Knee Replacement

Stop Being A Spectator Of Life

What you need to know when considering a knee replacement

Can You Relate To Our Patients?

“My knee pain was so intense I couldn’t walk to the park or even stand to shelve books with my library volunteer group—it was heartbreaking to lose those joys. Pain meds weren’t enough, and I felt trapped by the constant pain.”

“Arthritis in my knee made it hard to climb stairs or keep up with my grandkids. It affects every aspect of my life including my work and mood. It’s so frustrating knowing how much I’ve slowed down the last couple years.”

“My knee was bone-on-bone, making it impossible to arrange flowers for long or enjoy my garden walks—the pain was relentless. I was scared of surgery but more afraid of losing my ability to stay active.”

How A Knee Replacement Works

Knee replacement surgery restores mobility and relieves chronic pain by replacing your damaged knee joint surfaces with durable prosthetic components. Me and my team tailor this procedure to your specific condition, whether caused by arthritis, injury, or wear, to ensure optimal function and comfort.

Knee replacement can be total (replacing the entire joint) or partial (replacing only the damaged compartment), depending on the extent of your knee damage. Understanding these options helps you choose the approach best suited to your pain and mobility needs…

Total knee replacement is ideal for severe joint damage. This approach replaces all three compartments of your knee for comprehensive pain relief and restored function.

PROS: Eliminates pain from advanced arthritis or widespread damage by replacing the entire knee joint. Long-lasting results, typically 15-20 years, supporting activities like walking, climbing stairs, or low-impact exercise. Restores full knee function to improve stability for daily tasks and reducing reliance on assistive devices. Addresses complex issues such as bone deformity or severe cartilage loss, for lasting relief. Ideal for patients with extensive joint deterioration seeking significant improvement.

CONS: Longer recovery time (6-12 weeks for full activity) due to more extensive surgery. Requires general or regional anesthesia, which may carry risks for some patients. Higher surgical complexity and cost compared to partial replacement. More swelling and stiffness during early recovery.

Partial knee replacement is ideal for early-stage arthritis. This less invasive approach only focuses on the affected compartment to preserve healthy tissue.

PROS: Less invasive to preserve healthy bone and tissue for a faster recovery (4-8 weeks) and less pain. Smaller incisions reduce scarring and post-operative discomfort. Often performed under regional anesthesia, lowering anesthesia-related risks. Maintains more natural knee movement. Lower cost and shorter hospital stay.

CONS: Limited to patients with damage in one knee compartment, not widespread arthritis. Shorter longevity (10-15 years) potentially requires a future revision to total replacement. May not fully relieve pain if undetected damage exists in other compartments. Risk of progression to total replacement if arthritis spreads to unaffected areas.

Part One

Your Consultation

Your journey begins with a personalized consultation where we focus on understanding your knee pain, mobility challenges, and lifestyle goals. During this 60-minute session I’ll evaluate your joint health, medical history, and activity aspirations to determine whether a total or partial knee replacement is best.

Me and my team use X-rays or MRIs to assess your joint damage and discuss your expectations for recovery and daily function. You’ll have ample time to ask questions and review potential outcomes so you can make the most informed choice for your health.

We discuss your knee pain, stiffness, and limitations in activities like walking, standing, or climbing stairs.

We review imaging to evaluate cartilage loss, bone damage, or deformity in your knee.

We explore your post-surgery aspirations, such as returning to work, hobbies, and pain-free activities.

We assess your health, medications, and prior injuries to ensure safety and candidacy.

I explain total vs. partial replacement to detail the benefits, risks, and expected outcomes.

Part two

Your surgery

A knee replacement is an inpatient procedure performed under general or regional anesthesia, typically lasting 1-2 hours. Me and my team use advanced techniques to ensure precision, safety, and optimal joint function.

Preparation: You’re comfortably positioned, and anesthesia is administered by our anesthesiologist Dr. Avery.

Marking: I mark your knee to guide incisions and prosthetic placement.

Incision: I make a precise incision (smaller for partial, longer for total) over your knee to access the joint.

Joint Preparation: I remove damaged cartilage and bone while carefully preserving healthy tissue for partial replacements.

Prosthetic Placement: I secure a custom-fitted metal and plastic implant to replicate your natural, pain-free knee movement.

Alignment Check: Me and my team use intraoperative imaging to ensure proper implant alignment and joint stability.

Closure: I close the incision with unique sutures or staples to maximize healing and minimize scarring.

Dressings: Sterile dressings and a knee brace are applied to protect your new joint.

Part three

Your recovery

Heading home after surgery

You’ll stay in the hospital 1-2 days for us to monitor your immediate recovery and also start physical therapy to promote movement. Pain is managed with medication and you’ll use a walker or crutches for stability.

Days 2-3

At home, you’ll continue light exercises while swelling and discomfort decreases. We will give you wound care and medication instructions to support your healing along with regularly checking in with you to monitor your progress.

Days 4–7

You’ll progress to more independent movement by reducing your reliance on assistive devices. Our physical therapy with you intensifies to improve your knee’s flexibility and strength. Follow-up visits continue for us to monitor your progress.

Weeks 1-3

Most of our patients resume light activities with reduced pain like walking around their house and yard. Physical therapy continues to build muscle support. By week 3–with our approval–you may be able to resume driving.

