Knee Replacement Surgery in Los Angeles: What Patients Need to Know

Updated June 2026.

You’ve spent months (or years) working around it. Stairs are a negotiation. You think twice before kneeling in the garden or sitting cross-legged on the floor, and a long walk now comes with a mental cost-benefit calculation. You’ve tried rest, injections, physical therapy, and bracing, everything short of surgery.

And maybe you’re wondering: Is it time? This guide is for Los Angeles-area patients who’ve reached that question. We’ll walk through how to choose a knee surgeon in LA, what robotic-assisted knee replacement actually does (and doesn’t) prove, what the procedure really costs with and without insurance, and why so many LA patients end up driving to Long Beach for their care.

About 33 million US adults have osteoarthritis, and the knee is one of the joints it most commonly affects [10]. Across the Los Angeles area, access to fellowship-trained surgeons and modern surgery centers has never been better, but choosing where and with whom to have your knee replaced still matters enormously, and the right answer is rarely the closest hospital to your house. This is a practical guide to the LA-specific decisions; for the clinical deep dive on the operation and recovery, see our total knee replacement page.

Key Takeaways :
Knee replacement in LA is a covered benefit under Medicare and most commercial plans; commercially insured patients paid a mean of about $2,733 out-of-pocket in one large 2022 analysis [1]. Choose a fellowship-trained surgeon who does the operation in high volume. Robotic assistance improves the precision of implant placement [7], but long-term superiority over conventional surgery is not yet proven [8]. And remember: Long Beach is inside Los Angeles County, so “driving to Long Beach” is not leaving LA for care, it is choosing a surgeon within it.

How to Choose a Knee Replacement Surgeon in Los Angeles

Greater LA has no shortage of orthopedic surgeons, but not all perform knee replacement at the same level, and even among specialists, training, volume, and technique vary widely. Here is what to look for, and what to ask.

1. Fellowship Training in Adult Reconstruction

Orthopedic residency teaches the fundamentals of joint replacement. A fellowship in adult reconstruction (also called arthroplasty) is an additional year of training focused exclusively on hip and knee replacement, including complex and revision cases. Ask directly: “Did you complete a fellowship in adult reconstruction, and where?”

2. How Often They Do the Operation

Outcomes in joint replacement tend to improve with how regularly a surgeon performs the procedure. In one large hip-replacement study, patients whose surgeons did more than 35 cases a year had lower rates of dislocation and early revision than those whose surgeons did fewer [11]. Thresholds differ between hip and knee, but the principle holds. A fair question to ask is simply, “How many knee replacements do you perform in a typical year?”

3. Modern Techniques, Honestly Presented

Robotic assistance and outpatient pathways are now routine at high-volume centers, not experimental. A good surgeon offers them where they help and is plain about where the evidence is still thin. Be cautious of anyone who markets technology as a guaranteed better result; the honest version is more nuanced (more on robotics below).

4. No Financial Conflicts of Interest

Some surgeons receive payments from implant manufacturers for consulting, speaking, or research; these are disclosed publicly in the federal Open Payments database. Ask: “Do you have any financial relationships with implant companies?” A surgeon with no conflicts can choose the implant that’s best for you, not the one they’re paid to use.

5. Conservative First, Surgery When Appropriate

A good surgeon doesn’t push you toward surgery before non-surgical options are fully explored. If knee replacement is recommended at a first visit without discussing physical therapy, weight optimization, or injections where appropriate, that’s a reason to pause. For an unhurried, independent read on your imaging, a virtual second opinion is a low-pressure option.

What Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement Actually Does

You’ve likely seen headlines about “robotic surgery.” Here’s what it actually means for a knee.

Robotic-assisted knee replacement does not mean a robot operates on you; the surgeon is in full control at every moment. What the system does is help plan and execute implant positioning with a precision that is difficult to match by hand:

  • Planning: imaging builds a model of your knee, and the surgeon plans the exact size, position, and alignment of each component to your anatomy
  • Execution: during surgery, real-time guidance keeps the bone cuts and implant placement matched to the plan
  • What the evidence shows: A 2023 meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials found robotic assistance cut alignment outliers by more than half compared with conventional knee replacement (risk ratio 0.43) [7]

Here is the honest part marketing usually skips. That same analysis found no clinically important difference in how patients functioned afterward [7], and a 2023 systematic review concluded that long-term evidence comparing robotic with conventional knee replacement is still lacking, while robotic surgery carries higher costs and longer operative times [8]. In other words: the accuracy gains are real and documented, but it has not been proven that robotic knees last longer or feel better years down the road than an expertly performed conventional operation.

