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10% discount for Benenden Health members

Benenden Health members are entitled to 10% off hip replacement surgery.

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Webinar: Treatment for hip osteoarthritis

26 November at 6pm

Mr Alex Chipperfield will guide you through treatment for hip osteoarthritis at our hospital, including our hip replacement surgery process, and the difference it can make to your quality of life.

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Hip replacement surgery in Kent

As we get older, we may start to suffer from arthritis of the hip which can affect our mobility and reduce independence. Hip pain can affect sleep, work, ability to exercise and have a negative effect on how we feel, both physically and mentally.

Our CQC rated Outstanding private hospital offers safe treatment for hip pain in a calm and welcoming environment, set in the tranquil countryside. You’ll be supported throughout your treatment by our experienced team of Orthopaedic Surgeons, expert Anaesthetists and Chartered Physiotherapists who’ll help you get back on your feet, fast.

We’re the leading provider of private hip replacements in Kent (PHIN, 2024) and participate in the National Joint Registry (NJR) for patient safety and standards in quality of care.

Most patients return to normal movement and mobility following hip replacement surgery at our hospital so, if you’re struggling to do the things you love, we can help.



How much does a hip replacement cost?

View our self-pay treatment prices and discounts for Benenden Health members below.

Take advantage of payment plans through our trusted partner, Chrysalis, and spread the cost of your treatment. Fit your repayments into your monthly budget rather than having to find the full cost at the time of your treatment.

Procedure type
Initial consultation price
Treatment price*
Monthly cost**
Member discount
Total hip replacement
£195
From £12,750
From £308.29
10%
Total hip replacement
Initial consultation price
£195

Treatment price*
From £12,750

Monthly cost**
From £308.29

Member discount
10%

About treatment for hip pain

Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Matthew Oliver, talks about hip pain and the treatments we offer at Benenden Hospital (5 videos)

Video transcript

What is hip replacement surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery is a successful operation to cure degenerative disorders of the human hip joints such as osteoarthritis or traumatic events that have worn the joint out earlier than expected. It requires an operation and an inpatient stay in hospital.

Essentially the human ball and socket joint is replaced for artificial ones that gets rid of the pain and gets the patient ambulating and having a better quality of life in the long run.

What are hip replacements made of?

Hip replacements are made of a variety of materials. They include ceramics for the femoral head. The femoral head can also be made out of metal, usually cobalt and chrome. The stem is made out of cobalt and chrome or, if it's an uncemented stem, it's usually made out of titanium. The socket is usually uncemented and is made out of titanium.

The implants that are pressed fit into the bone are coated in a material called hydroxyapatite, that your own bone recognizes and grows into the stem. The liner is usually made out of a plastic material or polyethylene.

Is a hip replacement major surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery is considered major surgery. However, it shouldn't be looked upon with fear. It's an operation that brings benefit to a patient's life.

It can be considered like having a tyre change. Essentially, your ball and socket joint is worn out and the operation is designed to replace that with a brand new ball and socket, which reduces pain and brings back your quality of life.

How long does a hip replacement last?

The longevity of a total hip replacement is determined by several factors. But on average with modern orthopaedic kit, I expect a total hip replacement to last at least 20 years, everything being equal.

Can I have a hip replacement if I've already had a knee replacement on the same side?

Hip and knee replacements can be done on the same side. There's not a problem at all with that. The usual path is to have the hip replaced first and then followed by the knee. But in some instances, the knee wears out before the hip. Either way you can have a hip and knee replacement on the same leg.

What is hip replacement surgery?

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.

Who can I see about hip pain?

If you want to get on with your life, free from hip pain, our Private GPs  or Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons can discuss your situation and the options available to you such as pain relief, steroid injections and physiotherapy.

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.

Do I need a GP referral for surgery?

If you’re self-paying or want to use your Private Medical Insurance for treatment, you don’t need a referral from a GP.

However, you will need to have a consultation with one of our experienced Orthopaedic Surgeons. This will ensure we understand your medical history and what you expect from surgery, so we can discuss all of the options available to you.

Book your initial consultation online or by calling our Private Patient team on 01580 363158.

What are the reasons for having a hip replacement?

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.

How long does a hip replacement last?

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.

About your hip replacement surgery

Explore essential insights on hip replacement surgery with Mr. Matthew Oliver, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Benenden Hospital (2 videos)

Video transcript

How long does hip replacement take?

Hip replacement surgery takes approximately one to one and a half hours. However, it can be different depending on the circumstances. Some surgeries take longer, some take slightly less time.

It depends on the surgical technique and different parts of the technique, especially if you're using bone cement, which is used to fix the femoral stem into the top of the thigh bone. You have to wait for some time for the cement to set.

The usual event though away from the ward and then back to the ward is somewhere between one and a half to two and a half hours.

What is normal pain after hip replacement surgery?

A total hip replacement isn't a pain free procedure, but with the modern anaesthetic techniques and the enhanced recovery protocol this hospital uses, the patient's journey from start to finish is a reasonably smooth one.

During the operation, you’ll usually have a spinal anaesthetic with sedation. And then in the recovery suite, quite a few hip replacement patients receive a nerve block in the leg to keep the leg more comfortable for several hours post-operatively as the pain gradually kicks. In the ward, nurses provide you with strong analgesia as required over time. The pain settles quite rapidly.

