London Cartilage Clinic IconLondon Cartilage Clinic66 Harley Street
Cartilage replacement surgery in theatre

Cartilage replacement cost in the UK

Allograft cartilage replacement at London Cartilage Clinic for the knee, ankle, hip, shoulder, elbow, foot, hand and wrist. For patients whose cartilage defect is too large for repair. Donor osteochondral tissue is implanted under UK human-tissue regulations. Performed by Professor Paul Lee at an ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence.
  • ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence
  • Same price across all joints
  • 173+ verified patient reviews
Free 15-minute discovery callSee the price
ICRS Teaching Centre of ExcellenceSame price across all joints173+ verified patient reviews

At a glance

How much does cartilage replacement cost in the UK?

Cartilage replacement cost at LCC is £28,000, with the same price across all joints and inclusive of theatre, the donor osteochondral tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist and a twelve-month follow-up programme. Cartilage replacement is not commonly published as a private cost in the UK because it is a salvage operation reserved for defects too large to repair. Cartilage replacement at LCC is delivered by Professor Paul Lee at an ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence.

Inclusive price

£28,000

Same price across all joints. The donor tissue and human-tissue regulatory framework are included.

Last reviewed April 2026. Price in £ GBP, including all clinic, theatre and surgical fees, plus the consultant anaesthetist, the donor tissue and the human-tissue regulatory framework.
See what is included·Funding and insurance·Read the FAQs

Cartilage replacement cost in the UK explained

Cartilage replacement uses donor osteochondral tissue (cartilage with its underlying bone) to replace the damaged area in a joint where the defect is too large for repair. Donor tissue is sourced under UK human-tissue regulations, sized to the patient’s anatomy, and implanted with bone-bridge or press-fit fixation depending on technique. A typical case takes two to three hours of theatre time, plus pre-operative MRI and tissue-matching work. The £28,000 figure covers all of that.

At LCC the procedure is performed by Professor Paul Lee. The same price applies whichever joint is being treated; the technical complexity varies by joint, but the price is held constant because the inclusions (donor tissue, regulatory framework, theatre, consultant anaesthetist, twelve-month follow-up) are the same.

What is included in the price

Included in the price

  • Pre-operative consultation with Professor Lee (60 minutes)
  • Pre-admission anaesthetic review
  • Theatre fee, surgical disposables and anaesthetic agents
  • The donor osteochondral tissue
  • Human-tissue regulatory framework
  • Operating surgeon’s fee
  • Consultant anaesthetist’s fee
  • Cryotherapy and on-the-day medications
  • Bracing and walking aid where required
  • Two post-operative consultations (typically week 2 and week 6)
  • Three, six and twelve-month outcome reviews
  • Direct line to the surgical team for post-operative concerns

Not included, quoted separately

  • MRI imaging at £450 where not already available
  • Pre-operative bloods if not already available
  • Onward physiotherapy, quoted separately by your physiotherapist
  • Travel and accommodation for international patients

Why cartilage replacement at LCC

  • ICRS Teaching Centre of Excellence

    LCC is recognised by the International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society as a Teaching Centre of Excellence. Cartilage preservation and replacement are principal interests of the clinic.

  • Replacement is the last conversation, not the first

    We replace cartilage only where preservation (cartilage repair, ChondroFiller, STACi) is no longer realistic. If you have come to us looking for replacement, we will still tell you honestly whether a preservation option would have been preferable.

  • Multi-joint capability

    Most UK clinics offering allograft replacement focus on the knee. We deliver it for the ankle, hip, shoulder, elbow, foot, hand and wrist as well, where the defect is appropriate. Same price.