So is it worth it? For many patients robotic assistance is a reasonable, precise choice, especially with complex anatomy or prior surgery, but it is more accurate, not categorically better, and a surgeon should say so. Learn more on our robotic-assisted knee replacement page.

“A knee that is well balanced and well aligned has the best chance of feeling natural and lasting. Technology helps me get there consistently, but it is the plan and the judgment behind it that matter, not the machine itself.” Dr. Leo Zalikha

How Much Does Knee Replacement Cost in Los Angeles?

This is often the first question, and the answer depends entirely on your insurance. For a deeper, California-specific breakdown, see our guide to knee replacement cost in California; here are the figures that anchor a realistic estimate.

With Insurance (Medicare or Commercial)

Knee replacement is a covered benefit under Medicare and virtually all commercial plans once conservative treatment has been tried without adequate relief. Your share depends on your plan’s deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

What the published figures show:

  • Original Medicare: If you’re admitted as an inpatient, the Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 [3]. If your surgery is outpatient, you pay the $283 Part B annual deductible (2026) plus 20% of the Medicare-approved amount [3][4]. For an outpatient knee replacement (CPT 27447), Medicare’s national-average patient copay is about $1,967 in a hospital outpatient department and $2,109 in an ambulatory surgery center [5]. A Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan can change these amounts significantly
  • Commercial insurance: In a 2022 analysis of commercial claims, the mean out-of-pocket cost for total knee replacement was $2,733, and a 2026 nationwide analysis put the typical figure at roughly $2,500–$3,000, highest in the West and with high-deductible plans [1][6]
  • High-deductible plans: You may pay more upfront until you hit your deductible, then coinsurance applies

The most accurate estimate comes from a pre-authorization review with your insurance and the surgeon’s billing office before you schedule, no generic regional table can match it.

Outpatient vs. Inpatient (and Where Setting Affects Price)

Setting matters. Medicare’s national averages for an outpatient knee replacement run about $14,275 total in a hospital outpatient department versus $10,552 in an ambulatory surgery center, though the patient copay is slightly higher in the surgery center ($2,109 vs. $1,967) [5]. If you’re self-pay, ask each facility for its all-in price, and use the negotiated and cash prices every hospital must post under federal price-transparency rules to compare before you commit.

Can You Go Home the Same Day? The Outpatient Option

A decade ago, a knee replacement meant several nights in the hospital. Today, many appropriately selected patients go home the same day. After Medicare removed knee replacement from its inpatient-only list in 2018, the share of Medicare knee-replacement patients classified as outpatient climbed to about 57% by 2020 [9].

One nuance, because it’s easy to be misled: that 57% is partly a billing label. In the same data, roughly 7 in 10 of those “outpatient”-designated patients still spent more than 24 hours in the hospital [9]. True same-day discharge is less common and depends heavily on your health, home support, and careful selection. Whether you’re a candidate is decided during your pre-operative evaluation. Our outpatient knee replacement page explains who qualifies.

How Long Does a Knee Replacement Last?

A modern knee replacement is built to last, and the registry data are reassuring. National joint-registry data covering nearly 300,000 total knee replacements show about 93% still in place at 15 years, about 90% at 20 years, and about 82% at 25 years [2]. Partial (unicondylar) knee replacements, used in selected patients with arthritis limited to one part of the knee, have somewhat lower survival, around 70% at 25 years [2]; you can read more on our partial knee replacement page.

In plain terms, for most people a total knee replacement is a once-in-a-lifetime operation, with roughly 9 in 10 still working well at 20 years, one reason getting the implant well-positioned the first time matters so much.

Why LA Patients Drive to Long Beach

Here is the point patients most often miss: Long Beach is in Los Angeles County, its second-largest city. When LA patients “drive to Long Beach” for joint replacement, they are not leaving Los Angeles for care, they are choosing a surgeon within their own county, often a shorter trip than fighting across town to a Westside hospital.

