- Published one-knee packages on the pages we read ranged from 230,000 to 460,000 baht, depending on the hospital, the technique and whether the implant was included.
- Check whether the knee implant is in the price: one Bangkok package list prices standard knee replacements without the implant and robotic ones with it.
- Packages are built around a fixed number of nights; longer stays, complications and pre-operative clearance are usually billed separately.
- Several packages are limited to fly-in patients or to Thai nationals and permanent residents, so ask which price applies to you.
- Physiotherapy after surgery is an important part of recovery and may not be in the package.
| Provider | Published price | What the page says is included | Valid | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok International Hospital (Bangkok Hospital group), Bangkok | Total knee replacement, one side: 310,000 (4 nights); both sides: 500,000 (5 nights) | Theatre, surgical and anaesthesia teams, standard room, nursing, operation-specific medicines. Implant excluded. Fly-in patients only. | To 31 Dec 2026 | bangkokhospital.com — Hip and knee surgery packages |
| Bangkok International Hospital (Bangkok Hospital group), Bangkok | Robotic total knee replacement, one side: 460,000 (4 nights); both sides: 745,000 (5 nights) | As above, including the specified implant model. Fly-in patients only. | To 31 Dec 2026 | bangkokhospital.com — Hip and knee surgery packages |
| Vichaiyut Hospital, Bangkok | Total knee arthroplasty programme: 290,000 (listed against 455,890), 4 days and 3 nights | Surgeon fees, surgical service fees and a standard private room; the page does not mention the implant. Thai nationals and expatriates with permanent residency; osteoarthritis only. | Purchase 1 Jul – 31 Dec 2026 | vichaiyut.com — Total knee arthroplasty programme |
| Bangkok Hospital Udon, Udon Thani | One side: 230,000; both sides: 390,000 | The pages do not list inclusions, length of stay or implant details. | Use 1 Jan – 31 Dec 2026 | bangkokhospital.com — Knee replacement surgery packages (Udon) |
What a knee replacement package usually covers
A total knee replacement removes the worn joint surfaces and replaces them with metal and plastic components. In Thailand, private hospitals often sell it as a package priced for one or both knees and a set number of nights. The Bangkok International Hospital packages we read, for example, cover the operating and recovery rooms, the surgical and anaesthesia teams, a standard room, nursing, food, medicines for the operation and take-home medication related to the surgery.
What packages leave out matters just as much. The same page excludes the implant for standard knee replacements, the internal-medicine clearance before surgery, specialist consultations, treatment of other conditions or complications, special supplies and tests, and any intensive care beyond the package. Vichaiyut Hospital's programme excludes pre-operative tests and examination, discharge medicines and treatment unrelated to the surgery, and its page does not mention the implant.
The implant question
The single biggest reason two knee replacement prices differ is often the implant. On Bangkok International Hospital's list, a standard one-sided knee replacement is 310,000 baht without the implant, while a robotic-assisted one-sided replacement is 460,000 baht including a specified implant model. The two figures are not directly comparable until you know what the implant for the standard operation would cost.
Ask any hospital which implant system it proposes, its price, and whether it is included. If you live abroad, ask whether the system is used in your home country, since your local surgeon may need to know what was fitted if you have problems later. Request the implant details in writing, including the manufacturer and model, to keep with your records.
Who can use the published price
Eligibility rules differ. Bangkok International Hospital's packages apply to fly-in patients only. Vichaiyut Hospital's programme is for Thai nationals and expatriates with Thai permanent residency, for osteoarthritis rather than injury, and cannot be combined with insurance or corporate benefits. Bangkok Hospital Udon's pages state a price and validity period but not who can use them.
If you plan to claim on insurance, a package price may not apply at all; hospitals often bill insured patients item by item. Ask your insurer whether elective joint replacement is covered, whether it needs pre-approval, and whether it will issue a guarantee of payment to the hospital.
Before surgery: assessment and clearance
Expect an orthopaedic consultation, X-rays and possibly other imaging before a surgeon agrees to operate, and a pre-operative check by an internal-medicine doctor to assess fitness for anaesthesia. Both Bangkok International Hospital and Vichaiyut list this assessment or clearance as outside the package price.
If you are travelling, send recent X-rays and a summary from your own doctor in advance and ask the surgeon whether surgery looks suitable before you book flights. Ask what happens, and what you pay, if the pre-operative check finds a condition that delays surgery.
Rehabilitation, length of stay and flying home
Physiotherapy usually starts soon after surgery and continues for weeks. The packages we read cover three to five nights in hospital. Ask how many physiotherapy sessions are included, what a further session costs, and whether you will need to stay nearby for outpatient physiotherapy after discharge.
Long flights after leg surgery raise practical and medical questions, including the risk of blood clots. Ask the surgeon how long you should wait before flying and what precautions they recommend. NHS guidance for people having surgery abroad without referral advises checking what aftercare, follow-up and complication care a package includes, and notes that the NHS will provide emergency care but is not obliged to provide routine care after private surgery abroad; agree a follow-up plan before you leave.
Checking the surgeon and the hospital
Ask for the name of the orthopaedic surgeon who will operate and how many knee replacements they perform. You can check a doctor's registration with the Medical Council of Thailand. For the hospital, ask whether it holds national (HA) or international accreditation, and confirm the current status with the accrediting body.
This guide does not replace clinical advice. Whether a knee replacement is the right treatment, and when, is a decision to make with an orthopaedic surgeon who has examined you.
Questions to ask before you agree a knee replacement package
- Is the implant included? If not, which implant will be used and what does it cost?
- How many nights does the package cover, and what does each extra night cost?
- Are the pre-operative clearance, imaging and blood tests included?
- How many physiotherapy sessions are included in hospital and after discharge?
- Does the published price apply to me as a visitor, resident or insured patient?
- What happens, and who pays, if there is a complication after I go home?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a knee replacement cost in Thailand?
On the official pages we read in October 2026, one-knee packages ranged from 230,000 baht (Bangkok Hospital Udon) to 460,000 baht for a robotic-assisted replacement including the implant in Bangkok. Some prices exclude the implant, so ask for a written total.
Is the implant included in the price?
Not always. Bangkok International Hospital's standard knee replacement packages exclude the implant, while its robotic packages include a specified model. Vichaiyut's page does not mention it. Ask each hospital directly.
How long will I be in hospital?
The packages we read were based on three to five nights. Your surgeon will advise on your own case, and extra nights are usually charged separately.
Can foreigners use these package prices?
It depends. Bangkok International Hospital's prices are for fly-in patients; Vichaiyut's are for Thai nationals and expatriates with permanent residency. Ask which price applies to you.
When can I fly home after a knee replacement?
Ask your surgeon. Long flights after leg surgery carry particular risks, and the surgeon will advise on timing and precautions.
Sources
- Bangkok International Hospital (Bangkok Hospital group) — Hip and knee surgery packages
- Vichaiyut Hospital — Total knee arthroplasty programme (4 days, 3 nights)
- Bangkok Hospital Udon — Knee replacement surgery package (1 side)
- Bangkok Hospital Udon — Knee replacement surgery package (both sides)
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (Southside practice) — Surgery abroad without NHS referral
- Thai PBS — Medical Council advises checking a doctor's registration (check_md lookup)
