-assisted case; cemented, uncemented or hybrid; ceramic-on-poly or CoC. Picked around your age, activity and anatomy — not the surgeon’s default tray.
- 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 replacement costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner hospitals. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three surgeons and implant choices.
In short
A standard primary hip in our network: £11,000–£15,000, home in 1–2 days.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary total hip replacement (standard implant) | £11,000–£15,000 | 60–120 min | 1–2 night stay |
| THR with ceramic-on-polyethylene bearing | £13,000–£18,000 | 60–120 min | 1–2 night stay |
| THR with ceramic-on-ceramic bearing | £15,000–£20,000 | 75–120 min | 1–2 night stay |
| Direct anterior approach THR | £13,000–£19,000 | 75–150 min | 1–2 night stay |
| Robot-assisted THR (MAKO / ROSA) | £16,000–£22,000 | 90–150 min | 1–2 night stay |
| Complex primary THR (dysplasia, deformity) | £18,000–£25,000 | 120–180 min | 2–3 night stay |
| Consultation and X-ray review | £250–£450 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, by implant and bearing surface, and by length of stay. Robot-assisted cases and complex primaries sit at the top of the range. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right approach, the right implant.
Hip replacement is one of the most successful operations in medicine — but only if the surgeon does hips every week, the approach is right for you, and the implant fits your age and activity. All three are decisions we help you get right.
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Not sure surgery is next?
Physio, weight, analgesia and a well-timed injection sometimes buy years. We say so before you agree to theatre.
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Worried about the wrong implant?
Cemented, uncemented or hybrid — ceramic-on-poly or CoC — picked around you, not the surgeon’s default tray.
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Want it done properly?
A high-volume consultant with an NJR record, a laminar-flow theatre, ERAS pathway and honest one-year follow-up.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to one-year review — including the physio, the injections, and the paperwork.
Phase 1 · Before your operation
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
Admission, theatre, first steps
Phase 3 · After
Physio and review
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Pain pattern, X-ray or MRI reports if you have them, what you have already tried.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right surgeon, the right approach, the right implant, an indicative price. If a hip preservation option still fits, we say so.
- 03
Before
Pre-assessment and optimisation
Bloods, ECG if needed, anaesthetic review. Smoking, BMI, diabetes and iron levels reviewed under NICE NG157 — encouraged, not used to block you.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the hospital
Admission, consent, marking of the operative side, regional block (fascia iliaca or PENG) and either spinal or general anaesthetic.
- 05
On the day
The operation itself
60 to 120 minutes in a laminar-flow theatre. Tranexamic acid to reduce bleeding, cement or press-fit fixation, and the bearing surface agreed with you.
- 06
On the day
Up and walking the same day
On an ERAS pathway you stand and walk with the physio on day 0 or 1. Most patients go home on day 1 or 2 for an uncomplicated case.
- 07
After
Recovery, physio and review
LMWH for 28–35 days, hip precautions for 6–12 weeks if posterior, physio through weeks 2–12. Six-week and one-year reviews with X-rays.
Typical end-to-end: 3–6 weeks from enquiry to theatre. Full recovery: 3–12 months.
When it helps
When hip replacement is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Advanced hip osteoarthritis (KL 3–4)
Bone-on-bone joint space loss on X-ray with pain that limits walking, work, sleep and quality of life.
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Rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis
RA, psoriatic or ankylosing spondylitis with joint destruction that has not settled on biologic therapy.
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Avascular necrosis of the femoral head
AVN from steroids, alcohol, sickle cell or trauma — often needs THR when the head has collapsed.
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Developmental dysplasia (DDH)
A shallow socket from childhood leading to early wear — often complex and best in high-volume hands.
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Post-traumatic arthritis
An old acetabular or femoral neck fracture that has left the joint painful and stiff.
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Failed conservative treatment
Weight loss, physio, analgesia, steroid or hyaluronic acid injections have run their course and the pain is back.
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Displaced femoral neck fracture
An acute displaced intracapsular hip fracture in an active patient — replacement rather than fixation.
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Red flag: hot, painful hip with fever
Sudden severe pain, fever, redness or an inability to weight-bear may be septic arthritis — that is A&E, not a clinic booking.
Procedure options
Approach, fixation and bearing — the three real decisions.
What each option on the table actually involves — and which patient it fits best.
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Posterior approach THR
The commonest UK approach. Excellent visualisation. Hip precautions for 6–12 weeks to protect the posterior repair and reduce dislocation risk.
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Direct anterior approach (DAA)
Muscle-sparing between rectus femoris and TFL. Faster early recovery in some trials; more technical with a learning curve.
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Anterolateral / lateral approach
Watson-Jones or Hardinge. Splits the abductors — historically stable but with a small risk of abductor weakness and limp.
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Cemented THR (Exeter / CPT)
Cemented stem and cup, NICE-recommended workhorse for patients over 65. Cheap, reproducible, decades of registry data.
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Uncemented THR (Corail / Trident)
Press-fit into bone with hydroxyapatite coating. Preferred in younger patients with good bone stock.
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Hybrid THR
Cemented stem with uncemented cup (or vice versa). Combines the best of both — a common modern choice.
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Ceramic-on-polyethylene bearing
The most common modern UK bearing. Excellent wear characteristics and a strong safety record.
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Robot-assisted THR (MAKO / ROSA)
CT-planned computer navigation for cup position and leg length. Increasing UK adoption with emerging RCT evidence.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of hip surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant hip surgeons across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every hip surgeon in our network.
