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Orthopedic Surgery Procedure

Joint Replacement at the Orthopedic Surgeon

What joint replacement is, when you actually need it, what it costs with and without insurance, and how to find a surgeon who does many of them.

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At a Glance

Procedure time1 to 2 hours
AnesthesiaSpinal or general
Hospital staySame day to 3 days
Recovery3 to 6 months
Typical self-pay$30,000 to $50,000
Most common jointsHip and knee. Shoulders, ankles, and other joints are replaced too.
Top reasonArthritis. Worn cartilage that lets bone rub on bone.
Typical implant life20 to 25 years. Most modern hips and knees last decades.

What is joint replacement?

The basics, in plain terms

Joint replacement is surgery that removes a worn or damaged joint, most often a hip or knee, and replaces it with an artificial implant made of metal, plastic, or ceramic. It is meant for people whose pain and stiffness no longer respond to medicine, shots, and physical therapy. Most patients get major pain relief and move far better afterward.

Joint replacement is surgery that removes a worn or damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial part called an implant or prosthesis. The new joint is made of metal, hard plastic, or ceramic. It is built to move the way your natural joint did, so you can walk, bend, and reach with far less pain.

The hip and knee are the joints replaced most often. Surgeons also replace shoulders, ankles, elbows, and the small joints in the fingers. Doctors call the surgery arthroplasty.

You can have part of a joint replaced or all of it. A partial replacement swaps out only the damaged side of the joint. A total replacement rebuilds the whole joint surface. Your surgeon picks the type based on how much healthy bone and cartilage you have left.

Most people who get a joint replaced have arthritis. Years of wear strip away the smooth cartilage that lets bones glide. Bone then rubs on bone, which hurts and stiffens the joint. The implant gives those bones a smooth surface again so the joint can move freely.

Who needs a joint replacement?

When surgery makes sense

Joint replacement is not the first step. It is what you consider after other treatments stop working.

Your doctor will likely suggest it when:

  • Pain keeps you up at night or wakes you from sleep.
  • You struggle to walk, climb stairs, or get out of a chair.
  • The joint is stiff and swollen most days.
  • Pain medicine, physical therapy, shots, and a cane no longer help.
  • X-rays show the joint cartilage is mostly gone.

The pain test matters most. Surgeons look at how much the joint limits your daily life, not just what the X-ray shows. Two people can have the same scan and very different pain. The decision is built around how you live, not a single image.

Age plays a smaller role than many people think. Healthy people in their 80s do well, and younger people with severe damage may need surgery too. Younger patients are told that an implant can wear out and may need a second surgery decades later.

Common underlying causes include arthritis in a worn joint, cartilage damage, and structural problems that begin early in life, such as hip dysplasia.

How do you prepare for surgery?

The weeks before your operation

Good preparation makes recovery faster and safer. Most surgeons start it weeks ahead.

Medical clearance
You will get blood tests, an EKG, and sometimes a checkup with your regular doctor. The goal is to catch problems like infection, high blood sugar, or heart issues before surgery.
Medicine review
Tell the team about every drug and supplement you take. You may need to stop blood thinners, some arthritis drugs, and certain supplements for several days. Do not stop anything on your own; ask first.
Get the house ready
Set up a clear path to walk. Remove loose rugs and cords. Put daily items within easy reach. Many people add a raised toilet seat, a shower chair, and a walker before surgery day.
Prehab
Some surgeons send you to physical therapy before surgery. Stronger muscles going in mean an easier recovery coming out.

Stop smoking if you can. Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of the wound and bone not knitting well. Arrange a ride home and someone to help around the house for the first week or two.

How is a joint replacement done?

Step by step in the operating room

Joint replacement is done in an operating room by an orthopedic surgeon and a team. Here is the usual flow for a hip or knee.

  1. 1Anesthesia. You get either general anesthesia, which puts you fully to sleep, or a spinal block that numbs you from the waist down. The team often adds nerve blocks for pain control.
  2. 2The incision. The surgeon makes a cut over the joint to reach the damaged bone.
  3. 3Removing the damage. Worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone are taken out.
  4. 4Placing the implant. The metal and plastic parts are fixed to the bone. Some implants are pressed in so bone grows into them. Others are held with a special cement.
  5. 5Testing the joint. The surgeon moves the new joint to check that it bends and holds steady.
  6. 6Closing up. The incision is closed with stitches or staples and covered with a dressing.

The surgery itself usually takes one to two hours. You then move to a recovery area where nurses monitor you while you wake up. Many people stand and take a few steps the same day with help.

What does recovery look like?

Your week-by-week timeline

Recovery is a process measured in months, not days. The good news is that most of the gain happens in the first three months.

First days
You start moving almost right away. A physical therapist helps you stand, walk a few steps, and use a walker. Early movement lowers the risk of blood clots.
Weeks 1 to 6
You walk a bit more each day and do home exercises. Many people switch from a walker to a cane during this stretch. You may need help with bathing, cooking, and chores.
Weeks 6 to 12
Pain keeps dropping and strength returns. Many people drive again, return to desk work, and walk without a cane once their surgeon clears them.
3 to 6 months
Most people feel close to their new normal. Swelling can come and go for up to a year as the joint settles.

Stick with physical therapy. It is the single biggest factor in a strong result. Skipping it is the most common reason a joint stays stiff. Watch for fever, growing redness, or drainage from the wound. Call your surgeon if any of those appear.

What are the risks, and what should you never ignore?

