How to choose the right knee replacement surgeon in Melbourne

Deciding on a knee replacement is rarely just a medical decision. There is also the mental load that comes with it: who covers the school run, how much leave you can take, and whether your home will work while you are moving slowly. Most of the initial research can be done calmly and in advance using public Australian registers and a few practical questions.

This article explains how to check a surgeon’s credentials in Melbourne, what to ask during a consultation, and how to prepare your home and support network. It provides general information and is not a substitute for advice from your GP, surgeon, anaesthetist, or physiotherapist.

Key takeaways

Credentials are checkable. Anyone can confirm a doctor’s current registration on the national public register maintained by Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia.
Directories are starting points, not rankings. The RACS Find a Surgeon directory lists participating surgeons who hold FRACS, while the Australian Orthopaedic Association directory includes orthopaedic members who opt in. Neither service recommends individual doctors.
You can ask direct questions. Ask about a surgeon’s experience, outcomes, complication rates, and approach to follow-up care. You also have the right to seek a second opinion.
Preparation matters after discharge. Plan for physiotherapy, transport, meals, household tasks, and help during the first few weeks at home.
Technology is a tool, not a promise. Robotic assistance is available at some Melbourne hospitals, but no surgical approach guarantees a particular recovery time or result.

Start with what preparing really means

Preparing for knee replacement surgery is less about comparing implants and more about three practical tasks: understanding the risks and potential benefits in your situation, organising questions before your appointment, and arranging life at home for the weeks after surgery.

Healthdirect’s Question Builder is a free tool that lets you create, print, or email a customised list of questions for your appointment. Writing them down helps you cover important details while you have the surgeon in front of you.

Anaesthesia is also part of the plan. Ask when to stop eating and drinking, which medicines to take or pause, and what to expect on the day. Follow the instructions from your own care team because fasting and medication advice can vary.

Verify credentials and registration first

Before comparing personalities, costs, or waiting times, complete three basic checks. They take only a few minutes and cost nothing.

Registration. Look up the doctor on the national public register maintained by Ahpra and the Medical Board of Australia. This confirms their current registration status and shows any public conditions on their practice.
Fellowship. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Find a Surgeon directory lists participating surgeons who hold FRACS and meet the College’s professional requirements. FRACS indicates specialist surgical training.
Specialty. The Australian Orthopaedic Association’s Find a Surgeon directory includes orthopaedic members who choose to appear. It can help you confirm that a surgeon practises in orthopaedics.

These directories are lists, not league tables. They can help confirm that someone is appropriately qualified and registered, but they do not tell you whether that surgeon is the right fit for your needs.

Ask about experience and outcomes

Once the credentials check out, use the consultation to assess the surgeon’s experience and communication. Healthdirect suggests asking how often the surgeon performs the procedure and what their outcomes look like. The surgeon should be able to explain their results in terms you understand.

A straightforward question might be: “How many knee replacements do you perform each year, and what are your complication and readmission rates?” You can then ask: “What are the main risks in my case, and what would happen if something did not go to plan?”

Other useful questions include whether non-surgical options remain, why a particular prosthesis or technique suits you, when you may be able to drive and return to work, and whom to contact after hours. Ask for a clear breakdown of surgeon, anaesthetist, assistant, hospital, and physiotherapy fees, including any likely out-of-pocket costs.

If you leave feeling rushed or uncertain, you can seek a second opinion before agreeing to surgery. A professional surgeon should respect that choice.

Consider the hospital and wider care team

Your experience is shaped by the whole care team, not just one person. Infection prevention, pain management, discharge planning, and access to physiotherapy also depend on the hospital.

Ask where the surgeon operates, how long patients with similar needs usually stay, when physiotherapy begins, and what happens if you need more support before going home. It is also worth asking how the hospital manages infections, unplanned readmissions, and concerns that arise after discharge.

Published statewide safety figures can provide broad context, but they are not scores for an individual hospital or surgeon and cannot predict your outcome. Answers about the hospital’s own care process will usually be more useful for planning.

Compare robotic and traditional approaches without the hype

Robotic assistance is available at some Melbourne hospitals. It uses computer-based planning and specialised equipment to help the surgeon position the knee replacement components.

It is best understood as a surgical tool, not a separate operation or a guarantee of faster recovery, less pain, or a longer-lasting implant. Surgeons may recommend a traditional or robotic approach based on your anatomy, general health, and their experience. For a plain-English overview of options to discuss with a surgeon, top knee replacement surgeons in Melbourne may help you note questions for a consultation; it is not a ranking or endorsement.

Rather than asking only whether a surgeon uses robotic equipment, ask: “Which approach do you recommend for my knee, and why?” A clear explanation of the advantages, limits, and risks is more useful than an equipment list.

Compare public and private timeframes

Timing depends on clinical urgency, funding, and where you are treated. Public hospital waiting times can vary by health service and procedure, so ask your GP where the referral will go and how to check its progress.

In the private system, timing usually depends on the surgeon’s operating list, hospital availability, and your health fund arrangements, including waiting periods and excess payments. In either system, ask for a realistic time range rather than relying on a single estimated date.

Plan recovery in stages: the hospital stay, the first two to three weeks at home, and the longer period of rehabilitation. Your surgeon and physiotherapist can provide more individual guidance about returning to work, driving, exercise, and daily activities.

Build a Melbourne shortlist in one afternoon

A structured afternoon of research can be more useful than weeks of unplanned searching. Follow this order:

Talk to your GP about whether surgery is appropriate now and which alternatives remain.
Find three or four names through the AOA and RACS directories, using location and specialty filters where available.
Check each surgeon’s registration on the Ahpra and Medical Board public register.
Read each surgeon’s website to understand their scope, hospital locations, and care pathway. The practice page for Dr David Sime and other clinic pages found while researching local knee replacement options can help you draft questions, but they should not be treated as independent rankings or endorsements.
Create and print your question list using Healthdirect’s Question Builder.
Bring a current medication list to each consultation and compare your notes on communication, risks, outcomes, follow-up care, and costs.

Prepare your home and support network

Set up your home before surgery. Clear loose rugs, cords, and other trip hazards, improve lighting in hallways and around stairs, and arrange a firm chair with arms that is easy to rise from. Ask your care team whether you will need bathroom aids such as a shower chair or non-slip mat.

Arrange help with meals, laundry, shopping, transport, and childcare for the first few weeks. Freezing meals and moving frequently used items to an accessible height can make the early days at home easier.

Movement may begin sooner than expected. Dr David Sime’s Melbourne clinic notes that many patients begin assisted walking on the day of surgery, although your own schedule will depend on your condition and care plan. Ask your physiotherapist whether you should do strengthening exercises before surgery and what support you may need afterwards.

The bottom line

Choosing a knee replacement surgeon involves checking what you can verify: registration, fellowship, specialty, relevant experience, outcomes, costs, and hospital arrangements. Pay attention to how clearly the surgeon explains your options and responds to questions. Seek a second opinion if you need one, and give home preparation the same attention as the medical decision. A realistic plan and reliable support cannot remove every uncertainty, but they can make recovery more manageable.