Learning About Your Health

Total Hip Replacement: Preparing for Your Surgery

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Please review this information to help prepare for your surgery and recovery. We want you to be involved in your health decisions. Share this information with family, friends and caregivers.

Each person has a different health condition. If you have any questions, please ask the doctors, nurses, and therapists caring for you.

What is Total Hip Replacement?

Your replacement hip joint will be made of various materials (including metal, plastic and ceramic) depending on your particular needs. The new joint, called a prosthesis, consists of a stem, a ball and a socket.

Your surgeon will make an incision (cut) on the outside of your thigh. The stem of the prosthesis will be inserted into your femur (thigh bone), and the attached ball will be fitted into the prosthetic socket in your pelvis.

The surgery takes about two hours, but a successful hip replacement begins long before you enter the hospital.

Normal hip showing pelvis and femur. Hip with prosthesis in place showing socket, ball, and prosthesis.
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Your Surgery Checklist

  • Make an appointment with your primary care (regular) doctor: You need a physical exam 2-3 weeks before your surgery. Your primary care doctor makes sure you are healthy and ready for surgery.


  • Pre-register for surgery:

    • Online: Follow the instructions to complete the Surgery Pre-Registration form. You must complete all steps of the process to be sure that you are registered. This should take about 15 minutes. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you begin.

    • By Phone: If you do not wish to pre-register online, please call (415) 600-2500 to speak with an admitting representative. Call us as soon as your surgery is scheduled. The admitting staff will help you complete all necessary forms. Be sure to have your insurance information with you when you call.
  • Check with your doctor:

    • About the medicines you are taking now. You may need to stop taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and any drugs that contain aspirin, one week before surgery.

    • About any medicine(s) you feel you must take the day of surgery.

    • If you are taking any herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • If your surgeon has told you to donate your own blood: Call your local blood bank to arrange for this. You may start donating blood 5 weeks before your surgery. Note: The blood bank may charge a fee for this service depending on your insurance coverage.

  • If you need any dental work: Ask your orthopedic surgeon, who may recommend the dental work be done before surgery to reduce the chance of infection after your surgery.

  • Eat a healthy diet.

  • Quit smoking: Speak with your doctor about quitting smoking, or call 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887).

  • Start doing hip strengthening exercises (both legs): You'll recover faster if you begin strengthening your leg muscles before surgery with these special exercises: Ankle Pumps, Quad Sets, Gluteal Squeezes, Heel Slides, Short Arc Quads, Hip Abduction and Long Arc Quads.
Note: Do 10 sets of each of the following exercises twice a day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Ankle Pumps
Bend ankles to move feet up and down, alternating feet.


Quad Sets
Slowly tighten muscles on thigh of straight leg while counting out loud to 10.
Repeat with other leg to complete set.


Gluteal Squeezes
Squeeze buttocks muscles as tightly as possible while counting out loud to 10.


Heel Slides
Make sure bed is flat.
Bend knee and pull heel toward buttocks.
Do not bend hip more than 90°.
Hold for 10 seconds. Return. Repeat with other knee to complete set.


Short Arc Quads
Place a rolled towel under your knee. Raise the lower part of your leg until your knee is straight. Hold for 10 seconds.


Hip Abduction
Keep your toes pointed toward the ceiling. Move your leg out to the side as far as possible. Slowly return to the starting position and relax.


Long Arc Quads
Straighten operated leg and try to hold it for 10 seconds.

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Prepare Your Home Before Surgery

  • Before you go to the hospital, do your grocery shopping, prepare and freeze meals, and put cooking utensils where they are easy to reach. Make simple meals that will be ready for you when you get home.

  • Move furniture to make a clear path to your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Many patients use a walker after leaving the hospital. This means you need more room to move around your home.

  • Remove small rugs so you do not trip.

  • You need a firm chair that has armrests to use after surgery. You should not sit in a chair that rocks, rolls, or swivels.

  • Place a non-skid bath mat in your tub or shower.

  • If you have stairs at home, count your stairs. When you come to the hospital, tell your physical therapist how many stairs you have and if you have a railing.

  • Place items you need every day at arm level (between your waist and shoulders) to avoid bending over and stock up on easily prepared foods.

  • If your bed is lower than your knees, you may need to raise it for safer access after hip surgery.

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The Day Before Surgery

DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY.

  • You may eat your regular diet until the night before your surgery.

  • Ask your doctor if you need to stop taking any of your regular medicines before surgery. Your surgeon or primary doctor may ask you to bring all of your medicines in the original containers to the hospital. Please give all medicines from home to the nurse. Your medicine will be returned to you when you are ready to go home.

  • Bring loose-fit clothing, non-skid closed shoes and toiletries.

  • Arrange for someone to drive you home from the hospital and stay with you at home that day and possibly longer.

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The Day of Surgery

Go Directly to the Campus Where Your Surgery is Scheduled

Pacific Campus
(415) 600-3480
Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU)
2351 Clay Street
Stanford Building, 6th Floor

California Campus
(415) 600-2097
Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)
3700 California Street, 3rd Floor

Davies Campus
(415) 600-5274
Castro & Duboce Streets
Admissions – Lobby Level, North Tower

St. Luke's Campus
(415) 641-6889
Outpatient Surgery
3555 Cesar Chavez Street, 3rd Floor

  • Patients are generally asked to arrive 1 - 2 hours before the scheduled surgery. Please confirm the arrival time with your surgeon's office.

  • Your care, comfort and privacy are our main concerns. Our goal is to make sure that your surgery is within 30 minutes of the scheduled time. Sometimes there are delays. We will keep you informed if delays occur.

  • Take only the medicines that you were told to by the nurse or surgeon/primary doctor - with a sip of water.

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Bring cases for glasses, contact lenses, and dentures. You will need to remove them before your surgery.

  • Do not wear or bring wedding bands, other jewelry or body piercings, or valuables like cash, credit cards, or checkbooks. Pack a small overnight bag with your personal items, if needed.

  • Our standard discharge time is 11:00 a.m. Arrange for someone to drive you home.

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More Ways to Learn

Visit the Community Health Resource Center at 2100 Webster Street, San Francisco, (415) 923-3155. Services include classes and written information on a wide variety of health topics.


Produced by the Center for Patient and Community Education in association with the Department of Outcomes Management and the Communications & Marketing Department at California Pacific Medical Center. Last updated: 2/09

Illustrations by: Christine Gralapp and Troy Paiva

© 2002-2010 California Pacific Medical Center

Funded by: A generous donation from the Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Ciocca Foundation.

Note: This information is not meant to replace any information or personal medical advice which you get directly from your doctor(s). If you have any questions about this information, such as the risks or benefits of the treatment listed, please ask your doctor(s).

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