Knowing the warning signs

Joint replacement is one of the most successful surgeries in medicine, but it is still major surgery with real risks. Knowing them helps you spot trouble early.

  • Infection. A deep infection around the implant is serious and may need more surgery. Fever, spreading redness, warmth, or wound drainage are warning signs. Call your surgeon the same day.
  • Blood clots. Clots can form in the leg veins after surgery. You will get blood thinners, compression devices, or both, and you will be told to move often.
  • Implant problems. Parts can loosen, wear out, or, rarely, dislocate. The FDA has warned that some older metal-on-metal hip implants can shed metal particles and should be monitored.
  • Nerve or blood vessel injury near the joint, which is uncommon.

Do not try to tough it out at home. Skipping follow-up care, ignoring a fever, or buying unproven joint regrowth supplements online can let a fixable problem become a dangerous one. No pill, cream, or device sold online can replace a worn joint or treat an implant infection.

Do not delay care for a hot, swollen, painful joint after surgery. It can be an infection, and time matters. When in doubt, call your surgeon's office before searching for home fixes.

How well does it work?

Results and how long implants last

Joint replacement has a strong track record. Most people get major pain relief and move far better than before.

How long implants last
Modern hip and knee implants last a long time. Data tracked by national joint registries shows that around 8 in 10 knee replacements and a similar share of hip replacements are still working well 20 to 25 years later. Materials and techniques keep improving.
Pain and function
Most people report a large drop in daily pain and a clear gain in what they can do, from climbing stairs to sleeping through the night. Satisfaction is high, though knees can take longer to feel natural than hips.

What raises your odds of a great result:

  • Doing your physical therapy fully.
  • Reaching a healthy weight, which lowers stress on the joint.
  • Controlling diabetes and other health conditions.
  • Choosing a surgeon and hospital that do many of these procedures each year.

A replacement does not last forever, especially in younger and very active people. If an implant wears out, a second surgery called a revision can replace it. Revisions are more involved, which is one reason surgeons weigh timing carefully in younger patients.

What does joint replacement cost, and how do you find a surgeon?

Prices by payer and how to choose

Joint replacement is expensive, but what you actually pay depends on your insurance far more than the sticker price.

With Medicare
Most joint replacement patients are over 65. Medicare Part A covers inpatient surgery after your deductible, and many outpatient cases fall under Part B. With a supplement plan, many people pay little to nothing out of pocket.
With private insurance
If the surgery is in-network and medically needed, you usually pay your deductible plus coinsurance up to your out-of-pocket maximum. Get a written estimate and confirm the surgeon, hospital, and anesthesia team are all in-network.
Self-pay
Without insurance, a total hip or knee replacement commonly runs $30,000 to $50,000 or more once the hospital, implant, surgeon, and anesthesia are added up. Some surgery centers offer bundled cash prices that are lower.

See the cost table below for a side-by-side view.

Finding a surgeon
Look for a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who performs many joint replacements each year, since higher volume is linked to better results. Our directory lists more than 34,000 orthopedic surgeons across the country. You can search by location, read profiles, and check which insurance plans each surgeon accepts before you book a consultation.
SituationTypical cost
Insured, in-network (deductible + coinsurance)$2,000 to $7,000 out of pocket
Insured, high-deductible plan$5,000 to $10,000 out of pocket
Medicare (with supplement)$0 to $1,700 out of pocket
Self-pay / cash$30,000 to $50,000+

Ranges are typical US estimates for a total hip or knee replacement and cover the hospital, implant, surgeon, and anesthesia together. Your exact cost depends on your plan, the facility, and whether everyone on your care team is in-network. Always ask for a written estimate before surgery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a joint replacement last?

Most modern hip and knee implants last a long time. National joint registries show that roughly 8 in 10 are still working well 20 to 25 years after surgery. Younger and very active patients may wear an implant out sooner and could need a second surgery later.

How painful is joint replacement recovery?

There is real pain in the first week or two, but it is managed with medicine, ice, and nerve blocks. Most people are surprised that the new joint hurts less than the worn one did within a few weeks. Pain keeps dropping over the first three months.

How long until I can walk normally?

You will stand and take a few steps the same day with help. Many people move from a walker to a cane within a few weeks and walk without support by 6 to 12 weeks once their surgeon clears them. Doing your physical therapy is the biggest factor.

Will I set off airport metal detectors?

You might, since many implants contain metal. Just tell the security officer you have a joint replacement. You do not need a card or doctor's note, and the implant is safe to scan.

Can I avoid surgery with shots or supplements?

Shots, physical therapy, weight loss, and medicine can ease pain and delay surgery, and they are worth trying first. But no supplement or injection can rebuild a joint where the cartilage is gone. When those steps stop helping, surgery is the option that restores the joint surface.

How do I choose the right surgeon?

Look for a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who performs joint replacements often, since higher volume is linked to better outcomes. Check that the surgeon and hospital are in-network, read patient reviews, and ask how many of your specific procedure they do each year.

What is the difference between partial and total joint replacement?

A partial replacement swaps out only the damaged side of the joint and keeps the healthy parts. A total replacement rebuilds the whole joint surface. Your surgeon chooses based on how much healthy bone and cartilage you have left.

When should I call my surgeon after surgery?

Call right away if you have a fever, growing redness, warmth, or fluid draining from the wound, since these can signal infection. Also call for sudden calf pain or swelling, which can mean a blood clot. When in doubt, call before searching for home fixes.

Sources

Last updated June 2026. Reviewed against the cited sources; provider and cost data from CMS, updated monthly.

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