Now available · Private knee cartilage surgery
CartiHeal cost in the UK
- Now available in London
- Consultant-led assessment
- Written quote before surgery
At a glance
What does CartiHeal cost privately?
The consultation with Professor Paul Lee is £350. The CartiHeal operation is quoted after imaging-led assessment because the number and size of implants, hospital and anaesthetic arrangements, lesion preparation and any associated alignment, meniscus or ligament work can alter the total. You receive the proposed procedure and fee in writing before deciding.
Surgical quote
Confirmed after assessment
Consultation with Professor Paul Lee: £350. The written operation quote follows imaging and examination.
What determines a CartiHeal surgical quote?
CartiHeal is an off-the-shelf, porous biphasic implant placed into a precisely prepared cartilage-and-bone site. The cost therefore includes more than the implant: it reflects the operating hospital, theatre team, anaesthesia, surgical preparation, equipment and the follow-up required for an osteochondral procedure.
Two patients with the same MRI label can need different plans. A small contained lesion may need a focal repair alone; malalignment, instability, meniscus deficiency or more than one defect may require additional treatment or may make CartiHeal the wrong operation entirely. Quoting after assessment keeps those clinical differences visible.
Ask for a like-for-like written quote
Compare the implant, surgeon, hospital, anaesthetist, follow-up and any associated procedure. A device-only or theatre-only figure is not the total cost of treatment.
What the written plan will clarify
Included in the price
- The proposed CartiHeal procedure and implant requirements
- Operating hospital, theatre and anaesthetic fees included in the quote
- The surgeon’s fee and standard post-operative surgical reviews
- Any associated knee procedure included in the proposed operation
- The expected protection and rehabilitation pathway
- The clinical alternatives, including doing less or choosing another repair strategy
Not included, quoted separately
- The £350 initial consultation
- New MRI or X-ray imaging where current images are insufficient
- Physiotherapy delivered outside the surgical follow-up package
- Travel and accommodation for patients coming from outside London
Why assessment matters more than choosing a device online
Whole-knee decision making
The cartilage defect is assessed alongside alignment, stability, meniscus function, osteoarthritis distribution and the condition of the underlying bone.Cartilage-specialist alternatives
CartiHeal can be compared with OATS, ACI or MACI, other scaffold techniques, osteotomy and replacement where those routes better match the knee.Consultant-led continuity
Professor Paul Lee leads the assessment, operation planning and surgical follow-up rather than separating product selection from the operating surgeon.
From first question to a confirmed price
- 1
Free discovery call
A coordinator helps establish whether a specialist cartilage assessment is a sensible next step and which images to provide. - 2
Consultation with Professor Lee (£350)
Symptoms, examination, MRI and weight-bearing imaging are reviewed alongside your previous treatment and activity goals. - 3
Treatment recommendation
You receive an explanation of whether CartiHeal is suitable, what alternatives exist and whether any associated procedure is needed. - 4
Written surgical quote
The hospital, anaesthetic, surgical and follow-up elements are set out before you choose whether to proceed. - 5
Surgery and rehabilitation
The implant is placed in a single operation, followed by protected loading and a lesion-specific rehabilitation plan.
A transparent decision
The quote should explain the operation, not hide it
The number of implants, hospital, anaesthetic, associated procedures and surgical follow-up should be identifiable in the written plan. That gives patients a useful like-for-like basis for comparing providers.
Funding, insurance and payment
Self-pay
CartiHeal is available as private self-pay surgery. The clinic supplies the full fee and payment schedule after the operation has been planned.
Private medical insurance
Coverage and pre-authorisation vary by insurer and policy. Confirm the proposed procedure and codes with your insurer after the written plan is available; approval should not be assumed.
International patients
International patients can begin with imaging review and planning, but formal suitability and the final quote depend on appropriate clinical assessment. Travel and accommodation are separate.
What you are paying treatment to achieve
CartiHeal aims to treat a focal knee cartilage or osteochondral defect while preserving the native joint. The five-year randomised evidence is encouraging, but an average trial result cannot predict an individual outcome and the implant can fail or require further surgery.
Read the CartiHeal evidence guide and risks and limitations before comparing price alone.
Frequently asked questions
How much does CartiHeal surgery cost in the UK?
London Cartilage Clinic confirms the surgical fee in writing after specialist assessment. A single headline price would be misleading because implant requirements, hospital and anaesthetic arrangements, lesion complexity and any additional mechanical procedure can change the plan.
How much is the initial consultation?
The consultation with Professor Paul Lee is £350. Existing images should be supplied where possible; new MRI or weight-bearing X-rays are charged separately if they are required.
Why can the quote vary between patients?
The lesion’s size, number, depth and location matter, as do alignment, ligament stability, meniscus function and previous surgery. Some knees need an associated procedure to make focal cartilage repair mechanically credible.
Can I book CartiHeal now?
Yes. You can book a specialist CartiHeal assessment now. Surgery is offered only if the examination and imaging support the indication and the rehabilitation commitment is realistic.
Is CartiHeal suitable for bone-on-bone arthritis?
It is a focal cartilage and osteochondral repair implant, not a substitute for total knee replacement in end-stage, diffuse bone-on-bone arthritis. The manufacturer’s indication excludes Kellgren-Lawrence grade 4 osteoarthritis.
Ready to talk
Two paths from here
For when you want to talk first, the discovery call costs nothing. For when you have decided you want to be assessed, book a consultation with the operating surgeon. Either way you can learn how the procedure works on the CartiHeal Agili-C page.