Hip Replacement in Desert Mountain, AZ
★★★★★ 4.8 Google Reviews
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- 8,000+ Procedures
- Robotic-Assisted Precision
- Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Same-Day Outpatient Options
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert Mountain Was Designed for a Life Without Limits
Desert Mountain residents chose this community because it offers something genuinely rare — six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses, 25 miles of private trails through high Sonoran Desert terrain, access to the Tonto National Forest, and a level of privacy and natural grandeur that is simply not available anywhere else in Arizona. It is a lifestyle defined by the ability to walk out your door and onto some of the finest golf and desert terrain on earth. Hip pain dismantles that access quietly at first, then completely. The round on the Cochise Course gets shortened. The private Desert Mountain trail that took you above the valley becomes too much. Getting in and out of the golf cart becomes something you dread. The hip that used to be an afterthought becomes the first thing you think about every morning. For Desert Mountain residents, accepting a hip that no longer works is not in keeping with the standard of living this community represents. Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon practicing in North Scottsdale — close to Desert Mountain’s gates. His patients walk the same day as surgery, go home within 24 hours, and return to the Nicklaus courses and the private trails on a timeline that regularly surprises them.
Signs It May Be Time to Consider Hip Replacement
- Hip pain that wakes you up at night or makes it impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position
- Groin or hip stiffness that affects your swing or makes walking 18 holes on the Nicklaus courses difficult
- Pain on the Desert Mountain private trails that forces you to cut hikes short or avoid them entirely
- Stiffness getting in and out of the car or golf cart, or pain walking between Desert Mountain's six clubhouses
- Non-surgical treatments — injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories — that are no longer providing meaningful relief
How Dr. Gough's Approach Compares to Traditional Hip Replacement
| Traditional | Dr. Gough | |
|---|---|---|
| Incision | 10–12 inches | 4–6 inches |
| Muscle handling | Cut or detached | Fully preserved |
| Walking | Days after surgery | Same day |
| Recovery | 6–12 weeks | Weeks, not months |
| Restrictions | Long post-op list | None |
| Hospital stay | 2–4 days | Same day / 24 hrs |
The Direct Superior Approach — Why Desert Mountain Patients Choose It
Dr. Gough uses the Direct Superior approach to total hip replacement — a technique that does not cut or detach the major muscles around the hip. The joint is accessed through a 4-inch incision without twisting or overextending the leg. Because the muscles are preserved, recovery begins immediately: most patients stand and walk within hours of surgery, go home the same day, and face no post-surgery hip restrictions. For Desert Mountain patients, this matters in concrete terms. No long list of movements to avoid. No months of restricted recovery. A return to the Cochise and Geronimo courses, the Desert Mountain private trails, and life at this community’s standard — measured in weeks, not months. For patients who have already had a hip replacement that is causing pain or instability, Dr. Gough also performs complex revision total hip replacement. Revision cases are more complex than primary replacements, which is exactly why experience and specialized training matter more — not less.
What Recovery Looks Like for Desert Mountain Patients
Most of Dr. Gough’s total hip replacement patients walk with assistance the same day as surgery and go home within 24 hours. In the first week, walking begins with a cane or walker and physical therapy starts. By weeks two and three, most patients are off assistive devices and returning to driving. By weeks three to four, many are walking the flatter sections of the Desert Mountain community paths. By months two and three, most patients have returned to full activity — including the Nicklaus courses, the private Desert Mountain trails, and life at this community’s full pace. Revision hip replacement recovery follows a longer timeline — typically one to two days in the facility, followed by a structured rehabilitation program over three months and continued improvement through the first year.
I was back on the Geronimo Course about ten weeks after surgery. No pain, full swing, walking all 18. Dr. Gough set clear expectations from our first meeting and delivered on every one of them.
Meet Dr. Brandon Gough, M.D.
Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and a leader in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement.
Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon based in Scottsdale, Arizona. He specializes in hip and knee reconstruction and has performed over 8,000 procedures since 2013.
He is one of a select group of surgeons in the country trained in the Direct Superior approach to hip replacement — a technique that eliminates post-surgery restrictions and dramatically reduces recovery time. He is also a past consultant and educator for Stryker Orthopaedics, training surgeons from around the world in minimally invasive joint replacement techniques.
Beyond the operating room, Dr. Gough volunteers with Magis Clinic, Madonna School, Habitat for Humanity, and Sienna St. Francis Clinic. He believes that exceptional surgical care and genuine compassion go hand in hand.
- American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
- American College of Physicians (ACP)
Hip Replacement Questions from Desert Mountain Patients
How far is Dr. Gough's practice from Desert Mountain?
Dr. Gough’s private practice is at 8575 E. Princess Dr., Suite 210, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 — approximately 20 to 25 minutes from Desert Mountain’s gates via Pima Road and Happy Valley Road. He also operates at Aloe Surgical Center and Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, both in the Scottsdale area.
Will I be able to play golf on the Nicklaus courses at Desert Mountain again after hip replacement?
Most patients return to golf within two to three months of total hip replacement using Dr. Gough’s Direct Superior technique. Because the surrounding muscles are preserved — not cut and rebuilt — the strength and stability needed for your swing are intact from day one. Dr. Gough will give you a specific activity plan at your consultation based on your goals and recovery progress.
Is same-day discharge safe for hip replacement?
Yes — for appropriate candidates, same-day discharge is as safe as an overnight hospital stay and produces equivalent outcomes. Dr. Gough’s technique causes significantly less soft tissue trauma than traditional approaches, which means patients are stable, mobile, and ready to go home within hours of surgery. Every patient is monitored closely before discharge is confirmed.
Does insurance cover hip replacement surgery?
Most major insurance plans — including PPO plans common among Desert Mountain residents — cover hip replacement when it is medically necessary. Dr. Gough’s team will verify your insurance benefits before your consultation so there are no surprises. Gough Surgical accepts most major PPO plans including United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Ambetter, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Ready to Get Back to Desert Mountain Life?
Call 602-359-3088 or complete the form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Gough. His team will review your imaging, assess your hip, and give you a direct, honest recommendation on whether hip replacement is right for you — and what your recovery would realistically look like.
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Content on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Each patient’s condition, treatment plan, and results are unique. Patient testimonials reflect individual experiences and are not a guarantee of similar outcomes.