Private hip surgery - costs and treatment

Dr Hilary has hip replacement with Practice Plus Group

Cost of hip surgery by location

At Practice Plus Group, the average waiting time for private hip surgery is 4-6 weeks. In comparison, current NHS waiting times for hip operations are typically between 6 to 12 months.¹ Waiting times vary depending on the location of the hospital.

What is hip surgery?

When we talk about hip surgery, we mean any surgical procedure that’s performed on the hip joint to either relieve pain, improve mobility or both. Hip surgeries are usually performed to address a condition or correct an injury.

Who is it for?

Hip surgery is usually recommended for those who are experiencing significant hip pain, stiffness and reduced mobility due to conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hip dysplasia, hip fractures, or other injuries to the hip joint. Most hip surgery patients are around 60-80 years old.

When to seek treatment - signs and symptoms

If conservative treatments such as medication, physiotherapy, and lifestyle modifications haven’t worked, and your condition is significantly impacting your life, hip surgery may be recommended.

Signs you need surgery could include:

• persistent pain
• reduced mobility
• difficulty performing everyday tasks
• poor quality of life
• joint damage shown on scans.

Types of hip surgery and treatments

There are many different hip surgery types, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to major hip operations. To understand which solution is best for you, it's a good idea to talk to your GP or consultant. Discover all the different types of surgery and hip treatments available at Practice Plus Group.

Total hip replacement surgery

Hip replacement surgery is a common orthopaedic procedure in the UK. During this procedure, the surgeon replaces a painful arthritic hip with an artificial hip implant to relieve discomfort and improve function. It can be performed as a total hip replacement or a half (partial) replacement.

Hip revision surgery

A hip revision or repeat hip replacement operation is a type of hip replacement that involves replacing an artificial hip joint if it has become loose, infected, or worn out over time.

Arthritis hip pain treatment

Arthritis is a term used by doctors to describe inflammation within a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of joint disease. The surfaces within your joints become damaged so the joint doesn’t move as smoothly as it should. This causes joint pain and stiffness.

Treatment ranges from conservative means such as lifestyle changes, to fusion, excision or replacement. During hip surgery, the orthopaedic surgeon replaces the damaged joint surfaces with artificial parts, reducing pain and improving your mobility.

Hip arthroplasty surgery

This is the surgical reconstruction or replacement of an arthritic joint. Hip and knee replacements are the most common major orthopaedic procedures. The goals are to restore function and relieve knee or hip pain.

Injections for hip pain relief

Hip injections are occasionally offered to either help with diagnosis or put off the need for surgery. Steroid injections can ease inflammation, and Hyaluronate helps the damaged hip joint to move more smoothly.

The trochanteric bursa is a sack of fluid sitting between the prominent bone of the outer side of the hip and the skin. A trochanteric bursa injection is performed with x-ray or ultrasound guidance.

Alternative treatments for hip problems

Before hip surgery, patients can try conservative pain management. This could include:

• making lifestyle adjustments
• weight loss
• taking regular painkillers
• walking with a stick
• physiotherapy
• targeted steroid injection.

Pain in your hip?

If you’re experiencing hip pain, try our hip surgery suitability quiz. It will give you an idea of whether you’d benefit from booking a consultation with one of our hip specialists.

How quickly you return to your normal daily activities will vary from person-to-person, but with good physiotherapy and a planned approach to recovery, you should quite quickly notice that everyday tasks become much easier.

The benefits of hip replacement surgery include:

• pain relief
• high success rate
• improved strength and mobility
• results lasting up to 20 years
• better quality of life.

Whilst quality of life may have dipped pre-surgery, tasks like tying shoe laces, getting in and out of the car or bath, walking or standing, will improve. Most people find that they can resume hobbies that they previously enjoyed, such as golf or gardening after a hip replacement.

Hear from a past patient

"I feel lucky to have been treated by the team in Birmingham…I’ve already told anyone who listens about how wonderful the team are and would thoroughly recommend them."

Anthony Macintosh, hip surgery patient at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Birmingham

Hip surgery complications and risks

Like any surgical procedure, there is a small risk of complications such as nerve damage, blood clots and infection. Only 5% experience a complication of some sort.²

If you notice any worrying signs or symptoms after surgery, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider straight away.

Hear from our expert:
"The main things to watch out for are hip stiffness, persistent pain, restricted mobility, and swelling or inflammation."

If you see signs that you need a hip replacement, you can go to your GP who may refer you to an orthopaedic consultant for an initial consultation. Consultation and pre-operative screening will involve a review of your medical history to ensure the treatment is safe, along with any necessary tests or scans.

Next, you will be set a date to come into hospital as an inpatient for hip replacement surgery. With Practice Plus Group, private hip surgery patients can typically have their private hip consultation within two weeks of initial enquiry with surgery between 4-6 weeks later.

Preparing for hip surgery

While you are waiting for your treatment, you can prepare for hip replacement surgery by doing gentle exercise in the run-up. Walking and swimming will help to strengthen the muscles around the hip, helping to speed up the recovery process.

