Choosing who will perform your hip or knee replacement is one of the more important decisions a patient makes. It can feel difficult to judge from the outside. Every surgeon's website says much the same thing. Mr Kosuge believes patients are best served by knowing what actually matters, so here are the questions worth asking of any surgeon you are considering, including him.

Ask about experience and specialisation

Hip and knee replacement is done best by surgeons who do a lot of it. It is entirely reasonable to ask how often a surgeon performs the operation you need and whether hip and knee replacement is their main area of practice rather than an occasional part of it. A specialist focus tends to show in the results.

Ask to see outcome data

The most useful question of all is whether the surgeon can show you their own results. Ask about their patient-reported outcomes and their complication and infection rates. Ask too how their length of stay and revision rates compare. A surgeon who measures and publishes their outcomes is telling you something important about how they work. Mr Kosuge publishes his outcome and patient experience data for exactly this reason.

Ask what patients say

Independent, verified patient reviews are a genuine window into what the experience is like. Look at whether reviews are recent, consistent and posted on verified platforms rather than only selected quotes on a website. Consistency across hundreds of reviews is more telling than any single testimonial.

Ask about the practicalities

It is fair to ask who will actually perform the operation, who you will see at follow-up, what happens if there is a complication and whether the surgeon deals with revision surgery should it ever be needed. Clear answers to these questions are a good sign.

Check the basics

Every consultant surgeon in the UK is on the General Medical Council register, which you can check yourself. Most also hold recognition from the major insurers. Involvement in teaching, research or professional bodies is a further sign of a surgeon engaged with current practice.

Meeting Mr Kosuge

The best way to judge any surgeon is to meet them, ask these questions and see whether you feel confident and well informed. To arrange a consultation or follow-up at The Rivers Hospital, High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0HH:

• Online booking

• Telephone: 01279 602675

For patients who are still working, one of the biggest questions before surgery is how long they will be away from their job. It is often the reason people choose to have their treatment privately, so they can plan the timing around work. There is no single answer because it depends on the operation and, just as much, on what your work involves. Here is a realistic guide.

It depends on the job, not just the joint

The main factor is how physical your work is. Someone with a desk-based job can usually return far sooner than someone whose work involves standing all day, lifting, or climbing. The type of surgery matters too, but the nature of the job is usually the bigger factor in the timing.

A realistic guide for different types of work

For largely sedentary, desk-based work, many patients return within a few weeks, sometimes on reduced hours to begin with. For work that is on your feet but not heavy, a longer period is usual. For heavy manual work, involving lifting, ladders or long periods of standing, patients often need around ten to twelve weeks and sometimes longer. These are general guides. Your recovery, your particular job and your surgeon's advice all shape the actual timing.

Do not forget the commute

An easily overlooked point is that returning to work often means being able to get there. If your job requires you to drive, you need to be safe and legal to drive first, which is a separate milestone in its own right. If you rely on public transport, consider how much standing and walking is involved.

A phased return often works best

Many patients find that a phased return, starting with shorter days or lighter duties and building up, works better than going straight back to full duties. If your employer offers occupational health support, it is worth using. Planning the return with your recovery in mind, rather than against it, gives the best result.

Planning your timing

Mr Kosuge will give you advice tailored to your operation and your type of work, which is particularly useful if you are planning surgery around your working life. To arrange a consultation or follow-up at The Rivers Hospital, High Wych Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0HH:

• Online booking

• Telephone: 01279 602675