Robotic Hip Replacement in Scottsdale, AZ — Precision That Changes Everything About Recovery
★★★★★ 4.8 Google Reviews
Ready to Find Out If Robotic Hip Replacement Is Right for You?
8,000+ Procedures
Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon
MAKOplasty® Robotic-Assisted
Same-Day Outpatient Options
Scottsdale, AZ
What Makes Robotic Hip Replacement Different — and Why the Surgeon Still Matters
The MAKOplasty® system is only as good as the surgeon using it. Dr. Gough has performed more than 8,000 hip and knee replacements and trains other surgeons in the technique nationwide.
Robotic hip replacement is not a single procedure — it is a category of surgery that varies significantly depending on the technology, the surgical approach, and the experience of the surgeon performing it. At Gough Surgical in Scottsdale, Dr. Brandon Gough uses the MAKOplasty® robotic system by Stryker — the same platform used in the most advanced joint replacement centers in the country — combined with the Direct Superior approach, a muscle-sparing technique that eliminates post-surgery movement restrictions entirely. Before surgery, a CT scan of your hip creates a precise 3D digital model of your specific joint. Dr. Gough uses this model to plan every element of the procedure — the exact implant size, position, and angle — built around your anatomy rather than a standard template. During surgery, a robotic arm guides every movement with precision, ensuring the plan is executed exactly as designed. The result is implant placement accurate to a fraction of a millimeter, a technique that causes significantly less trauma to surrounding tissue, and a recovery that begins the same day as surgery. Dr. Gough has performed more than 8,000 hip and knee replacements since 2013 in a focused private practice where this is all he does. He is a Stryker-certified MAKOplasty® surgeon and trains other surgeons nationwide in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques.
Why Dr. Gough's Robotic Hip Replacement Produces Results Other Approaches Don't
The combination of MAKOplasty® robotic precision and the Direct Superior muscle-sparing technique is what separates Dr. Gough's outcomes from standard robotic hip replacement.
A 3D Surgical Plan Built Around Your Hip Before a Single Incision
Before surgery, a CT scan creates a precise 3D digital model of your hip joint. Dr. Gough uses this model to plan the exact implant size, position, and angle — designed around your specific anatomy rather than a standard sizing template. The MAKOplasty® robotic arm then executes that plan with sub-millimeter accuracy, ensuring the implant lands exactly where it was designed to go. This level of precision is not achievable with manual freehand surgery, regardless of the surgeon's experience.
No Post-Surgery Restriction List — Because the Technique Eliminates the Need for One
Most hip replacement approaches — including some robotic techniques — still require post-surgery movement precautions. No crossing legs, no bending past 90 degrees, no low chairs. Dr. Gough's Direct Superior approach preserves the posterior capsule of the hip during surgery, which is the anatomical reason those restrictions exist. Because the capsule is left intact, there is no restriction list. You leave surgery moving naturally from day one.
Walk the Same Day. Home the Same Day. No Mandatory Overnight Stay.
Because the Direct Superior technique causes significantly less trauma to surrounding muscle and tissue than traditional approaches, patients are stable and mobile within hours of surgery. Most of Dr. Gough's hip replacement patients stand and walk with assistance before they go home — and go home the same day as surgery. There is no mandatory overnight hospital stay for most patients.
An Implant Placed to Last 25 to 30 Years
Implant longevity is determined primarily by how accurately it is placed. A robotically placed implant wears more evenly because it sits in the precise position the surgical plan specified — not an approximation based on manual judgment. For patients in their 50s and 60s who expect to stay active for decades, this precision is not a minor consideration. It is the difference between one surgery and the possibility of revision surgery down the road.
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.
Questions Patients Ask Before Robotic Hip Replacement With Dr. Gough
These are the questions that come up most before consultations. Here are direct answers based on what Dr. Gough's patients actually experience.
What is MAKOplasty® robotic hip replacement?
MAKOplasty® is a robotic-assisted surgical system made by Stryker. Before your procedure, a CT scan of your hip is used to build a precise 3D digital model of your specific joint. Dr. Gough uses this model to plan every element of the surgery — the exact implant size, position, and angle — before making a single incision. During surgery, a robotic arm guides each movement within pre-set boundaries, ensuring the surgical plan is executed exactly as designed. The result is implant placement accuracy that freehand surgery cannot reliably match, and significantly less damage to surrounding tissue.
Is robotic hip replacement better than traditional hip replacement?
For most patients, yes. Studies consistently show that robotically placed hip implants are positioned more accurately than manually placed ones. More accurate placement means the implant wears more evenly, feels more natural during activity, and is designed to last longer. It also means less damage to surrounding tissue during surgery — which is why robotic patients typically experience less post-operative pain and faster recovery than patients who undergo traditional freehand techniques.
Will I have movement restrictions after robotic hip replacement with Dr. Gough?
No — and this is one of the most significant advantages of Dr. Gough’s approach. Most hip replacement surgeons, including those using robotic technology, still prescribe post-surgery movement precautions because their surgical approach disturbs the posterior capsule of the hip. Dr. Gough’s Direct Superior technique accesses the hip from a specific interval that preserves the posterior capsule entirely. Because the capsule is intact, the structural reason for restrictions does not exist. You leave surgery with no precaution list and move naturally from day one.
How long does recovery take after robotic hip replacement?
Most of Dr. Gough’s robotic hip replacement patients follow this general timeline. Day of surgery — walking with assistance, discharged home that afternoon. Week one to two — transitioning off a walker, no movement restrictions, most patients beginning to drive. Week three to four — back to golf, hiking, and light recreational activity for most patients. Week six to eight — full strength and full activity for the majority. This timeline is significantly faster than traditional hip replacement because the Direct Superior muscle-sparing technique avoids cutting through the major muscles that stabilize the hip, which is the primary source of extended recovery time in conventional surgery.
How is Dr. Gough's robotic hip replacement different from other Scottsdale surgeons who use robotics?
Several surgeons in the Scottsdale market use robotic technology for hip replacement. The differentiator in Dr. Gough’s approach is the combination of MAKOplasty® robotic precision with the Direct Superior surgical technique. Most robotic hip surgeons use the anterior approach, which is an improvement over traditional posterior surgery but still carries some post-operative movement precautions. The Direct Superior approach eliminates all restrictions by preserving the posterior capsule — something the anterior approach does not do. The other differentiator is volume and focus: Dr. Gough has performed more than 8,000 hip and knee replacements in a practice where this is all he does, and he trains surgeons in the technique nationally.
Will I need to stay in the hospital overnight after robotic hip replacement?
Most of Dr. Gough’s primary hip replacement patients go home the same day as surgery. There is no mandatory overnight stay for most patients. Same-day discharge is possible because the muscle-sparing technique results in significantly less trauma to surrounding tissue — meaning patients are stable, mobile, and ready to leave within hours. Whether an overnight stay is needed depends on your overall health history and how you respond post-surgery. Dr. Gough’s team will give you clear expectations at your consultation.
Am I a candidate for robotic hip replacement?
Most patients with hip arthritis or degenerative hip disease who qualify for hip replacement are also candidates for the robotic approach. The best way to know is a consultation with Dr. Gough. He will review your imaging, assess the condition of your hip, and give you a direct recommendation — including whether partial or total replacement is the right option and which surgical approach fits your anatomy and goals. Most consultations are available within one week. Call or text 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 Find Out If Robotic Hip Replacement Is Right for You?
8,000+
Hip & Knee Procedures
Same Day
Home After Surgery
25-30yr
Year Implant Life
★★★★★ 4.8 Google Reviews
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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.