How soon after having a total knee replacement can you have your other knee done?

Tricky question: Age, health, surgeon comfort, and patient wishes are all part of the decision making process when it comes to replacing the second knee. Some patients have both done simultaneously. If staging (doing one first, then the other) there is not magic time frame, but many surgeons will wait at least 6 weeks to perform the second. Some will perform a week apart. Speak to your surgeon.

6 weeks minimum: Generally, we do both knees at once. If a patient elects to stage the knees, we advise waiting at least 6 weeks to allow the patient to transition out of the catabolic phase of surgery recovery.

Surgeon preference: It is possible to do both knees at the same time in some patients. Your surgeon may or may not do this. Staged procedures can be done several days or weeks later in some cases, while most people will wait 6 weeks or more to have the other knee done. You should discuss this with your surgeon.