Susan
If hip pain is stopping you from walking, sleeping, exercising or enjoying everyday life, being told to “lose weight first” can feel like you're stuck in a cycle - especially when the pain itself makes it harder to stay active.
At Orthopaedic Innovation, we assess each patient individually. Our minimally invasive Kley Rapid Hip approach has been used to treat many patients with higher BMI, including some people who have previously been considered unsuitable for hip replacement elsewhere.
BMI is an important consideration in hip replacement surgery, but it isn't the only consideration. Our specialist team assesses your overall health, mobility, medical history, hip condition and individual circumstances before deciding whether Rapid Recovery Hip Replacement is appropriate.
If you've already been told that your BMI is too high for surgery, you're not alone.
For some patients, higher BMI can increase the complexity and risks associated with joint replacement surgery. That's why careful assessment matters.
But BMI is only one part of the picture.
Your overall health, mobility, medical history, hip condition, fitness, medications and individual anatomy all need to be considered when deciding whether surgery is appropriate.
Our specialist team has extensive experience treating patients with higher BMI and more complex circumstances. Rather than assuming you are unsuitable based on a single number, we'll assess whether the Kley Rapid Hip approach could be appropriate for you.
Meet Susan. Susan had been living with severe hip pain and had been told to lose weight before anyone would consider replacing her hips. She had been to the NHS and other doctors time and time again.
She eventually underwent bilateral hip replacement with the Orthopaedic Innovation team, and it gave her her life back.
You've probably heard the advice before:
Lose weight. Exercise more. Strengthen your muscles. Then we'll look at surgery.
But severe hip arthritis can make that advice incredibly difficult to follow.
Walking hurts.
Exercise becomes harder.
Sleep suffers.
Your mobility decreases.
And everyday activity can become exhausting.
For some people, this creates a frustrating cycle where the very pain that makes weight management important also makes movement increasingly difficult.
That's why we believe the conversation should start with your whole health picture, rather than BMI alone.
Our team can assess your hip, your general health and your individual circumstances and explain what options may be available to you.
The Kley Rapid Hip approach is designed specifically around minimally invasive access. It reduces the risks traditionally associated with hip surgery in higher risk patients, focuses on preservation of major muscle groups and encourages early mobilisation. For carefully selected patients, this can support a rapid recovery pathway.
Weight can affect the risks and complexity of hip replacement surgery, and losing weight may be recommended where appropriate. But there isn't a single BMI number that can tell us everything we need to know about an individual patient.
If you've been told you're not suitable for surgery because of your weight, a specialist assessment can help you understand why, what risks apply in your particular case, and whether there are other options worth considering.
Our Hip surgical team is led by Dr Kristian Kley, an internationally recognised consultant with decades of experience in complex hip and knee surgery. Together with Professor Adrian Wilson and Dr Michael Sostheim, they frequently treat high-risk patients and have pioneered surgical techniques that make the Kley Rapid Hip possible across a broad range of cases.
Together, they work as a close-knit team—consulting on complex cases, operating together and ensuring that every patient receives a tailored treatment plan based on the latest surgical innovation.
If you’ve been turned away before, we encourage you to get in touch. A second opinion could be the first step toward getting your life back.
Higher BMI raises real surgical considerations — anaesthetic risk, wound healing, and implant positioning among them. The Kley Rapid Hip approach has features that may be particularly relevant when assessing patients with higher BMI, including a short surgical time, minimally invasive access and early mobilisation.
While the likelihood of major complications following a rapid recovery hip replacement is low, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks involved. Here’s what you need to know:
No recorded nerve or vessel injuries in the last 15 years at Dr Kley’s practice having performed over 3,000 hip replacements.
With the rapid recovery technique, you will benefit from an advanced surgical procedure that prioritises safety and minimise risks, ensuring the best possible outcomes for you.
All of the risks of surgery will be discussed in detail with you by your surgeon as part of the consenting process. This will be dependent on your individual medical history and the above should only be taken as a generic summary.
