5.0128 reviews5.0Google
London Cartilage Clinic IconLondon Cartilage Clinic66 Harley Street
Back to Team
Prof Paul Lee

Founder & Medical Director

Prof Paul Lee

MBBch, MFSEM (UK), MRCS, MSc (Sports Med), PhD, FEBOT(Eu), FRCS (Tr & Orth)

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon · Regenerative Medicine Doctor · Medical Engineer

  • FRCS (Tr & Orth)
  • PhD, Medical Engineering
  • Honorary Professor, University of Lincoln
  • RCSEd Ambassador
  • GMC: 6115197
Book a ConsultationFree Discovery Call
LinkedInX

Prof Paul Lee is an internationally recognised cartilage surgeon, regenerative medicine doctor, and medical engineer. He combines biological repair, surgical expertise, and engineering insight into a single clinical framework for cartilage damage and joint preservation across the body.

He earned his PhD in Medical Engineering at Cardiff University and his medical degree at the University of Wales. He is the founder and Surgical Director of London Cartilage Clinic in Harley Street, founder and Medical Director of MSK Doctors, and consultant orthopaedic surgeon at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He holds honorary and visiting professorships at the University of Lincoln (Sports Medicine) and the University of Chester (Medical Engineering).

In 2020 he established the ENRICH-MSK partnership between the University of Lincoln and MSK Doctors, bringing together engineering, sport, computer science, life sciences, and rural health research. He has secured over £1 million in research and innovation funding for the MSK research centre in Lincolnshire, which houses the county's only dedicated musculoskeletal open MRI scanner. He is the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society's Accredited Teaching Centre of Excellence lead and Regional Surgical Adviser for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Patients have included UK Premiership footballers and Olympic athletes.

Awards & recognition

2026 · British Orthopaedic Association

Robert Jones Medal & Association Prize

Awarded by the British Orthopaedic Association for the essay “Recovery in the Age of Intelligence: Why Humility May Be the Surgeon’s Most Powerful Tool.” One of the BOA’s flagship prizes, recognising outstanding contribution to clinical practice, research, and academic thought.

2026 · Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Trust

NHS Long Service Award — 20 years

2017 · Thieme Medical Publishers

Most-downloaded paper

Press & media

Prof Lee is regularly consulted by national press and lifestyle media on cartilage, joint preservation, sports injuries, and recovery.

The Sun
Daily Express
Daily Mail
The Guardian
Telegraph
Stylist
Golf Chic
Nike
Coach
The Sun
Daily Express
Daily Mail
The Guardian
Telegraph
Stylist
Golf Chic
Nike
Coach
The Sun
Daily Express
Daily Mail
The Guardian
Telegraph
Stylist
Golf Chic
Nike
Coach

Selected coverage

  • Daily Mail

    How Ant's Robocop leg brace helps align his joint

    Read article

  • The Telegraph · 2023

    The true difference between men’s and women’s bodies

    Read article

  • The Sun

    The 6 balancing exercises that can help you live longer

    Read article

  • Daily Express

    Tennis injuries: how to prevent and treat them

    Read article

  • Stylist

    Expert running tips with Lululemon

    Read article

  • Golf Chic

    The Regeneration Man — Prof Paul Lee (long-form profile)

    Read article

  • Nike

    Exercises for arthritis

    Read article

  • Coach

    What is heel-to-toe drop in running shoes?

    Read article

  • LincsOnline · 2026

    Consultant orthopaedic surgeon wins Robert Jones Medal — most respected award in orthopaedic surgery

    Read article

  • OrthoSpaceX · 2023

    Innovating Hip Replacement Surgery — The SPAIRE Technique

    Read article

Procedures pioneered

  • STARR

    STARR ligament repair, developed at London Cartilage Clinic, used when the anterior cruciate ligament can be salvaged rather than reconstructed. Faster recovery and more natural healing in suitable patients.

  • STACi

    Single-stage tissue-engineered autologous cartilage implantation. A one-stage cartilage regeneration procedure positioned across joints, not knee-only.

  • SPAIRE hip replacement

    Soft-tissue Sparing, Piriformis-And-Internus, Repair-and-internal-Exposure approach for total hip replacement, preserving the short external rotators for faster functional recovery.

  • BIKINI hip replacement

    Anterior approach total hip replacement using a horizontal “bikini line” incision aligned with skin tension lines, for cosmetic and biomechanical advantages.