Making travel arrangements, packing the things you’ll need and informing family members will ensure any last minute hiccups on the day are avoided.

During the procedure

The operation replaces worn or damaged sections of the hip with an artificial hip joint. The surgery will be carried out either under general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthetic.

Your hip surgeon will make an incision on the side of your hip, remove the damaged ball and socket joint and replace it with an artificial one.

How long does hip surgery take?

Hip procedures typically take around two hours. However, this can vary from patient-to-patient and depends on the surgical technique used.

Aftercare and recovery from hip surgery

At Practice Plus Group we practise the Enhanced Recovery Pathway (ERP) which is a modern, evidence-based approach that helps shorten recovery time after hip surgery. Length of stay in hospital can be significantly shorter as a result of ERP, with patients able to return home any time from the day of surgery to two to three days post operatively.

Our physiotherapists begin working closely with you within hours of joint replacement surgery, getting you up on their feet and growing your confidence. This early mobilisation in the recovery room and a return home reduces the risk of deep vein thrombosis and infections, as well as making patients feel more comfortable.

Physiotherapy and post-hip surgery exercises

Your physiotherapist will give you exercises and instructions on how to use mobility aids such as crutches and sticks. For the first four-to-six weeks, you will need crutches or sticks to get around and you will need to do your exercises to ensure your new hip joint gives you the best results.

Hip surgery healing times

Most people are back to normal within 12 weeks but it can take up to a year before you fully benefit from your new hip. It is up to individuals to do the physiotherapy to make sure that the hip gets strong and has a full range of movement.

Watch Video

Hip exercises - arm chair pull ups

Watch Video

Hip exercises - hip abduction

1 2

Next slide Previous slide

Private hip operation costs in the UK

At Practice Plus Group, our hip operation private costs are completely transparent. Aside from the £95 consultation fee, everything is included in the quoted price.

How much does hip surgery cost?

The cost of hip surgery varies according to the type of procedure.

At Practice Plus Group, our prices are:

• Hip replacement surgery - £12,549
• Hip revision surgery - £21,199
• Injection in theatre - £2,260
• Injection in clinic - £240

What is the average private cost of hip replacement in the UK?

The cost of private surgery for hip replacements in the UK varies, depending on the provider. Prices start at around £10,000 but other providers can charge as high as £15,000 depending on the area of the UK you live in. Prices also vary by what’s included.

What’s included in the cost of hip surgery?

Our costs for private hip surgery include:

• high-quality care
• pre operative nurse review
• prescriptions, dressings and equipment
• anaesthetic
• any overnight stay required
• physiotherapy, pathology and histology needed whilst admitted
• any post operative appointments required
• a named consultant from start to finish.

There are 3 ways to access hip surgery at Practice Plus Group:

1. Self-pay private healthcare
2. Private health insurance
3. NHS referral

Pay for yourself hip replacement surgery cost

If you choose to pay for yourself you can book an initial appointment for £95 by calling us or completing our self-pay enquiry form. The initial appointment includes x-rays and blood tests, so you won’t find any hidden costs. You'll typically have your initial consultation within two weeks, with the surgery itself around four-to-six weeks later. For more information, check our national private hospital price list.

Private insurance hip operation costs

To find out more about having hip surgery using your private insurance, you can call your provider and ask them to pre-authorise your care. Each provider will have its own approach. You can find a list of providers with contact information on our insured patients webpage.

NHS referral

If you have talked to your GP and have decided that you need hip surgery, you are able to choose where you have that NHS treatment. We can accept referrals from any eligible patient* in need of the treatments we offer, regardless of where you live in the UK, even if you have an existing health condition as long as it’s safe for us to treat you.

Talk to your GP about the options, and do some research to help you make the right choice for your needs. Consider things like how long you will have to wait for hip replacement or treatment at each hospital, what their clinical outcomes and infection rates are like and how the Care Quality Commission has rated the service.

If you have already been referred somewhere, but change your mind about where you’d like to go, you can still exercise your right to choose. Just tell your GP that you would like a new referral to another hospital.

*Patients must meet Practice Plus Group eligibility criteria and be ordinarily resident in the UK. Eligibility is checked by your GP.

Find hip consultant specialists

At Practice Plus Group, you can choose an experienced hip consultant to support you throughout your time with us, ensuring you receive first-class, high quality care.

You can search for hip consultants on our website.

Why choose Practice Plus Group?

At Practice Plus Group Hospitals we’re passionate about giving patients a positive experience and excellent clinical outcomes, with personalised care every step of the way. Whether you’re paying for yourself or using private medical insurance, with our short waiting times, unrivalled Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings and high levels of cleanliness and infection control, we’ll make sure you’re looked after. In fact, we were the first provider to have all services rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC.

Find private hip surgery near you

Are you ready to get back to the things you love?

With excellent hospitals all around the UK and high patient satisfaction, we’re ready to help you say goodbye to hip pain.

Talk to our team today or fill in the form below to book a consultation at a time that suits you.

Sources and references

¹ https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/

² https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/total-hip-replacement-benefits-risks-outcome/

Acknowledgements