Hip Replacements: What to Expect
September 03, 2021
Updated on April 2, 2025
When you have significant hip pain, even with medication or physical therapy, it’s time to consider hip replacement.
Total hip replacement is a major surgery to replace a damaged hip joint with a new artificial hip joint and is one of the most successful surgeries in medicine.
What Happens During Hip Replacement Surgery?
During hip replacement surgery, you’ll receive either general anesthesia or a spinal block, and the hip surgeon generally makes an incision along either the front, side or backside of the hip.
Orthopedic surgeon Edwin Theosmy, D.O. describes the main parts of the procedure.
“The orthopedic hip surgeon removes the hip ball and prepares the hip socket and thigh bone to receive the artificial joint,” Dr. Theosmy says. “These days, most hip implants are composed of a combination of ceramic, polyethylene and metal such as titanium or cobalt-chrome. The surgeon selects the best combination of implants and sizes that will give the patient the best result based on their weight, age, gender and activity level.”
Once your prosthetic hip joint is in place, the surgeon compares the leg length and tension of the repaired side to the unaffected one. When everything checks out, the incision is closed, and you are wheeled to the recovery area.
How Long Does Hip Replacement Surgery Take?
Generally, hip replacement surgery takes one to two hours to complete, although the total length of time depends on your health, anesthesia, the type of hip prosthesis you receive and other factors.
Hip Replacement Recovery Time
Within hours after hip replacement surgery, when you’re awake and alert, you’ll be encouraged to get up and start walking with crutches or a walker. This is important to decrease the chance of blood clots forming and to get used to walking with the new hip. Nurses or physical therapists will teach you special exercises to do during your recovery.
Will I Be Able To Tie My Shoes After Hip Replacement Surgery?
One of the most common questions patients ask Dr. Theosmy is, “How long after hip replacement can I tie my shoes?”
“This answer depends on the type of hip approach you received,” he says. “If your hip replacement procedure involves the more traditional posterior approach, there are typically short-term restrictions in place that may take up to six weeks before you can bend down safely to tie your shoelaces, pick things up from the ground, cross your legs, sleep on your side. This is to allow your hip structures time to heal and adapt to your new hip.”
If your hip replacement involves the less invasive anterior approach, which spares muscles, you’ll be able to bend down to tie your shoes and perform other activities sooner. Of course, hip replacement recovery time varies depending on your level of health, strength and many other factors prior to surgery.
How Long Does It Take To Walk Normally After Hip Surgery?
People who undergo hip replacement surgery can typically return to normal light activity, such as driving and walking greater distances, within three to six weeks, and are usually back to normal within 10 to 12 weeks.
When the area around the new hip is fully healed, there might be some residual soreness from time to time, but nothing like the pain the patient experienced before the surgery.
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our expert: Edwin Theosmy, D.O.
- To make an appointment with a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about hip replacement surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
