⚠ Draft — pending clinical sign-off by our CMO
Hip replacement: cost, NHS wait & what to expect
Typical self-pay price
£11,000–£16,000
Typical NHS wait
Around 9–12 months
Overview
A hip replacement removes a worn or damaged hip joint and replaces it with an artificial one (a prosthesis), most often to relieve pain and improve movement caused by arthritis.
Why it's done
- Severe hip pain limiting daily life and sleep
- Stiffness reducing mobility
- Arthritis not controlled by other treatments
What happens
Performed under general or spinal anaesthetic. A typical hospital stay is 1–3 days, though some centres offer enhanced-recovery same-day pathways.
Recovery
- Walking aids for several weeks
- Physiotherapy throughout recovery
- Most daily activities by 6–12 weeks; full recovery can take months
Risks & things to consider
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Dislocation
- Differences in leg length
- Wear of the new joint over many years
Alternatives
- Weight management and exercise
- Pain relief
- Physiotherapy
- Walking aids
- Steroid injections
Questions to ask your provider
- Which implant do you use and why?
- What's the full self-pay package price and what's excluded?
- What are your infection and revision rates?
- What rehab support is included?