London Cartilage Clinic IconLondon Cartilage Clinic66 Harley Street
Surgeon explaining a knee joint model during consultation

Knee replacement cost in the UK

Private knee replacement surgery at London Cartilage Clinic, including the surgical fee, consultant anaesthetist, theatre, and post-operative follow-up. Total knee replacement at LCC is delivered as TWIS-TKR (Tibial-rotation Without Internal Stress technique), developed at the clinic by Professor Paul Lee. Partial knee replacement is also offered where clinically indicated.
  • TWIS-TKR developed at this clinic
  • 5 / 5 across Doctify and Google
  • 173+ verified patient reviews
Free 15-minute discovery callSee the price
TWIS-TKR developed at this clinic5 / 5 across Doctify and Google173+ verified patient reviews

At a glance

How much does knee replacement cost in the UK?

Total knee replacement cost at LCC is £18,500 all-inclusive, delivered as TWIS-TKR. Partial knee replacement is £23,000. Both private knee replacement cost figures include theatre, the implant, the consultant anaesthetist and the post-operative follow-up. Knee replacement surgery elsewhere in the UK typically ranges from £12,000 to £17,000; we publish what we charge transparently.

Two procedures, two prices. Your surgeon will discuss which is right for your knee at consultation.

ProcedurePrice

Total knee replacement (TWIS-TKR)

All total knee replacement at LCC is delivered as TWIS-TKR, developed by Professor Paul Lee.

£18,500

Partial knee replacement

Used where only one compartment of the knee is affected. Higher price reflects custom planning and instrumentation.

£23,000
Last reviewed April 2026. Prices in £ GBP, including all clinic, theatre and surgical fees, plus the consultant anaesthetist.
See what is included·Funding and insurance·Read the FAQs

Knee replacement cost in the UK explained

Total knee replacement surgery at LCC is performed using the TWIS-TKR technique developed at this clinic. The technique uses tibial-rotation without internal stress, with custom alignment instrumentation, and aims for a more natural feel and a lower revision rate than off-the-shelf total knee replacement. Knee replacement surgery on a typical case takes ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes of theatre time, plus pre-operative planning, the implant itself, and disposables. The £18,500 figure covers all of that, plus the consultant anaesthetist and post-operative follow-up.

Partial knee replacement, counter-intuitively, costs more than total knee replacement at £23,000. That reflects the additional custom 3D planning that partial knee replacement requires, the precision instrumentation, and the surgical time involved in preserving the rest of the joint rather than resurfacing the whole tibiofemoral compartment. Partial knee replacement is the right knee replacement surgery for a smaller share of patients, but where it is right it preserves more of the patient’s own anatomy.

Private knee replacement cost in the UK varies from around £12,000 at hospital chains to over £20,000 at specialist centres. The variation reflects what is included: some private knee replacement cost figures cover only the surgical fee and add the implant, the anaesthetist or the follow-up separately. The £18,500 total knee replacement price and £23,000 partial knee replacement price at LCC are inclusive and intentionally transparent, so the figure you see is the figure you pay.

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 implant
  • 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)
  • Six-month post-operative review
  • Direct line to the surgical team for post-operative concerns

Not included, quoted separately

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

Why knee replacement at LCC

  • TWIS-TKR developed at this clinic

    Total knee replacement at LCC is delivered as TWIS-TKR, the Tibial-rotation Without Internal Stress technique developed by Professor Paul Lee. The technique aims for a more natural knee feel and a lower revision rate than off-the-shelf TKR.

  • Custom 3D planning for partial knee replacement

    Partial knee replacement at LCC uses custom 3D planning and instrumentation. Partial knee replacement is the right operation for a minority of patients with single-compartment disease; where it is right it preserves more of the joint than a total replacement.

  • A regenerate-first conversation, where appropriate

    Joint replacement is sometimes the right answer; sometimes it is the second answer after cartilage regeneration or Arthrosamid have been considered. We will tell you, at consultation, which conversation is the right one for your knee. We do not push replacement when joint preservation is realistic.

