Are you an NRI visiting India this festive season? What all tasks are there on your to-do list? Reuniting with family and friends, enjoying festivals, visiting famous tourist spots in India, and last but not the least, getting your knees operated on by a renowned surgeon working at a trusted hospital, isn’t it?
For many non-resident Indians, the favourite time to land in their motherland, India, are the months of October-November-December. The reasons are not hard to understand. The weather is pleasant, and these months are dotted with several festivals and ceremony-loaded Indian weddings.
You want to get knee replacement surgery because you know that it can give you freedom from knee pain, restore mobility, and bring back your independence. In this blog, we’re going to share all relevant details about knee replacement for NRIs on vacation in India, and why Sohana Hospital, Mohali, could be the right choice for you.
Why Consider Knee Replacement in India?
World-Class Expertise, Affordable Cost
India has become a global hub for medical tourism, especially for tourists considering advanced orthopaedic surgeries. The first and foremost reason is that this procedure costs a lot more in the US, UK, and Canada as compared to what you have to pay in India. Here, you get the best treatment at just a fraction of the knee replacement surgery cost in the western world.
Shorter Waiting Times
In many Western countries, you may have to wait for months before you can get your knees replaced. Not so in India!
With special online consultation and booking facilities for NRI patients in leading super-speciality healthcare institutions, like Sohana Hospital in Mohali, you can consult expert orthopaedic surgeons over phone, following which you can schedule your procedure in advance and pick a surgery date of your choice.
Robotic Knee Surgery Advantage
Indian hospitals now boast robotic knee replacement technology, which offers precise and painless surgery, and fast recovery. Here are some benefits of the advanced robotic knee replacement surgery:
- Smaller incisions and negligible pain
- Minimal blood loss and low complication risk
- Accurate implant placement for a natural feel
- Faster recovery and return to normal routine
- Longer-lasting results
Why Choose Sohana Hospital, Mohali?
Sohana Hospital is one of North India’s most trusted multi-super speciality hospitals, with a dedicated team of orthopaedic experts specialising in robotic knee replacement. Located in the heart of Punjab – in the Tricity of Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula, it boasts excellent road, train, and air connectivity.
Experienced Surgeons
Our orthopaedic specialists have decades of experience and thousands of successful surgeries to their credit. The team is led by Dr. Gagandeep Singh Sachdeva, Chief Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon & CEO, Sohana Hospital. A highly qualified surgeon with international fellowships in knee surgery, he has 25+ years of experience and has performed 30,000+ successful knee replacement surgeries.
Cutting-Edge Technology
We are among the few hospitals in North India to offer the minimally-invasive robotic knee replacement. We utilise the most advanced CUVIS robot along with international-standard infrastructure, and modular OTs – to ensure best results for our patients.
Comprehensive Care
From pre-surgery assessments, customised knee surgery, tailored physiotherapy to WhatsApp-based post-discharge recovery monitoring and on-call rehab support, everything is covered for the best patient experience.
NRI-Friendly Support
On-call pre-arrival consultations, cost estimates, deluxe accommodation for the patient and a family member, and online follow-ups ensure a smooth knee surgery journey.
When Is the Best Time for Surgery During the Holidays?
If you’re visiting India anytime between October and December, this can be one of the best times to schedule your surgery:
- Family Support System
With family and relatives around who have gathered for Diwali, Gurpurab, or Christmas, you’ll have the benefit of emotional support to make you feel at home, and speed up your recovery.
- Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery Time
Within 4 – 6 weeks, most patients regain independence. You are fit to fly back to the country of your permanent residency without any concerns.
Knee Replacement Surgery Recovery Timeline: What to Expect
At Sohana Hospital, your knee replacement surgery recovery begins almost immediately after surgery. Here’s a typical timeline:
- Hospital Stay
3–5 days. Patients begin walking (with support from our physiotherapists and care staff) within 24 hours.
A primary concern of patients is about answering the call of nature. It is important for you to know that you are not bed-ridden even for a day post your knee surgery. You go to the washroom with help from our staff right from Day 1 after surgery.
