Joint replacement in Russia

• In Russia: 1–2 days of tests, the operation, 3 to 10 days in hospital and early rehabilitation.
• Federal centres start at about $4,000 for the operation, implant and hospital stay; JCI-accredited clinics charge $10,000–17,000.
• Citizens of the CIS, China and several Gulf states enter visa-free. An e-visa covers 64 countries; the UK and the US are not on the list.
• Entry insurance does not cover a planned operation or its complications: agree the terms with the clinic in writing.

Entry rules in the selector were checked against the Russian Foreign Ministry and official announcements[13, 5, 20, 21]13Условия въезда иностранных граждан в Российскую Федерацию (визовые режимы по странам) — МИД России, 20265Unified electronic visa — official FAQ — МИД России, 202620Безвизовый режим между Россией и Саудовской Аравией с 11 мая 2026 года — Ведомости, 202621Air borders of Russia: how to fly to Russia via hubs — Russiable, 2026To the list of sources →.

Who the trip suits

On price, Russia is comparable with Turkey and Eastern Europe[2, 4]2Hip replacement cost by country — Bookimed, 20264How much does knee replacement and recovery cost abroad — MediGlobus, 2026To the list of sources →. From Western Europe, the UK and the US the trip is noticeably harder. There are no direct flights, sanctions apply and payment is difficult.

Most patients come from neighbouring countries. According to BusinesStat, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus bring 44 % of Russian clinics’ revenue from international patients[19]19Оборот рынка медицинского туризма в России увеличился в 2025 году на 14 % — Медвестник, 2026To the list of sources →. A Chinese-speaking interpreter is not available in every clinic, so check in advance.

Quality and risks

Joint replacement is a high-volume operation in Russia: 147,061 primary replacements were done in 2019[6]6Эпидемиология эндопротезирования тазобедренного и коленного суставов и перипротезной инфекции в Российской Федерации — Травматология и ортопедия России, 27(3):84–93, 2021To the list of sources →. There is no complete national implant registry yet. Estimates rely on statistical reporting[6]6Эпидемиология эндопротезирования тазобедренного и коленного суставов и перипротезной инфекции в Российской Федерации — Травматология и ортопедия России, 27(3):84–93, 2021To the list of sources →.

Periprosthetic joint infection, an infection around the implant, is the most serious complication. Russian authors put its rate after primary operations at about 3 %[6]6Эпидемиология эндопротезирования тазобедренного и коленного суставов и перипротезной инфекции в Российской Федерации — Травматология и ортопедия России, 27(3):84–93, 2021To the list of sources →. A large US study covered 1.66 million operations. Infection in the first year developed in 1.2–1.3 % of patients after primary replacement[7]7Periprosthetic joint infection after 1.66 million primary and revision arthroplasties (2015–2023) — PMC, 2025To the list of sources →. After revision it developed in 6.5–8.8 %[7]7Periprosthetic joint infection after 1.66 million primary and revision arthroplasties (2015–2023) — PMC, 2025To the list of sources →. Counting methods differ, so countries cannot be compared directly.

How long an implant lasts depends a great deal on age and activity. Registries show that at 25 years about 82 % of knee[8]8How 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, 393(10172):655–663, 2019To the list of sources → and about 58 % of hip implants are still working[9]9How long does a hip 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, 393(10172):647–654, 2019To the list of sources →. A promise of an implant for life with no mention of age is marketing.

Robotic operations in several Russian clinics are open to international patients too. Placement precision with a robot is proven; a benefit for the patient is not. Details are on the robotic joint replacement page.

Navigator support

We review documents, explain the route and shortlist 2–3 clinics for your circumstances. We help with the estimate, invitation documents, logistics and contact with the clinic. The navigator is not a doctor: diagnosis and treatment stay with your own doctor. We do not issue invitations or visas and do not take payment for the operation. You pay the clinic directly.

The trip consists of tests on site, the operation, the hospital stay and early rehabilitation. The official portal for international patients describes the same sequence[1]1Russia Med Travel — official portal for international patients — ЦНИИОИЗ Минздрава России, 2026To the list of sources →.

