Outpatient Hip Replacement: Same-Day Surgery

Leo Zalikha, MD performs outpatient hip replacement surgery at the Surgery Center of Long Beach, a modern ambulatory surgery center equipped for advanced orthopaedic procedures. For patients who meet the criteria, same-day discharge can mean a more comfortable recovery in the familiar setting of your own home.

Outpatient hip replacement means that you arrive at the surgery center on the morning of your procedure and go home later that same day, typically within a few hours of surgery. You sleep in your own bed the night of your operation.

This is the same total hip replacement procedure performed in a hospital setting. The implants, surgical technique, and outcomes are equivalent. What changes is the care pathway: optimized pain management, efficient surgical protocols, and careful patient selection allow safe same-day discharge for appropriate candidates.

Outpatient hip replacement is not a shortcut or a lesser procedure. It is a carefully designed care pathway built for patients who are healthy enough to recover safely at home with appropriate support.

Not every patient is a candidate for outpatient surgery. Eligibility depends on several factors:

• Overall health: Patients should be in reasonably good general health, with well-controlled chronic conditions. Significant cardiac, pulmonary, or other medical issues may make an overnight stay safer.
• Body mass index (BMI): A lower BMI generally supports same-day discharge, though specific thresholds are discussed on an individual basis.
• Home support: You must have a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours.
• Home environment: A safe, accessible living space with minimal fall hazards (ideally a single-story home or a bedroom on the main level).
• Motivation and engagement: Patients who are informed, prepared, and actively participating in their recovery tend to do well with outpatient protocols.
• Surgical factors: The complexity of the procedure and any intraoperative considerations may also influence the decision.

Dr. Zalikha discusses candidacy for outpatient surgery during your preoperative visits. If you are not an ideal candidate for same-day discharge, an overnight stay at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center remains a comfortable and safe option.

Effective pain control is the foundation of a successful outpatient experience. Dr. Zalikha uses a multimodal pain management approach, meaning multiple strategies are combined to control pain from different angles:

• Preoperative oral pain medications to get ahead of surgical discomfort
• Regional anesthesia or nerve blocks
• Intraoperative local anesthesia
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Oral pain medications for the first few days at home (narcotic use is minimized)
• Ice and elevation

Most patients report that their surgical pain is manageable and, in many cases, less intense than the chronic arthritis pain they experienced before surgery.

If at any point during the day of surgery it becomes clear that an overnight stay would be safer, that option is always available. The goal is your safety and comfort, not a rigid commitment to same-day discharge.

Published literature supports the safety of same-day hip replacement for appropriately selected patients. Studies have shown similar complication rates, readmission rates, and outcomes compared to inpatient hip replacement when patients are carefully chosen.

The keys to safety are patient selection, surgeon experience, a well-designed care pathway, and a responsive team available for questions or concerns after discharge. Dr. Zalikha’s practice provides direct postoperative communication so that you are never without support during your recovery at home.

The Surgery Center of Long Beach offers several advantages for eligible outpatient hip replacement patients:

• Focused environment: Ambulatory surgery centers are designed specifically for same-day surgical procedures, with streamlined workflows and specialized staff.
• Reduced exposure: A dedicated surgery center may reduce exposure to hospital-acquired infections.
• Personalized attention: With a lower patient volume than a large hospital, your surgical team can focus closely on your experience and recovery.
• Convenience: Arrival and discharge are often more efficient in an ambulatory setting.

For patients who require or prefer a hospital setting, Dr. Zalikha performs hip replacement surgery at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center as well.

Your Health is Our Top Goal

Preparation is especially important for same-day surgery. Beyond the standard pre-operative checklist, patients preparing for outpatient hip replacement should:

• Arrange for a responsible adult to stay with them for at least 24 to 48 hours after surgery
• Set up the home for safe recovery (bed or recliner on the main level, clear pathways, items at counter height)
• Fill prescriptions in advance
• Plan for physical therapy to begin within the first week after surgery
• Understand and follow prehab exercises to enter surgery in the best possible condition

Medicare has covered outpatient total hip replacement since 2020 [1], and as a Part B outpatient you typically pay the $283 annual deductible (2026) plus 20% of the Medicare-approved amount [2][3].

Coverage for outpatient hip replacement is more settled than many patients expect. Medicare removed total hip replacement from its inpatient-only list in 2020 [1] and approved it for ambulatory surgery centers in 2021 [4], which means both settings where Dr. Zalikha operates — MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and the Surgery Center of Long Beach — are payable settings when outpatient surgery is medically appropriate for you. As an outpatient, your surgery falls under Medicare Part B: a $283 annual deductible in 2026, then typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, unless a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan changes that math [2][3]. Most commercial plans also cover hip replacement in either setting; your deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum determine your share. Our guide to Medicare coverage for knee and hip replacement walks through the details.

Is the outpatient route cheaper? Usually — but the honest answer is that the difference is smaller than much of what you will read online. The best claims data come from knee replacement: a 2023 study of US commercial insurance claims found outpatient surgery cost about $2,300 less at the time of surgery than an inpatient stay [5]. That study measured knee replacement, but for hip replacement the same setting logic applies — the savings come from avoiding the overnight facility stay, not from a different operation. A few thousand dollars is real money, but it is not the five-figure savings some websites advertise. The setting should be chosen because it is the safest place for you to have surgery — a judgment Dr. Zalikha makes with you based on your health, not on price. For California-specific price ranges, see our hip replacement cost guide.

References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY 2020 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1717-FC). November 1, 2019.
2. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. November 14, 2025.
3. Medicare.gov. Outpatient hospital services. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY 2021 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1736-FC). December 2, 2020.
5. Mantel J, Ruppenkamp JW, Cantu M, Holy CE. Total knee arthroplasty in the outpatient vs inpatient settings: impact of site of care on early postoperative economic and clinical outcomes. J Orthop Surg Res. 2023;18(1):273. PMID: 37013560.

Dr. Zalikha completed fellowship training in adult reconstruction at Stanford. With over 30 peer-reviewed publications in orthopaedic surgery and a research profile cited hundreds of times in the literature, he brings both clinical expertise and a deep understanding of the evidence to every surgical decision.

He practices at Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group in Long Beach and performs surgery at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, the Surgery Center of Long Beach, and DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina del Rey, serving patients from across Los Angeles and Orange County.