- Physiotherapy
Starts the same or next day. Our physiotherapists guide you through customised exercises to improve flexibility in the new knee joint.
You should continue with physiotherapy for around a month. We teach you the exercises to do at home. And not to forget, we have 24X7 on-call physiotherapy guidance.
- 10 Days Post Surgery
First follow-up. By this time, most patients have already started walking comfortably indoors. Within 15 days, most patients start walking independently without any stick or walker.
- 1 Month Post Surgery
You can walk 2 – 3 km daily and resume most activities. A lot of our patients start going for regular walks around this time.
- Fit-to-Fly
Most NRIs can safely travel by air 30 – 45 days post-surgery. By this time, swelling and stiffness are gone and you feel healthy. Your surgeon provides you with a “fit-to-fly” certificate for the purpose.
Practical Tips for NRIs
Plan Ahead
Book your surgery in advance and accordingly plan your India trip or vice-versa.
Bring a Companion
Though at Sohana Hospital, we make you feel like family, it is good to have a family member with you for emotional support. Please note that patients typically do not need to hire a full-time attendant post discharge from hospital. During their 3-5 days in hospital, they become independent enough to manage for themselves.
Physiotherapy Guidance Anywhere
Our physiotherapy specialists provide remote guidance via phone. The service is available 24X7 so that irrespective of your time zone, you can benefit from it. Also, Sohana Hospital has a WhatsApp monitoring system to keep a tab on your daily recovery after discharge.
No Ground-Floor Requirement
You’ll be able to climb stairs with support a few days after surgery. For the first few days, you should continue to walk inside your house. Once you feel confident enough, you can step outside and go for longer walks, attend social gatherings, tap your feet to the beats of the drum, and all that you always wanted to do.
Premium Implants Available
At Sohana Hospital, you can choose from a range of implants from the common metal-on-plastic and ceramic-on-plastic implants to golden implants for patients with metal sensitivity.
Life After Knee Replacement
A successful robotic knee replacement is a revolutionary approach to completely transforming your life. Now, you can look forward to:
- Relief from knee pain and stiffness
- Ability to walk freely, climb stairs, and sit cross-legged
- Confidence to return to work, travel, and hobbies
- A revived spirit for life!
At Sohana Hospital, we derive satisfaction from seeing our patients walk pain-free. Beyond medical care, our goal is to ensure that all our patients attain not just mobility but also a sense of contentment and well-being.
Many of our NRI patients share their pictures from the trips they enjoyed after their knee surgery at Sohana Hospital. That works as an exceptional motivation for us – to continue serving humanity with advanced and compassionate orthopaedic care – at the most affordable prices.
Final Thoughts
If you are an NRI delaying your knee replacement because of any reason – high cost in your country of residence, long waiting time, or lack of family support abroad, your festive trip to India could be the perfect opportunity and time to take charge.
Sohana Hospital, Mohali, offers advanced robotic knee replacement surgery, personalised treatment, and fast knee surgery recovery – a lucrative benefit for NRI patients.
This holiday season, gift yourself pain-free mobility. Book your consultation in advance, get your knees operated on by the best knee specialist in Chandigarh and return home abroad healthier and happier.
FAQs
What makes robotic knee replacement better than regular (manual) knee replacement?
Robotic knee replacement offers many benefits over manual knee surgery. Besides robotic precision for more accurate implant placement and superior outcomes, robotic surgery is virtually painless, involves negligible blood loss, and offers the bright prospects of a much faster recovery.
Will I need to hire an attendant post knee surgery?
Sohana Hospital has 24X7 available dedicated and caring support staff. We ensure you feel at-home in the hospital. During your time in hospital, you do not need any attendant as we take care of everything. After getting discharged from the hospital, if you have someone to cook for you and perform other household tasks, you do not generally need to hire an attendant.
Can I get a surgery date as per my convenience?
At Sohana Hospital, we offer an online consultation facility to our international patients. You just discuss your problem and medical history with our expert ortho specialists over the phone, show your test reports, and get a surgery date of your choice. It allows you to better plan and make the most of your India visit.