London Cartilage Clinic IconLondon Cartilage Clinic66 Harley Street
Runner gripping the side of the knee outdoors

ACL reconstruction cost in the UK

Private ACL reconstruction at London Cartilage Clinic, including the surgical fee, consultant anaesthetist, theatre time, two follow-up appointments and a six-month post-operative review. Led by Professor Paul Lee, surgeon-scientist with a PhD in medical engineering and the developer of STARR ligament repair, used here when the ACL can be repaired rather than replaced.
  • 5 / 5 across Doctify and Google
  • 173+ verified patient reviews
  • STARR ligament repair developed at this clinic
Free 15-minute discovery callSee the price
5 / 5 across Doctify and Google173+ verified patient reviewsSTARR ligament repair developed at this clinic

At a glance

How much does ACL reconstruction cost in the UK?

ACL reconstruction cost at LCC is £9,800 for autograft and £13,695 for allograft, both inclusive of theatre, the consultant anaesthetist and post-operative follow-up. Private ACL reconstruction cost figures elsewhere in the UK typically sit between £8,500 and £14,000, with significant variation in what each price actually includes. ACL reconstruction surgery at LCC is led by Professor Paul Lee, who also developed the STARR ligament repair technique used here when ACL repair is feasible.

Two graft options. Your surgeon will discuss which is right for your knee at consultation.

ProcedurePrice

Autograft reconstruction

Hamstring or quadriceps tendon. The default option for most patients.

£9,800

Allograft reconstruction

£3,895 surcharge for donor tissue. Used in revision cases or where the patient prefers not to take a graft from their own knee.

£13,695
Last reviewed April 2026. Prices in £ GBP, including all clinic and surgical fees, plus the consultant anaesthetist where surgery is involved.
See what is included·Funding and insurance·Read the FAQs

ACL reconstruction cost in the UK explained

ACL reconstruction is a precision arthroscopic procedure. The torn ligament is replaced with a tendon graft, secured at both ends, and the knee compartment is then assessed for any associated meniscal or cartilage damage that needs treating in the same session. A typical ACL reconstruction takes ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes of theatre time. Imaging review, instrumentation, single-use surgical disposables, and the consumables for graft fixation make up a meaningful share of the cost.

At LCC ACL reconstruction is performed by Professor Paul Lee. Anaesthesia is delivered by a consultant anaesthetist whose practice is focused on lower-limb orthopaedic surgery; you are not handed off to a registrar. The £9,800 fee covers the surgeon’s time on the day, the consultant anaesthetist’s time, theatre time, and two post-operative reviews plus the six-month outcome assessment. Allograft ACL surgery adds £3,895 to cover the cost of the donor tissue and the human-tissue regulatory framework that goes with it. Private ACL reconstruction cost varies widely across UK clinics, so we publish what we charge transparently.

What is included in the price

Included in the price

  • Pre-operative consultation with the operating surgeon (60 minutes)
  • Pre-admission anaesthetic review
  • Theatre fee, surgical disposables and anaesthetic agents
  • Operating surgeon’s fee
  • Consultant anaesthetist’s fee
  • Cryotherapy and on-the-day medications
  • Implants and human-tissue regulations where applicable
  • Bracing and walking aid where required
  • Two post-operative consultations (typically week 2 and week 6)
  • Six-month post-operative review
  • Direct line to the surgical team for post-operative concerns

Not included, quoted separately

  • MRI imaging at £450, or external imaging accepted where available
  • Pre-operative bloods if not already available
  • Physiotherapy, which is quoted separately by your physiotherapist
  • Travel and accommodation for international patients

Why ACL reconstruction at LCC

  • Founder credential

    Professor Paul Lee, who leads LCC, holds a PhD in medical engineering and has authored eighty-plus peer-reviewed publications cited a thousand-plus times. He developed the STARR ligament repair technique used here when the ACL can be repaired rather than reconstructed.

  • Treatment options match the case

    Where the ligament can be repaired we use STARR. Where reconstruction is the right choice we use the appropriate graft technique, autograft or allograft. Many private clinics only offer one of these.

  • The surgeon you see is the surgeon who operates

    Pre-operative consultation, surgery and post-operative reviews are with Professor Lee. There is no transfer to a registrar or to another consultant between consultation and theatre.

  • Outcome-focused recovery

    We share your post-operative programme directly with your physiotherapist at the end of the first week. The surgical team remains directly contactable for six months. Most patients return to recreational sport between four and eight months after reconstruction, depending on the sport and individual rehabilitation progress.

  • Patients we treat

    We see professional and amateur athletes, recreational runners, and patients whose ACL injury has been managed elsewhere and who want a second opinion. Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is a patient.
Read about Professor LeeSee the surgical teamHow ACL reconstruction works

Your ACL reconstruction journey

  1. 1

    Discovery call (free, 15 minutes)

    A clinical coordinator confirms whether ACL reconstruction looks like the right treatment to investigate, books the consultation if so, and answers cost and funding questions.
  2. 2

    Consultation with Professor Lee (£350, 60 minutes)

    Imaging review, examination, and a treatment plan in writing. You leave with a clear next step and a price for the proposed surgery.
  3. 3

    Pre-operative preparation

    Bloods, anaesthetic review and the consent process. Typically two to three weeks before surgery.
  4. 4

    Day of surgery

    Day-case admission at our partner hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. Surgery takes ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes. Most patients are home the same day; some stay overnight.
  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Brace, crutches and controlled weight-bearing. Direct line to the surgical team for any concerns during this period.
  6. 6

    Weeks 2 to 12

    Physiotherapy with your chosen physiotherapist, progressive return to activity, and two follow-up consultations included with us.
  7. 7

    Six-month review

    Outcome assessment with the operating surgeon, return-to-sport guidance where applicable, and discharge planning.