  • TWIS-TKR knee replacement

    TWIS-TKR (Twist-Tracking Insert System) total knee replacement, an London Cartilage Clinic-associated technique for kinematic alignment in modern knee arthroplasty.

Considering treatment?

Discuss your case with Prof Paul Lee

Cartilage, joint preservation, and regenerative orthopaedic care at Harley Street.

Book a ConsultationFree Discovery Call

Education & fellowships

Education & qualifications

  1. 2005MB BChUniversity of Wales
  2. ·MSc, Sports MedicineCardiff Metropolitan University
  3. 2013PhD, Medical EngineeringCardiff University
  4. 2015FRCS (Tr & Orth)Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
  5. ·FEBOTEuropean Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
  6. ·MFSEM (UK)Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK

Fellowships, memberships & appointments

  • Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh — Ambassador, Advisor, Regional Specialty Adviser
  • International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society — Accredited Teaching Centre of Excellence
  • Honorary Professor of Sports Medicine, University of Lincoln
  • Visiting Professor of Medical Engineering, University of Chester
  • British Orthopaedic Association
  • International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy
  • Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK

Publications

Over 50 peer-reviewed publications across cartilage repair, regenerative medicine, sports medicine, hip and knee arthroplasty, and explainable AI in medicine. Selected articles below; full list available via ORCID and Google Scholar.

Books

  • Musculoskeletal Regeneration Medicine — editor (Springer, 2025)
  • Regeneration by Design — author
  • Practical Regeneration — author

Independent verification

Prof Lee's qualifications, registrations, and academic appointments can be verified independently:

Ready to take the next step?

Book your consultation with Prof Paul Lee

Personalised assessment for cartilage, joint preservation, regenerative injections, and orthopaedic surgery — at our Harley Street clinic.

Book a ConsultationFree Discovery Call

London Cartilage Clinic

Latest Insights

Clinical updates, cartilage treatment guidance, and recovery-focused articles from our specialist team.

Inflamed Meniscus Symptoms and Management in the UK
Eleanor Hayes

Inflamed Meniscus Symptoms and Management in the UK

An inflamed meniscus, a crucial knee cartilage, causes pain, swelling, and stiffness impacting mobility. Common in athletes and older adults, inflammation arises from injury, overuse, or aging. Effective management ranges from rest and physiotherapy to surgery for severe cases. Recent studies link inflammation to osteoarthritis progression and explore molecular mechanisms like microRNAs affecting healing. Early expert assessment ensures accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment. Specialist care, as provided by orthopaedic experts like Professor Paul Lee, supports optimal recovery and pain-free movement. Awareness of symptoms and timely intervention are key to restoring knee function and preventing long-term joint damage.

Read More
Innovations in Ankle Cartilage Repair and Professional Care
Eleanor Hayes

Innovations in Ankle Cartilage Repair and Professional Care

Ankle cartilage damage, often caused by sports injuries and aging, leads to pain and impaired mobility. This article reviews the nature of ankle cartilage injuries, diagnosis methods like MRI, and highlights limited natural regenerative capacity. Effective management includes balanced nutrition, physiotherapy, and non-surgical supports to maintain joint health. Advanced medical treatments such as arthroscopy, cartilage grafting, and microfracture surgery offer repair options, though challenges like fibrocartilage formation persist. Emerging research suggests potential benefits of medications like losartan and fisetin, while expert consensus guides pediatric care. Personalized, multidisciplinary approaches are crucial for optimal recovery and long-term joint function. Consult healthcare professionals for tailored treatment and rehabilitation strategies.

Read More
ChondroFiller’s Dual Function in Cartilage Repair
Eleanor Hayes

ChondroFiller’s Dual Function in Cartilage Repair

ChondroFiller is an innovative, minimally invasive cartilage repair treatment that acts both as a stabilising gel 'glue' and a collagen scaffold 'seed' to encourage natural cartilage regeneration. Applied as a biocompatible gel, it fills cartilage defects without stitches, supporting joint stability and early mobilisation. Over time, ChondroFiller facilitates tissue growth by providing a nurturing matrix for chondrocytes, leading to improved cartilage healing. Clinical studies highlight its safety, simplicity, and effective defect filling, though further research is needed to confirm long-term outcomes. Leading experts recommend personalised clinical evaluation to optimise benefits. This dual-action approach represents a promising advance in cartilage repair, offering reduced trauma and faster recovery compared to traditional methods.

Read More
View all insights
Privacy & Cookies Policy