Remote follow-up after you return is possible, within limits set by law. A doctor may remotely adjust treatment that was already prescribed, but cannot make a new diagnosis[11]11Федеральный закон № 323-ФЗ «Об основах охраны здоровья граждан», ст. 36.2 — КонсультантПлюс, 2011To the list of sources →. So find an orthopaedic surgeon near your home in advance.

Visa and entry

Visa rules change. Before travelling, check them on the Russian Foreign Ministry website or with the consulate.

Insurance

The invitation and visa require a medical insurance policy valid in Russia for the whole trip. Its number and validity are entered in the invitation[1]1Russia Med Travel — official portal for international patients — ЦНИИОИЗ Минздрава России, 2026To the list of sources →. A standard travel policy does not cover a planned operation or its complications. Before admission, ask the clinic to state in writing what happens and what it costs if a repeat procedure is needed in the first weeks.

Clinics

We do not rank clinics. The choice depends on your case, budget, language and logistics.

Scans and medical reports are sent later, through a secure channel. First you give a separate consent to personal data processing. Reading the privacy notice is not consent in itself. Data is processed in Russia. For citizens of the EU and the Gulf states this is a cross-border transfer, and the consent form says so. We reply in English; consultations are available in English and Russian.

An all-inclusive package usually covers the operation, anaesthesia, medication and several days on the ward. It also includes orthopaedic and anaesthetist consultations, tests, scans, transfers and language support[2]2Hip replacement cost by country — Bookimed, 2026To the list of sources →. Compare what the programme contains as well as the total.

In federal and state centres the price starts at about $4,000 (around 337,000 ₽). It covers the operation, implant and hospital stay. This lower threshold is quoted by aggregators for international patients[18]18Hip replacement in Russia — prices 2026 — treatmentrussia.com, 2026To the list of sources →. It is a reference figure, not an offer.

A hospital stay lasts 3 to 10 days, depending on the clinic. Medical-tourism packages usually allow 5–7 days[2]2Hip replacement cost by country — Bookimed, 2026To the list of sources →. The MEDSI hip package, for example, includes 4 days in hospital[17]17Эндопротезирование тазобедренного сустава — цены — МЕДСИ, 2026To the list of sources →.

What moves the price within a range:

• the implant brand and model;
• cemented or cementless fixation;
• the number of days on the ward and the ward category;
• the city and the amount of rehabilitation.

You receive a specific clinic’s estimate before admission. The Ilizarov Centre, for example, works this way[3]3For foreign patients — Ilizarov Center — НМИЦ ТО им. Г. А. Илизарова, 2026To the list of sources →.

What a programme includes

Russian clinics for international patients fall roughly into three tiers. These are federal centres (NMRCs, national medical research centres of the Ministry of Health), private clinics and premium JCI-accredited clinics.

JCI (Joint Commission International) is a US-based system of international hospital accreditation. In Russia only a handful of private clinics hold it. It does not apply to most state centres, and that says nothing about the quality of surgery.

The table describes typical practice, not the terms of a specific clinic. Confirm every line in your contract.

When you can fly home

There is no single rule: the surgeon clears you to fly based on how recovery is going[2]2Hip replacement cost by country — Bookimed, 2026To the list of sources →. The surgeon checks that the wound is healing and there are no signs of a blood clot. Then they issue a fit-to-fly certificate. Do not buy return tickets in advance: the trip may take longer. Some centres advise putting off long flights for three months after joint replacement[15]15Travel, surgery and DVT: advice for patients — Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS, 2025To the list of sources →.

The main risk on the journey is deep vein thrombosis. It is a blood clot in the veins of the leg that can break off and travel to the lungs. Recent surgery is one of the main risk factors, and a long flight without moving adds to it[25]25Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism (CDC Yellow Book 2026) — CDC, 2025To the list of sources →. What is usually recommended (discuss your own plan with your doctor):

• wear compression stockings during the flight;
• get up and walk the aisle regularly, and choose an aisle seat;
• drink water and avoid alcohol and sleeping pills;
• take clot-prevention medicines strictly as the surgeon prescribed, and do not stop them because of the flight;
• flex and extend your feet while seated.

Carry your discharge summary, implant passport and images in your hand luggage. A metal implant can set off the airport scanner[12]12Total Knee Replacement — AAOS OrthoInfo, 2024To the list of sources →, and the implant passport helps explain it.