A hip replacement operation replaces your damaged hip joint with an artificial ball and socket joint implant to ease pain and discomfort and improve movement. The joint may be held in place within the existing bones, with or without the use of cement.

Bone cement is an epoxy resin which reinforces the fixations of the implant into the bone. It’s usually used for patients in their 70s and older who are more likely to suffer with weakness of the bone, known as osteoporosis.

In younger, stronger people an uncemented implant is generally used. This is usually coated with chemicals that allow the bone to grow into the implant itself and make it solid.

We pride ourselves on only using implants with an established track record of safety and have never used metal-on-metal implants.

There are several conditions or injuries that may result in the need for hip replacement surgery. One of the most common conditions is osteoarthritis of the hip. This leads to your hip joint becoming worn and causing significant pain, reducing your quality of life. That pain tends to occur in the front of your hip, in the groin - although it can radiate to the thigh and around the back into the buttock. The pain can also travel down your leg and into the knee. The pain can be constant and present, even if you’re not moving.

Alongside the pain, you can get other problems as well. Common symptoms include hip stiffness which can lead to reduced mobility, stopping you from doing even simple tasks such as getting down to tie your shoes and socks or cut your toenails. You may feel that you no longer trust your hip as it feels unstable.

But it’s unlikely that hip replacement surgery will be offered as a first response to pain and discomfort. Hip replacement surgery is usually offered when your pain can not be easily controlled by any other means.  Other hip treatments, such as steroid injections or physiotherapy, will be offered first.

If they don’t work for you, and hip pain is having a serious effect on your quality of life, a hip replacement may be the next step.

Your Consultant will discuss your medical history, assess your range of movement and muscle strength, and look at images of the joint damage before recommending the best course of private treatment. They’ll usually only recommend hip replacement surgery after you’ve tried non-surgical treatments such as pain relief, physiotherapy and muscle strengthening.

If you’ve agreed that self-pay hip replacement surgery is the best treatment, your initial consultation might include tests and diagnostic imaging (x-rays or MRI scans). You might also have assessment of your fitness for anaesthesia on the same day, to reduce the number of visits you need to make to the hospital. You'll also join our Enhanced Recovery Programme.

Your Consultant may recommend that you start an exercise programme to strengthen your muscles around the hip joint and increase flexibility before surgery as this can benefit the recovery time after your operation.

On the day of your operation, you'll meet your Consultant and Anaesthetist, who’ll answer any questions you have before you're prepared for theatre.

Hip replacements are carried out under either a general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthesia. During spinal anaesthesia, the lower half of your body is numbed. However, you’ll be sedated as well so that you’re asleep during the procedure.

During this time, you’ll be given antibiotics to reduce the chances of infection and injections to prevent blood clotting.

The operation itself takes up to two hours. Our hip replacement surgery is performed by a highly skilled team of Orthopaedic Consultants. After surgery, we’ll move you to the recovery room for observation, until you’re ready to return to the ward where you’ll be cared for by our experienced nursing team.

Depending on the time of the operation, and as long as your legs are awake from the anaesthetic, we’ll try to get you up and about on the day of the operation. If you're walking on your new hip on day zero, you’ll feel confident that everything is strong and solid.

Your Consultant will advise when you can start your recovery with our expert Physiotherapy team.

Watch our video What to expect from hip replacement surgery.

Your Anaesthetist will assess your suitability for the PENG Block; a new and innovative anaesthetic which reduces the need for strong painkillers after your surgery. They’ll consider whether a regional anaesthetic rather than a general anaesthetic is suitable for your pain relief - and whether you have enough help at home to support your recovery. This innovative technique is carried out by our anaesthetic specialists and is approved by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence).

We’re the first private hospital in the UK to be nationally accredited by the Royal College of Anaesthetists in providing the highest standards of care to patients in anaesthesia.

Find out more about anaesthetic services at Benenden Hospital.

You’ll usually stay in hospital for up to two nights after hip replacement surgery, but this can vary from person to person.

Your recovery will vary depending on your general health and fitness, and the type of surgery you’ve had. Your hip will be tender and painful at first and you may also have a swollen knee or ankle for a few months as well as bruising.

While you’re in hospital, our physiotherapy team will visit you every day. They’ll help you regain mobility through carefully planned exercise.

We’ll send you home only when it's safe to do so and we’re happy that you're medically fit. Your Consultant will check your x-rays, blood tests and your wound. Our nursing staff will make sure that your pain is under control and that you're able to cope and look after yourself once you leave hospital. You’ll have to take precautions for around six weeks. Your Consultant will give you information on looking after your hip and it’s important to follow this advice.

There are no strict rules about driving after a hip replacement. However, you shouldn’t get back behind the wheel if you’re still taking strong painkillers.  Your consultant will advise you when it is safe to drive.

You also need to be able to get in and out of the car safely and be able to control the vehicle when you're in it. This depends which leg you've been operated on. You’ll need to apply the accelerator and the brake so, if you’ve had your right hip replaced, you shouldn't be driving until you can safely stamp on the brake and perform an emergency stop.

If your left hip has been replaced, and you drive an automatic car, the left leg shouldn’t move much, and you can drive with care following the advice of your Consultant.

With sports, moving about isn’t a problem, it’s the damage that could be caused by falling over during activity. You need to be confident you have the strength and musculature to be able to support yourself properly before resuming normal activities.

Recovering from a major operation like a joint replacement takes time. If you try and force yourself back to work too soon, you may encounter problems. Your Consultant will give you an indication of how long you may be off work and you may want to speak with you Occupational Health department to discuss any adjustments to work that will help reduce the amount of time you are away from the workplace.

The lifespan of a hip replacement depends on how much force you put through it, but a modern hip replacement - using modern materials and put in properly - will last you for decades.