With a positive attitude and dedicated effort, you can significantly increase your chance of an excellent outcome. Many variables affect the ultimate success of hip replacement surgery, including the strength of the patient's bone and musculature, his or her general health (including mental and emotional health) and lifestyle. Commitment to rehabilitation is a key part of the process, as improvement to the hip joint is determined not only by surgery but also by rehabilitative effort.

The younger a person is at the time of surgery, the more likely it is that surgery will have to be repeated later in life. Artificial joints do wear and loosen in the bone with time. Younger people are likely to place more stress on the artificial joint. At the same time, younger people who are severely disabled by a diseased hip joint may benefit from many years of increased flexibility and relief in the prime of life as a result of successful surgical treatment.

People who have joint replacement surgery of any kind must be particularly cautious about infection. It is necessary, for example, to always tell your dentist or physician that you have an artificial joint. Inform your doctor or dentist before any dental procedure, so that he or she can prescribe antibiotics, if required. Usually one dose before and one dose after the procedure will suffice.

Having a large metal implant in your hip may sometimes set off metal detectors in an airport or at a public event. Your doctor can provide you with a card identifying you as a patient with an artificial implant.