Hip Replacement in Scottsdale for Active Adults — Back to Golf, Hiking, and the Life You Had Before the Pain
★★★★★ 4.8 Google Reviews
Ready to Get Back to the Active Life Hip Pain Has Been Limiting?
8,000+ Procedures
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
MAKOplasty® Robotic-Assisted
Same-Day Outpatient Options
Scottsdale, AZ
Hip Replacement Doesn't Have to Mean Giving Up the Active Life You've Built
Most of Dr. Gough's hip replacement patients in Scottsdale are active adults who refused to accept that pain was permanent — and who wanted a surgeon with expectations as high as their own.
The patients Dr. Gough sees most often in Scottsdale are not people who have given up. They are golfers, hikers, cyclists, and tennis players who have been quietly watching their world shrink — skipping the back nine, parking closer, cutting walks short — because their hip has made everything harder. They come in not just to stop hurting, but to get back to the specific activities that define how they live. That requires a different conversation than standard hip replacement care, and a technique specifically designed to meet those expectations. Dr. Brandon Gough performs hip replacement using the Direct Superior approach — a muscle-sparing technique that eliminates post-surgery movement restrictions entirely, allows same-day discharge, and puts most patients back on the golf course within three to four weeks. He has performed more than 8,000 hip and knee replacements since 2013 in a focused private practice where this is all he does. His results are not a promise — they are what his patients consistently report.
Why Active Adults Choose Dr. Gough for Hip Replacement in Scottsdale
Your recovery expectations are higher than average. The technique and experience Dr. Gough brings are specifically matched to those expectations.
No Post-Surgery Restriction List — Move Naturally From Day One
Traditional hip replacement comes with weeks or months of movement precautions — no crossing legs, no bending past 90 degrees, no low chairs or car seats. For active adults, that restriction period is often more disruptive than the surgery itself. Dr. Gough's Direct Superior technique preserves the posterior capsule of the hip during surgery, which eliminates the structural reason those restrictions exist. You leave with no precaution list and move naturally from day one.
Walk the Same Day. Drive Within Two Weeks. Golf Within Four.
Most of Dr. Gough's hip patients walk before they go home from surgery. Most are driving within one to two weeks. Most are back to golf, hiking, cycling, and recreational activity within three to four weeks. Full strength typically returns between six and eight weeks. These are not best-case outcomes — they are the consistent results of a muscle-sparing technique that causes significantly less trauma than traditional surgery.
8,000+ Procedures in a Practice Built for Hip and Knee Patients
Dr. Gough does not perform shoulder surgery, spine surgery, or sports medicine. Hip and knee replacement is all he does — which means every aspect of his practice, his facility relationships, his care protocols, and his post-operative team is optimized specifically for patients like you. 8,000+ procedures since 2013 means the pattern recognition and surgical efficiency that comes from doing one thing at a very high volume.
An Implant Built to Keep Up With Your Lifestyle
The MAKOplasty® robotic system Dr. Gough uses for every hip replacement ensures implant placement accurate to a fraction of a millimeter. Accurate placement means the implant wears more evenly, feels more natural during activity, and is designed to last 25 to 30 years. For active adults who intend to keep skiing, golfing, and hiking for decades, implant longevity is not a minor consideration — it is the whole point.
Everything was amazing from beginning to full recovery after just 8 physical therapy sessions. The method Dr. Gough uses allowed me to walk unaided in just a day or two without restrictions. He has my complete trust.
What Active Adults Ask Before Hip Replacement With Dr. Gough
These are the questions that matter most to patients who intend to stay active after surgery — answered directly based on what Dr. Gough's patients actually experience.
Will I actually be able to get back to golf and hiking after hip replacement?