Weeks 3-6

Your swelling has likely started to noticeably subside and you’ll walk more comfortably, possibly without support. Low-impact activities like swimming can resume. Your physical therapy at this stage focuses on a full range of motion.

Months 2-6

Your knee feels stronger and more natural to allow more strenuous activities like gardening and light exercise. Full recovery, including near optimal strength, is typically achieved by 3-6 months. Physical therapy sessions start to wind down.

Most Effective & Comfortable Knee Replacement

One of the top concerns my patients have when considering a knee replacement is how effective and comfortable the final outcome will be. Here’s how I ensure that happens…

Every knee replacement is tailored to your anatomy and activity goals to ensure the implant fits perfectly and supports your daily life. Me and my team use advanced imaging during the consultation to measure your knee dimensions and select a prosthetic that mimics natural movement, whether you aim to walk pain-free or return to hobbies like gardening. This personalized approach maximizes function and comfort so your new knee feels like a seamless part of you.

Me and my team use minimally invasive techniques when possible to reduce trauma to surrounding muscles and tissues. Computer-assisted navigation ensures precise implant alignment to improve stability and reduce wear. These methods minimize post-operative pain and support smoother mobility for faster recoveries.

Me and my team use intraoperative imaging and robotic-assisted tools to achieve exact implant placement and knee alignment. This precision reduces stress on your prosthetic to extend its lifespan and ensures smooth, natural movement during walking or bending. We also balance surrounding tissues to prevent stiffness or instability. Our patients benefit from a stable, comfortable knee that supports daily activities. Our commitment to this accuracy will deliver you lasting results.

We provide a tailored recovery plan including physical therapy customized to your progress, pain management, and regular follow-ups to monitor healing. Our team offers exercise guidance to rebuild knee strength and nutritional advice to support tissue repair, with access to support groups for shared experiences. This comprehensive care ensures you regain mobility with confidence. You will be supported throughout your entire journey.

Common questions & Concerns About A knee Replacement

Undergoing a knee replacement is a big decision and it’s normal to have questions and concerns. Here are some of the most common ones I hear from my patients…

“I’m afraid the surgery won’t stop my knee pain or let me do the activities I love.”

I understand your concern about persistent pain, but a knee replacement is highly effective at eliminating pain and restoring mobility. We customize the procedure to your knee damage and lifestyle to support activities like walking or light sports. Most of our patients report significant pain relief within weeks and return to hobbies by 3-6 months.

“Recovery sounds overwhelming—how will I manage it?”

Recovery can seem daunting, but we make it manageable with a clear, step-by-step plan tailored to your needs. You’ll start physical therapy in the hospital, and we provide pain management, exercises, and follow-ups to support you. Most of our patients resume light activities within 2-3 weeks, with major improvements by 6 weeks. Our team ensures you feel confident and supported throughout the entire recovery process. We are with you every step of the way!

“Is knee replacement safe for me, especially if I have other health issues?”

Safety is my top priority always, and knee replacement is safe for most older adults when carefully planned. Me and my team perform thorough pre-operative screenings to assess your health conditions and tailor anesthesia and surgical techniques to minimize risks. The combination of me, my experienced team, and our advanced facility will ensure you’re in expert hands. Many of my patients have actually had their overall health improve through the reduced pain and increased activity only possible through their knee replacement.

“Will the new knee feel stiff or wear out too quickly?”

Modern knee replacements are designed to feel natural and last 15-20 years or more, depending on your activity level. We select high-quality options customized to your anatomy, ensuring smooth movement and comfort. Precise surgical placement extends its life, and we guide you on low-impact activities to maintain it. Many of my patients are often amazed at how their new knee feels just like they used to.

“I’m worried about having a big scar on my knee.”

Advanced closure techniques and scar-care protocols, like silicone gels, help scars fade significantly within months. While function is my focus, I also understand appearance matters, and my patients appreciate the discreet results our process achieves. We’ll discuss incision placement during your consultation to address this concern.

What Our Patients Are Saying about their knee replacement

“My knee replacement gave me back my active life. I’m walking to the park, volunteering at the library, and enjoying pain-free days with my book club—it’s like I’ve turned back time! The team was so supportive, guiding me through every step of recovery with clear instructions and encouragement. I’m thrilled to move without that constant ache.”

“After my knee replacement, I’m keeping up with my grandkids and climbing stairs at work without pain—it’s a total game-changer. The implant feels so natural I barely notice it! The whole team made the process smooth, from a detailed consultation to a therapy plan that got me moving quickly. I’m grateful for their expertise and care.”

“My knee replacement let me return to arranging flowers and gardening without that awful grinding pain. I feel independent and joyful again! The team was incredible, always checking in and making recovery feel doable. I can’t thank them enough for giving me this new lease on life.”

Ready for a life without knee pain?

The next step is to schedule your one-on-one consultation. It will last about an hour and no detail will be overlooked.

The goal of this consultation isn’t to convince you one way or another but rather give you the clarity and confidence to make the decision that’s best for you and your health.

You can schedule your consultation 3 ways, whichever is most convenient for you…

Call or text us directly at 310-774-7311. Stop by and visit us at Death Valley National Park, Badwater Rd, California 92328. Or complete the form below and we’ll contact you.

DO NOT COMPLETE THIS FORM, NOT FUNCTIONAL. FOR VISUAL DEMONSTRATION ONLY.