Our office sits at 2760 Atlantic Ave in central Long Beach, on Atlantic Avenue between Willow Street and Wardlow Road, about 1.5 miles south of the I-405 (San Diego Freeway) Atlantic Avenue exit, with free on-site parking. It’s straightforward to reach from across the LA basin:

  • From Carson and Torrance: about 15–20 minutes via the 405
  • From Compton, Lynwood, Downey, or Norwalk: about 15–20 minutes via the 710 or 91 (the 91 has an Atlantic Avenue exit to the north)
  • From San Pedro and Wilmington: about 15–20 minutes, with the 710 and Pacific Coast Highway serving the harbor side
  • From the South Bay (Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan Beach): roughly 20–30 minutes
  • From Central and West Los Angeles: usually a 30–45 minute drive

Those times come straight from the estimates we publish on our service areas page. Patients closer to the office can read our knee replacement in Long Beach page, and those weighing a hip can see our companion guide to hip replacement in Los Angeles.

Why Patients Choose Dr. Leo Zalikha for Knee Replacement in the LA Area

Dr. Leo Zalikha is a Stanford fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement surgery, including complex revision. His practice serves patients throughout Long Beach, Los Angeles, the South Bay, and Orange County.

What sets Dr. Zalikha’s practice apart:

  • Stanford Medicine fellowship training in adult reconstruction, the highest level of subspecialty training in hip and knee replacement
  • Robotic-assisted and direct anterior techniques offered where they genuinely help, presented honestly rather than oversold
  • Outpatient surgery pathways at Surgery Center of Long Beach for same-day discharge in appropriate candidates
  • No implant company conflicts. Dr. Zalikha accepts no payments from manufacturers and chooses implants based solely on what’s best for each patient
About Dr. Leo Zalikha
Dr. Leo Zalikha is a Stanford fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon in Long Beach, specializing in hip and knee replacement, including complex revision, using robotic-assisted and direct anterior techniques. His office is at 2760 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90806, with free on-site parking, and he operates at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, Surgery Center of Long Beach, and DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina del Rey. Learn more about Dr. Zalikha and his practice philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does knee replacement surgery cost in Los Angeles?

It depends on which price applies to you. With Original Medicare, the Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period (2026) if you’re admitted as an inpatient; an outpatient procedure falls under Part B, with a $283 deductible (2026), 20% coinsurance, and a national-average patient copay of about $1,967 in a hospital outpatient department or $2,109 in a surgery center [3][4][5]. With commercial insurance, large claims analyses put the typical out-of-pocket cost around $2,500–$3,000, with high-deductible plans higher [1][6]. The most accurate estimate comes from a pre-authorization review with our office. Call (562) 362-5024 to discuss your coverage.

Is robotic-assisted knee replacement better than conventional surgery?

It is more precise, which is not the same as categorically better. Randomized-trial evidence shows robotic assistance reduces implant-alignment outliers by more than half compared with conventional knee replacement [7]. But the same research found no clinically important difference in how patients functioned afterward, and a 2023 systematic review concluded that long-term superiority over conventional surgery has not been proven, while robotic surgery costs more and takes longer [7][8]. We offer it where it genuinely helps and will tell you honestly whether it adds value in your case.

How do I choose a knee replacement surgeon near Los Angeles?

Look for a surgeon who: (1) completed a fellowship specifically in adult reconstruction, not just general orthopedic residency; (2) performs knee replacement regularly in high volume; (3) offers modern techniques like robotic assistance and presents the evidence honestly; (4) starts with non-surgical options and doesn’t push toward surgery; and (5) has no financial relationships with implant manufacturers. Ask these questions directly, a good surgeon welcomes them.

Can I go home the same day after a knee replacement?

Many patients are now candidates for outpatient knee replacement and go home the same day. After Medicare removed knee replacement from its inpatient-only list in 2018, about 57% of Medicare knee patients were classified as outpatients by 2020, though most of those still stayed more than 24 hours, so true same-day discharge is less universal than it sounds [9]. Whether you qualify is decided during your pre-operative evaluation, based on your health and home support.

How long does a knee replacement last?

National joint-registry data covering nearly 300,000 total knee replacements show about 93% still in place at 15 years, about 90% at 20 years, and about 82% at 25 years [2]. For most people, a total knee replacement is a once-in-a-lifetime operation. Partial (unicondylar) knee replacements have somewhat lower survival, around 70% at 25 years [2].

