Bilateral Knee Replacement in Bangkok
Last updated: September 2026
Reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr Ye Aung, Specialist Assistant Physician, Gastroenterology Department, Yangon General Hospital. Last reviewed September 2026.
Simultaneous or staged: the real choice
If both of your knees need replacing, there are two paths. Staged surgery means two separate operations, months apart, each with its own anaesthetic, hospital stay and recovery. Simultaneous bilateral surgery replaces both knees in one operation.
The appeal of doing both at once is practical: one anaesthetic, one hospital stay, one recovery period, and for an international patient, one trip to Bangkok instead of two. The trade-off is equally real: it is a bigger operation, the early recovery is more demanding because there is no good leg to lean on, and candidacy is stricter.
Which path is right for you is a clinical judgement made at assessment, not a booking preference. If the orthopaedic team concludes staged surgery is safer for you, that is what they will recommend, even though it means a second trip.
Who is a candidate
Simultaneous bilateral surgery asks more of your body than a single knee replacement, so the assessment looks harder at general fitness. Factors your surgeon weighs include cardiac health, age, weight and other medical conditions.
Obesity and diabetes are confirmed risk factors for infection after knee replacement, per a 2025 meta-analysis, alongside longer operating time, and a bilateral operation is by nature a longer operation. None of these automatically rule you out, but they are exactly the things to disclose fully at assessment.
Who is this not right for? Patients with significant cardiac or other medical conditions, and anyone whose assessment points to higher surgical risk. Package prices also assume a straightforward case: patients classed ASA III or above fall outside package pricing at KDMS, and the same principle applies generally. For these patients, staged single operations are usually the honest recommendation.
The package and what is included
One partner hospital offers a bilateral package: Phyathai 2 Hospital, JCI-accredited since 2014, a large multispecialty hospital near Victory Monument. The multispecialty setting is relevant here: a bigger operation benefits from broad supporting departments.
| Hospital | Procedure | Price (THB) | Approx. AUD | Approx. GBP | Approx. USD | Implant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phyathai 2 Hospital | Bilateral knee replacement (both knees) (both knees) | 680,000 for both knees | 27,200 | 13,600 | 20,400 | Included |
Prices last verified: September 2026. Approximate conversions at September 2026 rates. Your bank's rate on the day will differ.
Want the figure for your own case? A written quote confirms the price, inclusions and exclusions before you commit to anything.
The price is for both knees, with both implants included. Phyathai 2 does not publish its package contents; your written quote states the inpatient stay and full inclusions before you commit to anything.
For scale: two staged standard operations at Phyathai 2 would be 2 x 330,000 THB for the surgery alone, plus two trips, two recovery stays in Bangkok and two sets of flights. The bilateral package at 680,000 THB is not cheaper on the headline figure, but the whole-trip arithmetic often is. The cost page explains how to budget the full trip.
Hospital stay and recovery
Expect a longer inpatient stay than a single knee. The only published benchmark among our partners is KDMS's single-knee package at 5 days and 4 nights against 6 days and 5 nights for both sides; Phyathai 2 states its stay in your written quote.
Early rehabilitation is the hard part of bilateral surgery: walking training begins with both knees recovering at once. In-hospital physiotherapy continues through your stay, then outpatient physiotherapy until your surgeon clears you to fly. Plan for a longer stay in Bangkok than a single-knee patient, and let your surgeon set the date.
The NHS recovery guidance timelines still apply, to both knees: no driving for at least six weeks, unaided walking from around six weeks if ready, and full recovery over several months or longer.
Risks specific to bilateral surgery
All knee replacement risks apply: infection at a baseline of roughly 1% to 2%, blood clots, stiffness and implant loosening over time. A bilateral operation adds to that: it is longer in theatre, and longer operating time is itself a confirmed infection risk factor. The cardiovascular load of a bigger operation is the reason cardiac fitness is assessed more strictly.
State the risk, then the mitigation: this is why the candidacy assessment is stricter, why the anaesthetic team reviews you before surgery, and why the honest recommendation for some patients is staged surgery. What the package covers if a complication occurs is set out in the package terms; get it in writing before paying.
FAQ
How much is a bilateral knee replacement, both knees?
The Phyathai 2 bilateral package is 680,000 THB for both knees (approx. AUD 27,200, GBP 13,600, USD 20,400), with the implants included. Doing both sides in one operation costs less than two separate procedures because theatre time, anaesthesia and most of the hospital stay are shared, but it is a bigger operation and not everyone is a candidate.
Can I have both knees done at once?
Some people can. Simultaneous bilateral surgery means one anaesthetic, one hospital stay and one recovery period, but it is a bigger operation with a longer stay and a more demanding recovery. Candidacy depends on general fitness including cardiac health. The alternative is staging the two operations.
How many nights will I be in hospital?
At KDMS, the published knee package covers five days and four nights in a standard inpatient room for one knee, or six days and five nights for both. Phyathai 2 and Bumrungrad do not publish their inpatient stay, so your written quote will state it. Nights beyond the package are billed separately.
Does my weight affect whether I can have surgery?
It can. Obesity is a confirmed risk factor for infection after knee replacement, alongside diabetes, longer operating time and several others. It does not automatically rule surgery out, but it is one of the things your surgeon weighs, and it may affect whether package pricing applies to your case.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes, and most people should. Companion flights and accommodation are not included in any package, but having someone with you through surgery and the early recovery period makes the practical side considerably easier. Tell us at enquiry so accommodation can be arranged accordingly.
Free assessment Written quote No obligation
Ask whether bilateral surgery is right for you
- Send your details and, if you have them, recent knee X-rays and a summary of your medical history.
- The orthopaedic team assesses your case and tells you honestly whether surgery is the right call.
- You receive a written quote with the inclusions and exclusions stated.
or talk to a coordinator first
Chat on WhatsAppYou will hear from a coordinator. Nothing is committed until you say so.
Sources
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of PJI risk factors, 2025. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- NHS, Recovering from a knee replacement. nhs.uk
- KDMS Hospital published package terms. kdmshospital.com