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Treatments

Joint surgery, with time to recover

An orthopaedic surgeon reviews your case before you get a price. We book knee replacements, hip replacements and lower-back fusion at top-grade hospitals.

Plan on about 4 weeks in Guangzhou, and up to 6. That covers tests, the operation, your hospital stay and the first weeks of recovery.

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Time in Guangzhou
3–6 weeks
Est. total
£14,800 for a kneeIncludes return flights from the UK and a hotel
Compare with homeKnee replacement

Why China

What China has going for it

Figures come from official or published sources. Prices are estimates, from October 2026.

  • Implant prices fell

    National bulk buying cut hip and knee implant prices by an average of 82%. That's the implant, not the whole operation.

  • Half a million a year

    Over half a million hip and knee replacements a year use bulk-bought implants.

  • Long waits at home

    In Australia, the median wait for a public knee replacement was 255 days in 2024–25. In England, 843,419 cases were waiting for NHS bone and joint care in August 2026. Almost 4 in 10 had waited over 18 weeks.

Where you'd be treated

We book appointments at top hospitals in Guangzhou, rated Grade 3A, the top grade in China. Each has an international department that looks after patients from abroad. You get the hospital's name when you decide to go ahead.

About the hospitals

Procedures

Procedures and estimated totals

Each total is an estimate for the whole trip from the UK: the treatment, return flights, a hotel for the typical stay, food and local transport. Prices are from October 2026.

What to expect

How it works

Your own plan may differ.

  1. Tell us what you need

    Which joint, your symptoms, what scans have shown and any treatment so far.

  2. A surgeon estimates the price

    We pass it to the hospital. An orthopaedic surgeon says whether surgery makes sense and gives an estimated price. They may suggest other options first.

  3. We book your appointment

    We book it for you and let the hospital know you're coming. Plan on about 4 weeks in Guangzhou.

  4. At the hospital

    Give your appointment details at the international department. Tests take 2 to 3 days, then you're admitted for the operation.

Your estimate

What to tell us

We pass it to the hospital's specialists. The more you tell us, the closer the estimate.

Not sure what matters? Tell us what you know. We'll ask if the specialists need more.

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  • Which joint, and your symptoms
  • What X-rays or MRI scans have shown, if you've had them
  • Treatment so far, such as physio, injections or earlier operations
  • Other health conditions, such as diabetes or heart problems
  • The medicines you take, including blood thinners

Good to know

Before you decide

Some of these may change your mind.

  • Long flights soon after joint surgery raise the risk of blood clots. For a hip or knee, a 2026 UK hospital guideline advises waiting over 12 weeks before a long flight. In a 2023 survey, UK surgeons' advice ranged from 2 weeks to 6 months. Our estimates allow about 4 weeks. Your surgeon decides, and may ask you to stay longer.

  • Some airlines restrict flying after a joint replacement or want a fit-to-fly letter. Tell your airline and insurer before you book the flight home.

  • A 4-week stay eats into the saving. For UK, Australian and New Zealand patients, the total is often close to private surgery. US patients usually pay less overall.

  • Canadians can pay less for a knee or hip at a private clinic at home. But the public wait for orthopaedic surgery was about 49 weeks in 2025. That's an estimate from a survey of doctors.

  • You'll need a visa. Visa-free entry doesn't cover medical care. Check the rules with your local Chinese visa centre.

  • Normal travel insurance usually won't cover planned treatment abroad. Check with your insurer before you book. You may need specialist cover.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Ask us anything else in the chat.

This isn't medical advice

Read our terms

This page gives general information about a treatment. It isn't a recommendation for you.

We book appointments at independent hospitals. We're not a hospital, so we don't diagnose or treat anyone.

Only a doctor who has examined you can say if a treatment suits you. You and the doctor treating you decide together.

Every treatment carries risks. Results vary from person to person.

Prices, lengths of stay and recovery times on this page are estimates. Long flights soon after surgery raise the risk of blood clots. Your doctor in Guangzhou decides when it's safe to fly home.

Talk to your own doctor before you decide to travel for treatment. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Other treatments

See all treatments

  • Heart care

    Stents, bypass and valve surgery in Guangzhou

    Time in Guangzhou
    4 nights to 5 weeks
    Est. total
    £9,200 for a stentIncludes return flights from the UK and a hotel

  • Health check-ups & scans

    Check-ups and scans in one morning

    Time in Guangzhou
    2–4 nights
    Est. total
    £1,800 for a check-upIncludes return flights from the UK and a hotel

  • Traditional Chinese medicine

    Acupuncture and herbal medicine, alongside your usual care

    Time in Guangzhou
    Added to a trip, or 2 weeks
    Est. total
    £2,600 for a 2-week programmeIncludes return flights from the UK and a hotel

Get an estimate for your treatment

Tell us what you need. Specialists at the hospital review it and give an estimated price.

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You don't have to go ahead.