Total knee replacement in India: what it actually costs
A total knee replacement at an accredited Indian hospital costs between $4,850 and $8,000, including the implant, the surgeon, the hospital stay and physiotherapy. Below is the price at five hospitals, what is and is not included, and an estimate of your full trip — flights, hotel and food for the whole three weeks.
What the price includes
- Surgeon, anaesthetist and operating theatre
- The knee implant itself (cobalt-chrome or oxinium)
- 3–5 nights in a private or twin-sharing room
- Pre-operative tests, X-rays and blood work
- In-hospital physiotherapy until you can walk
- First follow-up review before you fly home
What it does not include
- Return flights and airport transfers
- Hotel and food after hospital discharge
- Medical visa fees for you and a companion
- Treatment of unrelated conditions found on arrival
- Extra nights if your surgeon delays discharge
- Physiotherapy after you return to your country
What each hospital charges
Same clinical excellence across 5 accredited partner hospitals. Marlin charges no patient commission — figures are transparent official hospital estimates.
Medanta, Gurugram holds this figure for one knee, standard implant, 5 nights hospital, 12 days in India. It does not move if your case matches.
Fortis Memorial, Gurugram includes high-flex implant, navigation surgery capability, and inpatient physiotherapy.
Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road features robotic joint replacement technology and dedicated international lounge.
Artemis Hospital provides comprehensive fast-track knee rehabilitation protocols for international patients.
Max Saket features advanced computer-assisted joint navigation and renowned joint reconstructive surgeons.
Estimate your whole trip, not just the surgery
Flights, hotel, food and visas for the full 21–24 days — so the number you budget for is what you actually spend.
$6,660 – $7,023
- Surgery, hospital and care$4,850 fixed
- Return flights (1 passenger)$920
- Hotel & meals during recovery$810
- Indian medical visas$80
The upper figure allows for a longer stay. The implant and surgery are fixed. Marlin adds nothing to any of these numbers.
Surgeons who do this operation every week
Senior consultants at JCI/NABH accredited centres with decades of dedicated procedural volume.
Dr. Ashok Rajgopal
Padma Shri recipient. Pioneer of bilateral total knee replacement in India with 30,000+ surgeries performed.
Dr. S.K.S Marya
Pioneered computerized joint replacements and minimally invasive reconstructive techniques across Asia.
Dr. Vinesh Mathur
Over 15,000 joint and spine surgeries with international fellowships in UK, USA and South Korea.
What the three weeks actually look like
From sending your first medical scans to your fit-to-fly clearance.
Before you fly
Reports and a surgeon’s opinion
Send your X-rays and medical history. Within 24–48 hours you get a named surgeon’s written opinion and a costed plan from each hospital you shortlist.
Day 1–2
Arrival and tests
Airport pickup, hotel check-in and hospital consultation. Blood work, ECG, anaesthesia clearance and a fitness review are completed the same or next day.
Day 3
Surgery
The operation takes 60–90 minutes per joint. You are moved to your private room the same day and stood up with support within 24 hours.
Day 4–7
Walking with physio
Twice-daily physiotherapy in the ward. Most patients walk with a frame by day two after surgery and manage stairs before discharge.
Day 8–21
Recovery and review
You stay near the hospital in a serviced hotel with outpatient physio, then a final review, stitch removal and fit-to-fly clearance before you travel home.
“I paid the hospital directly at the billing counter and the number matched the estimate Marlin sent me in Nairobi. Nobody asked me for a single extra shilling.”
Questions patients ask before they book
Essential details on payments, visa processing, language and post-operative flight permissions.
Who do I pay, and when?+
You pay the hospital directly, at their official billing counter, in Indian rupees or by international credit card. There is usually an advance deposit on admission and the balance settled at discharge. Marlin never handles your money and charges you zero fees.
What if the cost changes after I arrive?+
The hospital re-confirms the estimate after your in-person tests. It can only move if your surgeon discovers complications or you require an extra night in ICU. Anything above the written estimate must be explained to you in writing before it is billed — we sit in on that conversation.
How do I get an Indian medical visa?+
The treating hospital issues an official visa invitation letter once your surgeon reviews and accepts your reports. You apply online for an Indian e-Medical Visa with that letter, passport copies and proof of funds. Your companion applies for a Medical Attendant visa on the same letter.
Will the surgeon and hospital staff speak English?+
Yes, 100%. All medical education and hospital communication in premier Indian hospitals is conducted in English. Translators for Arabic, French, Russian and Swahili are also provided free of charge by the hospital international patient desk.
Can my attendant or family member stay in my room?+
Yes. In all private and deluxe hospital rooms, an attendant couch/bed is provided at no extra charge, allowing one family member to stay overnight with the patient throughout hospitalization.
When is it safe for me to fly back home?+
For joint replacements, surgeons typically issue a fit-to-fly clearance after suture removal and mobility verification at around Day 14 to 21 post-operation. We also provide compression stocking guidance and wheelchair assistance at Indira Gandhi International Airport.