To perform this surgery:

• A cut will be made in one of three places -- on the back of the hip (over the buttock), on the front of the hip (near the groin), or on the side of the hip. Your surgeon will explain which approach will be used.
• In most cases, the cut will be 3 to 6 inches (in) or 7.6 to 15 centimeters (cm) long. In a regular hip replacement surgery, the cut is 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm) long.
• The surgeon will use special instruments to work through the small cut.
• Surgery involves cutting and removing bone. The surgeon must cut through some muscles and other tissues. Less tissue is cut than in regular surgery. Most of the time, muscles are not detached.

This procedure uses the same type of hip replacement implants as regular hip replacement surgery.

As in regular surgery, this procedure is done to replace or repair a diseased or damaged hip joint. This technique works better for people who are younger and thinner. Minimally invasive techniques may allow for a quicker recovery and less pain.

You may not qualify for this procedure if

• Your arthritis is quite severe.
• You have medical problems that do not allow you to have this surgery.
• You have a lot of soft tissue or fat so that larger cuts would be needed to access the joint.

Talk with your surgeon about the benefits and risks. Ask if your surgeon has experience with this type of surgery.

Tell your surgeon or nurse if:

• You are or could be pregnant
• You are taking any medicines, including medicines, drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription
• You have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day

Planning for your surgery:

• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon may ask you to see the health care provider who treats you for these conditions.
• If you smoke, it's important to cut back or quit. Smoking can slow healing and increase the risk for blood clots. Ask your provider for help quitting smoking.
• If needed, prepare your home to make it easier to recover after surgery.
• Ask your surgeon if you need to arrange to have someone drive you home after your surgery.

During the week before your surgery:

• You may be asked to temporarily stop taking medicines that keep your blood from clotting. These medicines are called blood thinners. This includes over-the-counter medicines and supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and vitamin E. Many prescription medicines are also blood thinners.
• Ask your surgeon which medicines you should still take on the day of surgery.
• Let your surgeon know about any illness you may have before your surgery. This includes COVID-19, a cold, flu, fever, herpes outbreak, or other illness. If you do get sick, your surgery may need to be postponed.

On the day of surgery:

• Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
• Take the medicines your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Follow instructions on when to arrive at the hospital. Be sure to arrive on time.

People who have this surgery can have a shorter stay in the hospital and faster recovery. Ask if this procedure is a good choice for you.

Small incision total hip replacement; MIS hip surgery

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. OrthoInfo. Treatment: minimally invasive total hip replacement. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/minimally-invasive-total-hip-replacement/. Updated April 2025. Accessed September 9, 2025.

Blaustein DM, Phillips EM. Osteoarthritis. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 140.

Harkess JW, Crockarell JR. Arthroplasty of the hip. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 3.

Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.