Funding, insurance and payment

Self-pay

£9,800 for autograft reconstruction or £13,695 for allograft reconstruction. Settled by bank transfer or card before surgery.

We can discuss finance options on request. London Cartilage Clinic does not actively promote a finance partner, so we will not push you toward an APR you have not asked for.

Private medical insurance

London Cartilage Clinic is a private-pay practice and does not work with UK insurance panels. The published price is the price you pay; there are no shortfall surprises after surgery.

If you are insured and would still like to be treated here, we can provide an itemised invoice for you to submit to your insurer for reimbursement, but the agreement is between you and your insurer.

International patients

A meaningful share of our work is international. We can coordinate consultation, imaging, surgery and follow-up into a focused visit to London, and our team handles the medical side of the trip. Travel and accommodation are arranged separately and are not included in the surgical price.

Outcomes after ACL reconstruction

A successful ACL reconstruction restores knee stability for activities that involve cutting, pivoting and deceleration. Most ACL reconstruction patients return to recreational sport between four and eight months post-surgery, depending on the sport and on individual rehabilitation progress. Patients undergoing ACL repair (STARR), where the ligament can be salvaged, often return to non-cutting activity faster.

The clinical milestones we look for are: walking unaided by week six, full extension and good quadriceps activation by week twelve, and confident pivoting between four and six months. We measure progress at each follow-up rather than relying on time alone. The six-month review is where return-to-sport clearance is confirmed.

Patient stories

I had ACL surgery a few months ago and was really worried about the recovery process. A friend recommended Professor Lee, and I am so glad I followed her advice. The surgery was successful, and I recovered much faster than I expected.
Verified patient, Doctify
I have consulted with five private orthopaedic specialists, but none of them picked up on my knee plica issue alongside the ligament problem. I am very grateful for your time and expertise.
Verified patient, Google

Frequently asked questions

How much does ACL reconstruction cost in the UK?

ACL reconstruction at LCC is £9,800 for autograft or £13,695 for allograft, all-inclusive of theatre, consultant anaesthetist, two follow-up appointments, and a six-month post-operative review. Other UK private clinics typically quote between £8,500 and £14,000 for comparable inclusions; some quote a lower headline figure but exclude the anaesthetist or the follow-up package.

Can I claim ACL reconstruction on private medical insurance?

London Cartilage Clinic is a private-pay practice and does not contract with UK insurance panels (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, WPA, Vitality, Cigna). If you have insurance and prefer to be treated here, we can provide an itemised invoice for you to submit for reimbursement, but you settle the bill with us directly.

Does the price include the anaesthetist?

Yes. The £9,800 and £13,695figures include the consultant anaesthetist’s fee. Some private clinics quote the surgical fee alone and add the anaesthetist separately; we do not.

What is the difference between autograft and allograft, and why does one cost more?

Autograft uses one of your own tendons (hamstring or quadriceps) to replace the torn ACL. Allograft uses tissue from a donor, processed to strict UK human-tissue regulations. Allograft removes the need to harvest a tendon from your own knee, but the donor tissue and the regulatory framework around it carry an additional cost of £3,895. Your surgeon will discuss which is right for your case.

What happens if there is a complication after surgery, is follow-up extra?

The two routine post-operative consultations and the six-month review are included. If a complication needs additional clinical contact within twelve months, the post-operative team is available without further charge for assessment. Where additional intervention is required, the case is reviewed transparently with you before any extra cost is agreed.

How long is recovery, and is physiotherapy included in the price?

Most patients are walking unaided by week six and return to recreational sport between four and eight months. Physiotherapy is not included in the surgical price; we share the post-operative programme with your physiotherapist at the end of week one and remain in contact with them through the recovery period.

How does ACL reconstruction at LCC compare to ACL repair (STARR)?

Reconstruction replaces the torn ligament with a graft. Repair, using STARR, preserves the patient’s own ligament where the tissue quality and tear pattern allow. STARR is typically associated with faster recovery and a more natural knee feel; not every case is suitable. Professor Lee developed the STARR technique used here. We assess at consultation which approach is right for your knee and the price for STARR is the same £9,800.

Why is ACL reconstruction at LCC priced where it is?

The £9,800 figure reflects the time of a senior surgical team (operating surgeon plus consultant anaesthetist), a clinically-led pre- and post-operative pathway, and the inclusions listed above. We publish the figure transparently rather than quoting on enquiry so that you can compare like-for-like.

Is the surgeon I see at consultation the same one who will operate?

Yes. Professor Paul Lee leads ACL surgery at LCC and is your consulting surgeon, your operating surgeon, and your reviewing surgeon. There is no hand-off to a registrar or to another consultant.

Where will the surgery happen?

The consultation is at 66 Harley Street. The surgery itself is performed at our partner private hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. Surgical lists are pre-booked around your preferred date once the procedure is agreed.

Can I be treated here from outside the UK?

Yes. A meaningful share of our work is international. We coordinate consultation, imaging, surgery and follow-up into a focused visit to London. Travel and accommodation are arranged separately by you and are not included in the surgical price.

Ready to talk

Two paths from here

For when you want to talk first, the discovery call costs nothing. For when you have decided you want to be assessed, book a consultation with the operating surgeon. Either way you can learn how the procedure works on the ACL reconstruction page.

Free 15-minute discovery callBook a consultation, £350
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