How to Choose a Hip & Knee Replacement Surgeon

If you're facing a hip or knee replacement, the most important decision you'll make isn't which implant or which robot — it's which surgeon. The surgeon's training, experience, and judgment influence your outcome more than any single piece of technology. Here's an honest guide to choosing well, from a surgeon's perspective.

Why the surgeon matters most

A joint replacement is a mechanical procedure done by human hands. Two surgeons using the same implant can produce very different results, because technique, experience, and judgment determine how well the implant is positioned, balanced, and matched to your anatomy — and how well your whole care team manages recovery. Marketing often focuses on technology; the evidence points to the surgeon.

What to look for

These aren't abstract ideals — they're things you can verify. A surgeon's credentials and training should be publicly available, and a good practice is transparent about its approach and experience.

Questions to ask at your consultation

• Are you fellowship-trained in joint replacement and board-certified?
• How many hip or knee replacements do you perform each year?
• Do you offer minimally invasive and outpatient (same-day) options — and am I a candidate?
• What approach do you recommend for me specifically, and why?
• What are your complication and revision rates?
• What does recovery realistically look like, and what support will I have?
• Is surgery the right step now, or are there non-surgical options to try first?

That last question matters. A surgeon who is willing to tell you not to have surgery yet — and to walk through non-surgical options first — is showing you their judgment is patient-first.

Red flags to watch for

• Technology over substance — heavy marketing of a specific robot with little discussion of training, volume, or your specific case.
• One-size-fits-all plans — the same recommendation for every patient regardless of their anatomy, health, and goals.
• Pressure or vagueness — reluctance to answer direct questions about experience or outcomes.
• No honest discussion of timing — pushing surgery without considering whether you're truly ready.

Choosing a hip or knee surgeon in Washington, DC & Maryland

If you're in the greater Washington, D.C. region, you have excellent options — and you should hold them to the standards above. Dr. Matthew Harb is a fellowship-trained (University of Virginia), board-certified orthopedic surgeon who focuses specifically on hip and knee replacement, performs the minimally invasive direct anterior approach, and sends roughly 90% of patients home the same day. He cares for patients across D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Germantown — and a travel-for-surgery program for patients coming from farther away.

From Dr. Harb

My advice is the same whether or not you end up choosing me: choose a surgeon, not a gadget. Look for fellowship training, board certification, real volume, and a practice built around joint replacement — then choose the person who answers your questions honestly and treats the decision as yours.