Is it a problem that Dr. Zalikha’s office is in Long Beach rather than central LA?

No, Long Beach is part of Los Angeles County, and for much of the basin it is a shorter, easier drive than crossing town. The office at 2760 Atlantic Ave is about 1.5 miles south of the I-405 Atlantic Avenue exit, with free on-site parking, and is typically 15–20 minutes from the South Bay and Gateway Cities and 30–45 minutes from Central or West LA. See our service areas page for full drive times.

What if I need a second opinion or revision surgery?

If you want an independent read before deciding, a virtual second opinion lets us review your imaging remotely. And in the rarer cases where an earlier knee replacement loosens, wears, or becomes infected, Dr. Zalikha has specific training in complex and revision surgery, learn more about failed knee replacement evaluation and treatment.

Related Resources

If you’re considering knee replacement or still weighing your options, these resources may help:

Book a Consultation in Long Beach Serving Greater LA & Orange County

You’re in Los Angeles, the South Bay, or Orange County, and you’ve reached the point where Precision Joints feels like the right next step. The office is easy to reach from across the basin, as little as 15–20 minutes from the South Bay and Gateway Cities via the 405, 710, or 91, on Atlantic Avenue between Willow Street and Wardlow Road, about 1.5 miles south of the I-405 Atlantic Avenue exit, with free on-site parking.

You can review the full areas we serve, including exact drive times and freeway access, on our service areas page. Virtual second opinions are also available for patients who want an expert review of their imaging before committing to an in-person visit.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

A consultation with Dr. Zalikha means an accurate diagnosis, an honest assessment of your options, and a clear plan, starting with non-surgical care when appropriate.

📞 Schedule Your Knee Consultation

2760 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90806 · Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM

Book your appointment online → | Virtual Second Opinion | View all service areas

References

  1. Durand WM, Ruddell JH, Eltorai AEM, et al. Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Out-of-Pocket Costs. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2022;30(14):669-675. PMID: 35797680. PubMed
  2. Evans JT, Walker RW, Evans JP, Blom AW, Sayers A, Whitehouse MR. How long does a knee replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. The Lancet. 2019;393(10172):655-663. PMID: 30782341. PubMed
  3. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. CMS.gov fact sheet, November 14, 2025. CMS.gov
  4. Outpatient hospital services. Medicare.gov, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare.gov
  5. Procedure Price Lookup: Total knee arthroplasty (CPT 27447). Medicare.gov, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (accessed June 11, 2026). Medicare.gov
  6. Singh P, Marrache M, Kim AH, Williams S, Hegde V, Khanuja HS. Total Knee Arthroplasty Out-of-Pocket Costs on the Rise: A Nationwide Analysis of Financial Burden and Regional Disparities. J Arthroplasty. 2026;41(6):1637-1642. PMID: 41067462. PubMed
  7. Ruangsomboon P, Ruangsomboon O, Pornrattanamaneewong C, Narkbunnam R, Chareancholvanich K. Clinical and radiological outcomes of robotic-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acta Orthop. 2023;94:60-79. PMID: 36805771. PubMed
  8. Nogalo C, Meena A, Abermann E, Fink C. Complications and downsides of the robotic total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2023;31(3):736-750. PMID: 35716186. PubMed
  9. Burnett RA, Barrack TN, Terhune EB, Della Valle CJ, Shah RP, Courtney PM. Over Half of All Medicare Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients Are Now Classified as an Outpatient—Three-Year Impact of the Removal From the Inpatient-Only List. J Arthroplasty. 2023;38(6):992-997. PMID: 36535441. PubMed
  10. Osteoarthritis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC.gov
  11. Ravi B, Jenkinson R, Austin PC, et al. Relation between surgeon volume and risk of complications after total hip arthroplasty: propensity score matched cohort study. BMJ. 2014;348:g3284. PMID: 24859902. PubMed

Medical Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual symptoms, conditions, and costs vary. Always consult with Dr. Zalikha or another qualified physician for a personalized evaluation and treatment plan. Cost figures come from the published sources listed in the References and should not be used as a substitute for a benefits verification with your insurance provider.