Hip Replacement
Hip replacement (total hip arthroplasty) is surgery to remove a damaged hip joint and replace it with an artificial implant of metal, ceramic and durable plastic. It is used when arthritis or injury causes persistent pain and stiffness that limit walking and daily life, and it reliably relieves pain and restores movement.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Total hip replacement is one of the most established and successful operations in orthopedics. The worn ball-and-socket joint is replaced with a prosthesis that moves smoothly and bears weight, relieving the pain and stiffness caused by advanced osteoarthritis, hip fracture, avascular necrosis or rheumatoid disease. Where suitable, minimally invasive approaches and modern bearing surfaces can support a smoother, quicker recovery, but surgery is only one part of the journey — structured physiotherapy is essential to rebuild strength and confidence in the new hip.
For patients travelling from abroad, a dedicated coordinator arranges appointments, a clear treatment plan and a transparent cost estimate before travel, including the expected length of stay in hospital and in the city, and the rehabilitation that follows. Our orthopedic surgeons can review your X-rays and reports remotely first, so you understand whether hip replacement is the right step before you decide to travel.
Who is a candidate?
- Adults with advanced hip arthritis causing persistent pain, stiffness or a limp
- People whose hip pain limits walking, sleep or daily activities despite non-surgical treatment
- Patients for whom medication, weight management, injections and physiotherapy no longer give enough relief
- Those with hip damage from a fracture or from conditions such as avascular necrosis of the femoral head
- Patients fit enough for surgery and willing to commit to a rehabilitation program afterwards
What happens
- 1
Assessment and planning
X-rays, a clinical examination and your medical history confirm the extent of joint damage and the implant type and size most suitable for you. Imaging and reports can be reviewed remotely before travel.
- 2
Preparation
Your team optimizes your health for surgery, plans the anesthetic, and may start pre-operative exercises (prehabilitation) to aid recovery. You are advised on how to prepare for the days after surgery.
- 3
The operation
Under general or spinal anesthesia, the surgeon removes the damaged joint surfaces and fits the prosthesis — a new socket and a ball on a stem within the thigh bone — using minimally invasive techniques where appropriate.
- 4
Early mobilization
Physiotherapy usually begins within a day. With support you stand and take your first steps, and most patients are walking and managing stairs before discharge, with guidance on movements to avoid early on.
- 5
Rehabilitation
A structured rehabilitation program over several weeks rebuilds strength and range of motion. International patients receive a home exercise plan and follow-up schedule and can be supported remotely after returning home.
Benefits
- Reliable, lasting relief from arthritis or fracture-related hip pain for most patients
- Restored mobility and the ability to return to everyday activities
- Improved sleep and quality of life when pain has been limiting
- Correction of a limp and of leg-length differences caused by joint damage
- Minimally invasive options, where suitable, can support a quicker recovery
- Modern implants are designed to last many years
Risks & considerations
- Infection, bleeding and blood clots in the leg or lung, as with any major surgery
- Dislocation of the new hip, particularly in the early weeks before tissues heal
- A small difference in leg length, which the surgeon works to minimize
- Loosening or wear of the implant over many years, sometimes needing revision surgery
- Rarely, injury to nearby nerves or blood vessels
- A recovery period of several weeks requiring commitment to rehabilitation
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Spine Center & Orthopedics.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Hip Replacement — frequently asked questions
Most patients stand and take their first steps with support within a day of surgery, with physiotherapy starting early. Walking ability improves steadily through your rehabilitation, and many people walk without aids within a few weeks.
You can expect to be walking within days and to recover steadily over three to six months, with structured physiotherapy. Your surgeon and physiotherapist give you a personalized timeline and a home exercise plan to continue after you return home.
Hip replacement usually means about two to four days in hospital plus further rehabilitation, and your coordinator confirms the expected nights in hospital and in the city. We provide a transparent, itemized cost estimate after reviewing your case — covering assessment, surgery, the implant, hospital stay and follow-up — rather than quoting fixed prices online, because each plan is individual.
Yes. Send your hip X-rays and medical reports and our orthopedic surgeons give an independent opinion remotely on whether hip replacement is appropriate, what implant approach suits you and what alternatives exist, so you can decide before travelling.
Modern implants may occasionally trigger metal detectors, so carry a note from your surgeon if needed. Once you have recovered, most patients return to walking, swimming, cycling and everyday activities; very high-impact sports are usually discouraged to protect the implant.
Modern implants are designed to last many years, and a large proportion remain functioning well into the long term. Lifespan depends on factors such as age, weight and activity level, and your surgeon will discuss what to expect and what may shorten implant life.
Related treatments
Considering hip replacement?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.