Up On Crutches The Day After.
The damaged femoral head is removed, the socket is prepared and fitted with a low-friction liner, and a stem carrying a new ball is anchored inside the thigh bone. Muscle-sparing approaches shorten the time to walking, and most patients are up the next day.
The Joint, And What Wears.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint; arthritis wears the cartilage lining both parts until every step becomes painful. Replacing it addresses both halves rather than resurfacing one.
The Operation.
The surgeon removes the damaged femoral head, prepares the socket and fits a cup with a low-friction liner, then anchors a stem carrying a new ball inside the thigh bone.
Muscle-sparing approaches shorten the time to walking, and patients are usually up with crutches the day after surgery.
When Not To.
The same rule applies here as at the knee: early cartilage wear is better managed with physiotherapy, weight management or injections. An active infection or poorly controlled diabetes mean treating that first and deciding afterwards.
Two To Three Months.
Full comfort returns over two to three months as the surrounding muscles rebuild strength. Walking improves week by week, and a physiotherapist works with you from the day after surgery.
Plan seven to ten days in Istanbul with three to four nights in hospital. We recommend bringing a companion: you will be mobile but slower for the first week, and hotel life is easier with someone alongside you.
The Ones People Actually Ask.
How much does knee or hip replacement cost in Turkey?
We do not publish a figure, because the total depends on the implant chosen, whether one or both joints are treated and how many nights you need in hospital. Send your X-rays or MRI report; the surgeon reviews them and you receive a written, all-inclusive quote before you book anything. Nothing is added later unless the examination changes the plan.
Is orthopedic surgery in Turkey safe?
Ours is performed in a licensed, fully equipped hospital with intensive care on site, not a day-surgery unit. Swedish Clinic holds Temos international accreditation, an ISO 9001 (UKAS) certified management system and a Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. Joint replacement is major surgery anywhere, and the pre-operative work-up exists to keep the risk where it belongs.
How many days do I need to stay in Istanbul?
Plan 7-10 days for a knee or hip replacement: three to four nights in hospital, then the rest at the hotel for wound checks and your first physiotherapy sessions. Arthroscopy is shorter, 4-6 days with a single night in hospital. You fly home only after the surgeon confirms you are fit to travel.
Who actually performs the operation?
A specialist orthopedic surgeon, with a consultant anaesthetist and a full theatre team, never a trainee standing in. The same surgeon reviews your imaging beforehand, sees you on the ward each day and signs your discharge. A physiotherapist works with you from the day after surgery. You are told the surgeon's name before you travel.
How painful is the recovery, and how soon can I walk?
Most patients stand and take their first steps within 24 hours, with a frame or crutches and a physiotherapist beside them. A nerve block usually covers the first day; after that oral painkillers are normally enough. Walking improves week by week, and full comfort after a hip or knee replacement typically settles over two to three months as muscle strength returns.
How do I know whether I need surgery at all?
Often you do not. Cartilage wear that is still early is better managed with physiotherapy, weight management or injections, and the surgeon will say so rather than operate. An active infection or poorly controlled diabetes also mean treating that first and deciding afterwards. We would rather turn a case down than replace a joint a decade too soon.
Do you arrange the hotel, transfers and a translator?
Yes. VIP airport transfers, a translator at every appointment and help booking a hotel close to the clinic in Şişli are all part of the arrangement. We recommend bringing a companion: you will be mobile after a joint replacement but slower for the first week, and hotel life is easier with someone alongside you.