Yes — and for most of Dr. Gough’s patients, the return to golf and hiking happens faster than they expected. Most return to golf and light hiking within three to four weeks of surgery. The reason is the Direct Superior muscle-sparing technique, which avoids the muscle trauma that extends recovery timelines with traditional approaches. There are also no post-surgery movement restrictions with this technique — no precaution list that limits how you sit, bend, or move — which means your rehabilitation focuses entirely on building strength and confidence rather than working around restrictions.
Am I too young for hip replacement?
No. Age is not the determining factor — the condition of your hip is. Many of Dr. Gough’s most active patients are in their 50s and early 60s. Modern hip implants are designed to last 25 to 30 years, which means a patient in their late 50s who needs surgery today can expect a single procedure to carry them through the most active decades of their life. Waiting longer than necessary to avoid being “too young” often means tolerating pain and activity limitations that accelerate muscle loss and make surgery and recovery more difficult. Dr. Gough will tell you directly at your consultation whether your hip has reached the point where replacement produces better outcomes than continued waiting.
How soon can I return to golf specifically?
Most of Dr. Gough’s hip replacement patients return to golf within three to four weeks of surgery. This timeline assumes an uncomplicated recovery and consistent physical therapy in the early weeks. The Direct Superior technique eliminates the movement restrictions that typically delay return to golf with traditional approaches — particularly the restriction on hip rotation that makes a golf swing difficult or impossible for weeks after standard surgery. Many patients find the rotation they lost to arthritis returns quickly once the damaged joint is replaced.
What is the difference between the Direct Superior approach and the anterior approach?
Both approaches are muscle-sparing alternatives to the traditional posterior approach, and both produce faster recoveries than traditional surgery. The key difference is what happens to the posterior capsule of the hip — the structure at the back of the joint. The anterior approach does not address this structure, which means some posterior hip precautions remain in place after surgery. Dr. Gough’s Direct Superior technique accesses the hip from a specific interval that preserves the posterior capsule entirely, which is why his patients leave with no restriction list at all. For active adults who want to resume full movement immediately, this distinction matters.
I'm still working full time. How much time will I need off?
It depends on the nature of your work. For desk-based or remote work, most of Dr. Gough’s patients return to work within one to two weeks — some sooner. For work that involves driving, most patients resume within two weeks once cleared. For physically demanding work, the timeline is typically four to six weeks. Because there are no movement restrictions with the Direct Superior approach, there is no restriction on sitting for extended periods, driving, or moving in and out of vehicles — which means the return-to-work timeline for most office-based patients is significantly shorter than they anticipate.
How is recovery different for active adults compared to less active patients?
Active adults typically recover faster and more completely than sedentary patients — and the research consistently supports this. Better baseline cardiovascular fitness means better surgical tolerance. Stronger surrounding musculature before surgery means more stability immediately after. A motivated, active mindset means more consistent engagement with physical therapy. For Dr. Gough’s active adult patients, the combination of their pre-surgery fitness and his muscle-sparing technique typically produces recovery timelines at the faster end of what is already a fast-recovery procedure.
What should I bring to my first consultation with Dr. Gough?
Bring any recent imaging you have — X-rays or MRI of the affected hip. If you don’t have recent imaging, Dr. Gough’s team can arrange it. Bring a list of any medications you are currently taking. Think about your specific activity goals — golf, hiking, pickleball, cycling, travel — and be specific about what you want to get back to and when. Dr. Gough will build his recommendation around your life, not a standard protocol. Most consultations are scheduled within one week of your call. You can reach us at 602-359-3088 or submit the form on this page.
Dr. Brandon Gough, M.D.
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon · Scottsdale, Arizona
Dr. Brandon Gough is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in hip and knee replacement. He has performed more than 8,000 joint replacements since 2013 and is a Stryker-certified MAKOplasty® surgeon.
Ready to Get Back to the Active Life Hip Pain Has Been Limiting?
8,000+
Hip & Knee Procedures
Same Day
Home After Surgery
25-30yr
Year Implant Life
★★★★★ 4.8 Google Reviews
Ready to Schedule Your Consultation?
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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.