Certainly, the first couple of weeks are hard and it feels like a deep bruise that's settling. The arthritic pain, however, from the hip that you had before goes almost instantly overnight and a lot of patients get a lot of joy from that.

What happens at a hip replacement consultation?

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.

I’m worried about having an anaesthetic during surgery

Before your surgery, we’ll carry out a series of checks to better understand your health needs. On the day of surgery, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss all aspects of your anaesthetic with the Anaesthetist. Your Surgeon will work closely with your Anaesthetist to plan your pain control during your operation.

What happens during hip replacement surgery?

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.

How does the PENG Block anaesthetic help my recovery?

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.

After your hip replacement surgery

Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Matthew Oliver, talks about what to expect after your total hip replacement surgery, including recovery (8 videos)

Video transcript

How long does it take to recover from hip replacement surgery?

Total hip replacement surgery recovery takes anywhere between three months and a year. Certainly, the first six weeks are hard going, and patients need to follow the hip precautions carefully postoperatively. These will be reinforced to them by their surgeon in the pre-op phase, as well as the physiotherapy team in the post-op phase.

Certainly, as the pain settles, the patient becomes much more ambulant, and they progress from two crutches to a crutch by about six weeks. Some aren't even using any aids at six weeks.

But the full recovery, as I say, can take up to a year. In my experience, most people are back to activities of daily living and hobbies such as playing golf, cycling, swimming and things of a similar nature by about three months, post op.

When can I use a regular toilet after hip replacement?

When can one use a regular toilet after a hip replacement? Certainly, you have to wait for the six-week hip precaution period to end. Then you could seek advice from your physiotherapist. But usually after six weeks, you should be able to sit on a normal toilet seat.

When can I legally drive after hip replacement surgery?

When you've had a hip replacement, it is supposed to be the rule that you don't drive for six weeks.

How soon after hip replacement can I walk unaided?

So, walking unaided after a total hip replacement is dependent on several factors. Firstly, how deconditioned you are prior to the operation. And that means how bad the hip arthritis was preoperatively. And secondly, it's down to rehabilitation. How well you've got yourself into a physical state ready to receive major surgery. And thirdly, it's down to how well you recuperate and work hard on your post-operative physiotherapy. I'd like to say you should be able to walk unaided by about two months, postoperatively. Sometimes it can take up to three months, however.

How soon after hip replacement can I tie my shoes?

Total hip replacement and tying your shoelaces. Firstly, you have to wait for the hip precaution period to end, which is usually six weeks. Then you need to try and tie your shoelaces and it will take some time to achieve it. On average, I would say it takes about two months from the moment of your operation. But in some cases, it can be longer.

How long after hip replacement can I fly?

Flying in hip replacement surgery. There's always a theoretical risk of, unfortunately, getting a deep vein thrombosis after major surgery such as a hip replacement. So, flying should probably be held back until about two months. Also, in that two-month period, that's the time when you're recovering from your operation. You don't really want to be abroad or anywhere where you're not close to a medical facility. So, I would recommend that you have eight weeks to recover and then consider going on a flight.

Can I run after hip replacement?

So, running after total hip replacement surgery is quite tricky. Actually, I think it is possible to get back to being able to jog, but actually running in a road race to the level that you once were, potentially, before you had your hip replaced or before it became arthritic, I think is a tall order.

Certainly, though by having your hip replaced, you can return to a quite competitive level of sports and several patients have gone back to playing doubles tennis, squash, playing golf, cycling at a good level, swimming and activities of a similar nature.

Can I overdo walking after a hip replacement?

Can one overdo walking after a hip replacement? You can, you can certainly do that in the early phases of your recovery. But once you've fully recovered, you should be able to enjoy walking to an unlimited extent. With regard to the early period – postoperatively - if you walk too far, your muscles around the hip joint will tire quickly and you'll start to develop discomfort and a limp.

So, you have to get the balance right and build it up in a progressive fashion. And you can always talk to your physiotherapist for guidance about this.

What should I expect after private hip replacement surgery?

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.

When will I be able to drive again after hip replacement surgery?

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.

When can I take part in sports activities like cycling or skiing after hip replacement?

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.

When can I get back to work following a hip replacement procedure?

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.

Our Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons

Mr Chipperfield

Alex Chipperfield

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Chipperfield's specialties include hip and knee replacement, revision hip and knee replacement, and more.

Mr Dunnet

William Dunnet

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Dunnet's specialities include hip surgery, patella realignment and lower limb procedures.

Mr Oliver

Matthew Oliver

Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Oliver's specialties include patient specific knee replacement, enhanced recovery protocols and Dupuytrens disease.

Mr Reddy

Kumar Reddy

Associate Specialist Surgeon

Mr Reddy specialises in total hip and knee replacements, revision joint replacements, ACL reconstruction, and more.

Mr Thakur

Raman Thakur

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Mr Thakur's specialties include hip and knee replacement, ACL reconstruction and general orthopaedics.

Make an enquiry or book a consultation

Call us to find out more. You can also book an initial consultation with an Orthopaedic Surgeon by choosing Hip or knee pain consultation or with a Physiotherapist by choosing the Physiotherapy service on our online booking tool.