  • 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 knee replacement worksCartilage regeneration alternatives

Your knee replacement journey

  1. 1

    Discovery call (free, 15 minutes)

    A clinical coordinator confirms whether replacement looks like the right conversation, 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 total knee replacement or partial knee replacement is the right operation, and whether joint-preservation alternatives are still realistic.
  3. 3

    Pre-operative preparation

    3D planning where indicated (always for partial knee replacement), bloods, anaesthetic review and consent. Typically two to four weeks before surgery.
  4. 4

    Day of surgery

    Admission at our partner hospital on Weymouth Street, central London. Surgery takes ninety to one hundred and twenty minutes for total knee replacement, slightly more for partial knee replacement. Most patients stay overnight; some are home the same day.
  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Walking aids, controlled weight-bearing per surgical instruction. 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 function. Two follow-up consultations included with us.
  7. 7

    Six-month review

    Outcome assessment with the operating surgeon and discharge planning.

Funding, insurance and payment

Self-pay

£18,500 for total knee replacement, £23,000 for partial. 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. 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.

International patients

Many of our knee replacement patients travel from outside the UK. We can coordinate consultation, imaging, surgery and follow-up into a focused visit; travel and accommodation are arranged separately.

Outcomes after knee replacement surgery

A successful knee replacement restores comfort and function for the activities of daily living. Most TWIS-TKR patients are walking unaided by week six and return to most recreational activity by three to six months after knee replacement surgery. Partial knee replacement patients tend to recover faster, with return to activity often by week eight to ten because more of the native knee anatomy is preserved.

Long-term outcome on a well-matched, well-implanted knee replacement is fifteen to twenty years before any conversation about revision. We measure progress at each follow-up rather than relying on time alone, and the data feeds into our published outcome database.

Patient stories

I had been putting off knee replacement for years because I was nervous. The TWIS-TKR with Professor Lee felt much more natural than I had been led to expect. I am back to gardening, golf and long walks.
Verified patient, Doctify

Frequently asked questions

How much does knee replacement cost in the UK?

Total knee replacement at LCC is £18,500 all-inclusive (delivered as TWIS-TKR). Partial knee replacement is £23,000. Both prices include theatre, the implant, the consultant anaesthetist, two follow-up appointments and the six-month review.

Why is partial knee replacement more expensive than total?

Partial knee replacement uses custom 3D planning and precision instrumentation to preserve the unaffected parts of the joint rather than resurfacing the whole compartment. The additional planning and surgical time make partial knee replacement more expensive than total knee replacement. Partial knee replacement is the right operation for a smaller share of patients, but where it is right it preserves more of your own knee.

What is TWIS-TKR and why does LCC use it?

TWIS-TKR (Tibial-rotation Without Internal Stress) is a total knee replacement technique developed by Professor Paul Lee at LCC. It uses tibial-rotation alignment without internal stress on the surrounding ligaments, with the aim of a more natural knee feel and a lower revision rate than off-the-shelf TKR. All total knee replacements at LCC are delivered as TWIS-TKR.

Can I claim knee replacement on private medical insurance?

LCC is a private-pay practice and does not contract with UK PMI panels. 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 and the implant?

Yes. Both the £18,500 total knee replacement price and the £23,000 partial knee replacement price include the consultant anaesthetist’s fee and the implant. Some private clinics quote the surgical fee alone and add the implant or the anaesthetist separately; we do not.

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?

Most patients are walking unaided by week six and return to most recreational activity by three to six months. Physiotherapy is not included in the surgical price; we share the post-operative programme with your physiotherapist in the first week and remain in contact through recovery.

How does knee replacement at LCC compare to cartilage regeneration alternatives?

Knee replacement removes and replaces the joint surface. Cartilage regeneration (STACi, ChondroFiller, MACI) preserves and rebuilds the joint surface. Replacement is the right answer for end-stage arthritis where the cartilage cannot be saved; regeneration is the right answer earlier, where there is salvageable joint to work with. We will tell you at consultation which conversation is the right one for your knee.

Why is knee replacement at LCC priced where it is?

The £18,500 TKR figure reflects the TWIS-TKR technique developed at this clinic, the implant, theatre time, the consultant anaesthetist, and a six-month follow-up programme. The £23,000 partial knee replacement figure adds custom 3D planning and precision instrumentation. We publish the figures transparently so you can compare like-for-like.

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. There is no hand-off to a registrar or 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. 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 knee replacement page.

Free 15-minute discovery callBook a consultation, £350
Privacy & Cookies Policy