Joint Replacement Program

Experts in joint replacement surgery, focused on your specific needs — so you can get back to your favorite activities, with less pain.

At Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, you’ll find some of the leading joint replacement surgeons in our region, using the latest surgical techniques. Our program has earned national recognition, including being named one of the 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement and earning the Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award from Healthgrades.

We tailor care to your individual needs and recovery goals. Before surgery, we provide the education you need to prepare and recover as smoothly as possible. And after surgery, most people are up and walking a few hours later and able to go home the same day. We often describe joint replacement surgery as an “outpatient procedure at the hospital.” This means that you receive the highest level of care in state-of-the-art surgical facilities, then recover in the comfort of your own home. 

Am I A Candidate for Joint Replacement?

Most people who receive joint replacements at Overlake have severe osteoarthritis. This is the most advanced stage of arthritis when the cartilage between the bones is worn away and the bones rub together painfully.

If you have severe osteoarthritis, you may experience:

• Pain in your hip or knee that keeps you awake at night.
• Little or no help from pain medications.
• Pain that continues to worsen.
• Difficulty walking or going up and down stairs.
• Trouble getting up from a seated position.
• Having to limit or quit activities you enjoy because you’re in too much pain.

If you have these symptoms, consider asking your doctor about joint replacement. 

Joint Replacement Surgeries

At Overlake, we offer the full spectrum of joint replacement surgeries, including:

• Total joint replacement of hips, knees, shoulder and ankles, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery.
• Partial joint replacement of hips, knees and shoulder.
• Joint replacement revision surgery (to replace or repair a previous joint replacement).

Joint Replacement Surgery Focused on You

Every year, hundreds of people come to Overlake for joint replacement surgery. And we see each one of them as an individual, with unique needs, goals and preferences.

Orthopedic doctors from across our region send their patients to Overlake for joint replacement surgeries. We partner with them, by communicating regularly about your needs and how you can best prepare and recover from surgery. Our goal is to make your surgery experience as smooth as possible and to put you at the center of every care decision.

Planning for Recovery from the Very Beginning

We work in tandem with your doctor to educate and prepare you for surgery and recovery. We encourage all patients to have a “surgery coach”— a support person who comes with you to appointments and helps you prepare for each step of the process. You’ll have access to step-by-step instructions and helpful videos. This thorough planning and preparation is what helps most of our patients go home on the same day of surgery and get on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

Part of our recovery process includes using an “opioid-sparing” approach, to help patients manage pain while limiting the use of opioids. This approach can reduce the risk of opioid addiction or dependence while still keeping you comfortable during the initial days of your recovery.

Leaders in Care, Close to Home

The Joint Replacement Program at Overlake Medical Center offers comprehensive orthopedic surgery with some of our region’s leading surgeons. That means you don't have to go to Downtown Seattle to be in the best possible hands. You can get the same state-of-the-art care closer to your home and family.

Your care team will also include anesthesiologists, nurses with deep expertise and specialized training in orthopedics, and physical and occupational therapists – all working together to get you back to the activities you love. 

The Latest in Joint Replacement Surgery

The surgeons at Overlake are on the pulse of the latest advances in joint replacement surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery. Depending on your unique needs, your doctor may recommend:

• Minimally invasive surgery, which uses smaller cuts and special instruments to perform joint replacements with less impact on surrounding tissues. This approach often results in less pain after surgery and a faster recovery.
• Robotic-assisted surgery, which begins by using advanced imaging to create a 3D model of your joint. This model helps tailor the procedure to your unique anatomy. Then the surgeon uses a robotic arm or handheld device to carry out the surgery. The precision of using robotic technology can help protect surrounding tissues and may lead to better long-term joint function.