Hip replacement surgery

Content reviewed on 6th March, 2026, by Prof Adrian Wilson and Dr Kristian Kley - Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons and Chief Medical Officers for Orthopaedic Innovation.

The need for a hip replacement often develops gradually. Some of the symptoms can include:

1. Persistent Hip Pain
2. Difficulty Standing or Walking
3. Stiffness and Limited Mobility
4. Pain After Physical Activity
5. Reduced Quality of Life

Osteoarthritis (the gradual wear and tear of joint cartilage) is the most common cause of these symptoms, but other conditions may also lead to hip pain and stiffness, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis (AVN), Post-Traumatic Arthritis, or Developmental Hip Dysplasia.

Recognising the symptoms early can make all the difference. If you’re dealing with pain, stiffness, or your daily limitations aren’t improving, a hip replacement could be the solution that restores your freedom.

Consider a consultation if:

• You’ve had symptoms for more than 6 weeks
• Non-surgical treatments (like physiotherapy or pain relief) are no longer effective
• Your quality of life is affected; whether it’s walking, sleep, work or wellbeing

If you're unsure whether now is the right time, talk to us. At Orthopaedic Innovation, we combine leading surgical expertise with patient-focused care to help you make informed choices and recover with confidence. And because of our minimally invasive techniques and short surgery time, our procedure is often suitable for a wider range of patients that may not be candidates for traditional surgery.

At Orthopaedic Innovation we will always explore non-surgical options before moving to surgery. Some of these may include:

• Physiotherapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Corticosteroid injections
• Assistive devices (walking aids)
• Lifestyle changes (like weight loss)

Cortisone, or Steroid (corticosteroid) injections are a well-established treatment used to reduce pain and stiffness caused by inflammation within joints. Most commonly used in the knee, hip and shoulder, they can provide meaningful symptom relief and support movement, rehabilitation, and treatment planning: without surgery. Corticosteroids work by suppressing inflammatory activity locally, helping to reduce swelling and irritation, so they can be useful for delaying the need for surgery.

At Orthopaedic Innovation, we will assess you first and explore all of these potential options prior to considering surgery. 

Before your surgery

You will arrive at the Weymouth Hospital in London and be welcomed by our admissions team. After a quick check-in, you’ll be guided to the pre-operative area to prepare for surgery. Within the hour, a nurse will carry out basic checks such as your blood pressure and oxygen levels and ensure you have followed the fasting guidelines. You’ll also meet your anaesthetist, who will talk through the light general anaesthetic used in our Kley Rapid Hip programme.

You will then meet our operative team of consultants; Professor Adrian Wilson and Doctor Kristian Kley who will mark the surgical site, review the procedure with you one last time, and answer any final questions.

During the surgery

Our hip replacement surgery takes around 30 minutes (compared with 60-90 minutes for traditional surgery). In theatre, the team will perform your hip replacement using a minimally invasive approach, meaning a smaller incision, no cutting of major muscles, less blood loss and trauma to the joint, lower risk of complications and shorter time under anaesthetic.

1. Once you’re under anaesthetic, Dr Kley will access the hip joint via a small 6-8cm cut on the side of your hip (anterolateral).
2. The Kley Rapid Hip technique is totally muscle sparing and he will carefully move the muscles and tissues aside to expose the hip joint.
3. The femoral head (the “ball” at the top of the thigh bone) is dislocated from the acetabulum (the “socket” in the pelvis) and then surgically removed.
4. Any damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the hip socket which is then carefully shaped so that the acetabular cup can be inserted.
5. The femur (thighbone) is prepared and a metal stem (femoral stem) is inserted and fixed into place, over time this will bond directly to the bone, but it is primarily stable.
   
6. The new artificial ball (femoral head) is attached to the top of the metal stem.
7. At this point, Dr Kley will have created a stable ball-and-socket hip joint.
8. Finally, the wound is closed with disolvable stitches and a waterproof sterile dressing is applied to the wound.

You’ll wake up in recovery, where nurses will closely monitor your vital signs and comfort levels. Because of the light sedation and refined surgical technique, most patients feel surprisingly alert.

Our clinical team and a physiotherapist will soon assist you in standing and even taking a few steps. Walking within hours of surgery is one of the defining features of our Kley Rapid Hip approach.

Thanks to our minimally invasive Dr Kley surgical techniques, many of our patients experience an impressively quick return to mobility:

• Most patients are up and walking - often unaided - within 24 hours of surgery
• 96% are discharged within 24 hours of the procedure
• This early mobilisation is key to reducing complications, enhancing joint function, and supporting overall wellbeing.

During the first six weeks, you'll gradually increase mobility and strength:

• Patients begin with short walks, gentle stretching, and basic physiotherapy
• Crutches or walking aids are often phased out during this period (if initially required at all)
• Some patients report returning to light daily tasks (such as cooking or shopping) within two weeks.

It means just that - your recovery is more "rapid" than traditional surgery, allowing you to get back to your life quicker, and gets you up walking on the same day as your procedure. Our advanced, truly minimally invasive surgical approach is designed to help you regain mobility quickly, often allowing you to walk within hours of surgery. By prioritising swift rehabilitation, it reduces downtime and speeds up your journey back to daily life. 

• Short Hospital Stay: Day-case surgery, 98% of patients discharged within 24 hours
• Faster Recovery: Most patients walk unaided within hours, 50% can return to work and most activities within 2 weeks.
• No Movement Restrictions: No restrictions post-surgery; patients can sit and lie as they like from day one.
• Limited Scarring: Smaller incision results in minimal scarring.

Our leading surgical team have perfected the Kley Rapid Hip method - a minimally invasive, muscle-sparing total hip replacement technique, designed as a day-case procedure that’s appropriate for a wide range of patients. 

Our approach ensures every patient receives the best possible care, tailored to their needs.

• We Are Inventors: We hold multiple patents for surgical instruments and techniques. You are being treated by the doctors who created the procedures, not just those who learned them.
• Rapid Recovery Focus: Our unique "Rapid Recovery" protocols for hip and knee replacement are designed to get you home sooner and back to sport faster.
• London Based: Conveniently located for anyone searching for an "orthopedic doctor London," with clinics at 9 Harley Street, Weymouth Street Hospital, and The Cromwell Hospital.
• Non-Surgical Options First: Wee always prioritise non surgical treatments and joint preservation to delay or prevent major surgery wherever possible.
• Experts in Minimally Invasive Surgery: We specialise in muscle-sparing techniques, meaning better outcomes for patients and faster recovery times.
• No Wait List: By choosing us, you also avoid the NHS wait list, and in some cases could have your surgery completed in as little as 1-2 weeks.
• We are the cheapest! Our combination of expertise and specialist techniques means we can perform surgeries more efficiently, which means it costs you less.