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Consultant hip surgeons with an NJR record and a hip-heavy practice
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Laminar-flow theatres with anaesthetists comfortable with spinal + regional block
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ERAS pathways with same-day mobilisation and TXA as standard
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Robot-assisted (MAKO or ROSA) available for the cases where it adds value
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Total hip replacement is one of the most successful operations in medicine. The things worth planning are your anaesthetic, dislocation precautions, VTE injections and knowing what is not normal.
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Regional block plus spinal or GA
Most hips in the UK are done under spinal anaesthetic with a fascia iliaca or PENG block. Less nausea, less opioid, quicker mobilisation.
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Dislocation risk is real, small, and mostly early
Around 1–3% overall — higher after a posterior approach and highest in the first three months. Hip precautions matter.
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Infection is uncommon but serious
Deep prosthetic joint infection (PJI) sits around 1–2% and usually needs a two-stage revision. Optimising diabetes, weight and dental health beforehand reduces the risk.
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Blood clots — LMWH for 28–35 days
Low molecular weight heparin injections at home, plus TED stockings and early walking. Symptomatic DVT/PE runs at 1–2%.
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Leg length and nerve issues
Small leg length differences are common and usually well tolerated. Sciatic and femoral nerve injuries are rare; meralgia paraesthetica occurs in some anterior cases.
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Long-term survival is excellent
NJR data show 95%+ implant survival at 10 years and 90%+ at 20 years for well-implanted primary hips. Most people get one hip and never think about it again.
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Aseptic loosening is the late failure mode
Beyond 15 years the commonest reason for revision is aseptic loosening — polyethylene wear and osteolysis. Revision surgery is available if needed.
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Ceramic-on-ceramic can squeak
A rare (0.5–2%) audible squeak with CoC bearings. Usually harmless but occasionally a reason for revision.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness, wound discharge, sudden severe pain, a shortened rotated leg or calf swelling are not normal — call the team or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whatever approach, implant and bearing was used, 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
Diagnosis, side and implant chosen
Why the operation was done — OA, AVN, RA, dysplasia — and the make and model of every component implanted.
- 02 Technique
Approach, anaesthetic and fixation
Posterior or anterior, spinal or GA, cemented or uncemented, bearing surface and head size — with the batch stickers for your records.
- 03 Findings
Intra-operative findings and blood loss
Cartilage state, bone quality, any acetabular deficiency, estimated blood loss and whether tranexamic acid was used.
- 04 Impression
Weight-bearing, precautions and review
Read this first: full weight-bearing status, hip precautions, VTE prophylaxis duration, driving and flying advice, and the six-week and one-year review dates.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for hip replacement is standard across UK PMI when medically indicated. Premium implants, robot-assisted surgery and single rooms sometimes carry a co-pay — we confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hip replacement.
Quick answers on approach, implant, cost, recovery and how long a modern hip actually lasts.
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When is a hip replacement the right operation?
When symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (or another end-stage joint condition such as AVN, RA or DDH) is limiting your walking, sleep, work or quality of life and non-surgical measures — weight, physio, analgesia, injections — have been tried. NICE NG157 explicitly removed BMI and smoking as absolute barriers, but strongly encourages optimisation first.
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Posterior or direct anterior approach — which is better?
Both give excellent long-term results in experienced hands. The posterior approach is the UK workhorse with the most data. The direct anterior approach spares muscle and often gives a quicker early recovery, but has a learning curve. The right answer is the approach your surgeon does best and most often.
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Cemented, uncemented, or hybrid?
NICE TA304 supports cemented implants (particularly for patients over 65) as economical and highly successful. Uncemented press-fit implants are favoured in younger patients with good bone. Hybrids combine the two. Your surgeon will pick based on your age, bone quality and activity — all three routes have strong registry data.
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How much does a private hip replacement cost in the UK?
Roughly £11,000–£15,000 for a standard primary total hip replacement, £13,000–£18,000 with a premium bearing such as ceramic-on-polyethylene, and £16,000–£22,000 for robot-assisted surgery. Complex primaries for dysplasia or deformity can reach £25,000. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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How long does a modern hip replacement last?
National Joint Registry data show 95% or better implant survival at 10 years and 90% or better at 20 years for well-implanted primary hips. Many patients now outlive their hip only late in life — and revision surgery is available if a hip does fail.
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When can I drive, fly and return to work after a hip replacement?
Most patients drive again at four to six weeks once they can perform an emergency stop safely. Short-haul flying is usually fine from four weeks with LMWH cover, long-haul from six. Desk work returns at two to six weeks; manual jobs at eight to twelve.
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Do I really need to inject blood thinners at home for a month?
Yes. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for 28–35 days after hip replacement, combined with TED stockings and early walking, is the UK standard and substantially reduces DVT and PE risk. The nurse teaches you how to inject before discharge.
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Is robot-assisted hip replacement worth the extra cost?
Emerging evidence — including CT-planned MAKO and ROSA systems — suggests better cup position and leg-length accuracy, with early-recovery benefits in some trials. Long-term survival data are still catching up. For a straightforward primary hip in experienced hands, a conventional operation remains an excellent choice.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Hip resurfacing surgery
A bone-preserving alternative for younger active men.
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Hip revision surgery
For a failing or worn-out previous hip replacement.
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Hip physiotherapy
Pre- and post-op rehab that changes the recovery curve.
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Robot-assisted knee replacement
Computer-assisted navigation for the knee.
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