  • 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.
Read about Professor LeeHow cartilage replacement worksOCA replacement specificallyCartilage repair as the alternative

Your cartilage replacement journey

  1. 1

    Discovery call (free, 15 minutes)

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

    Consultation with Professor Lee (£350, 60 minutes)

    Imaging review, examination, and a treatment plan in writing. We confirm whether replacement is the right operation or whether repair is still realistic.
  3. 3

    Pre-operative preparation

    MRI for tissue sizing, donor-tissue ordering, bloods, anaesthetic review and consent. Typically four to six weeks before surgery.
  4. 4

    Day of surgery

    Admission at our partner hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. Surgery takes two to three hours. Most patients stay overnight.
  5. 5

    First six weeks

    Brace and protected weight-bearing while the donor tissue integrates. Direct line to the surgical team for any concerns during this period.
  6. 6

    Weeks 6 to 16

    Physiotherapy with your chosen physiotherapist, progressive return to function. Two follow-up consultations included with us.
  7. 7

    Three, six and twelve-month reviews

    Outcome assessment, MRI where indicated, and confirmation of return to higher-impact activity.

Funding, insurance and payment

Self-pay

£28,000 settled by bank transfer or card before surgery.

We can discuss finance options on request rather than promoting a specific finance partner.

Private medical insurance

London Cartilage Clinic is a private-pay practice and does not work with UK insurance panels. Allograft cartilage replacement is not routinely covered by UK insurers.

We can provide an itemised invoice for you to submit to your insurer if you wish to claim, but the agreement is between you and your insurer.

International patients

We coordinate consultation, imaging, surgery and follow-up into a focused visit for international patients. The donor-tissue lead time means surgery is typically scheduled four to six weeks after consultation.

Outcomes after cartilage replacement

Cartilage replacement is a salvage operation for joints with a defect too large to repair. The aim is to preserve the joint and avoid joint replacement. Most patients are walking unaided by week eight and return to recreational activity between six and nine months. Higher-impact activity is confirmed at the twelve-month review.

Donor-tissue integration is checked clinically and on imaging at the twelve-month review. Outcomes feed into the published ICRS-aligned outcome database.

Patient stories

I was told my cartilage defect was too big for repair and that I would need a knee replacement. Cartilage replacement gave me another option. Eighteen months on I have my knee.
Verified patient, Doctify

Frequently asked questions

How much does cartilage replacement cost in the UK?

Cartilage replacement at LCC is £28,000 all-inclusive. That covers theatre, the donor tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist, the surgeon’s time, and a twelve-month follow-up programme. Same price across all joints.

How does cartilage replacement differ from OCA replacement?

OCA (osteochondral allograft) replacement is the most common form of cartilage replacement we deliver; the terms are often used interchangeably. The £28,000 price applies to both. We offer a separate page for OCA replacement specifically where patients are searching for that term.

When is cartilage replacement the right operation?

Replacement is appropriate where the cartilage defect is too large to repair, but the rest of the joint is still salvageable. Where preservation is realistic (cartilage repair, ChondroFiller, STACi), that is the conversation first. Where the joint is end-stage, joint replacement is the conversation instead.

Can I have cartilage replacement in any joint?

The knee is the most common joint. Cartilage replacement at LCC is also delivered for the ankle, hip, shoulder, elbow, foot, hand and wrist where the defect is suitable. Same price across all joints.

Can I claim cartilage replacement on private medical insurance?

LCC is a private-pay practice and does not contract with UK PMI panels. Allograft cartilage replacement is not routinely covered by UK insurers. We can provide an itemised invoice if you wish to claim independently.

Does the price include the donor tissue and the anaesthetist?

Yes. The £28,000 figure includes the donor osteochondral tissue, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist’s fee, theatre time, and the surgeon’s time.

What happens if there is a complication after surgery?

The two routine post-operative consultations and the three, six and twelve-month outcome reviews are included. If a complication needs additional clinical contact within twelve months, the post-operative team is available without further charge for assessment.

How long is recovery, and is physiotherapy included?

Most patients are walking unaided by week eight and return to recreational activity between six and nine months. Higher-impact activity is confirmed at the twelve-month review. Physiotherapy is not included; we share the post-operative programme with your physiotherapist.

Why is cartilage replacement at LCC priced where it is?

The £28,000 figure reflects theatre time for a complex allograft procedure, the donor tissue itself, the human-tissue regulatory framework, the consultant anaesthetist, and a twelve-month follow-up programme.

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

Yes. Professor Paul Lee is your consulting surgeon, your operating surgeon, and your reviewing surgeon throughout follow-up.

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.

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 cartilage replacement page.

Free 15-minute discovery callBook a consultation, £350
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