What robotic-assisted replacement actually is
Robotic-assisted joint replacement means your surgeon operates with a robotic guidance system that has already mapped your joint in 3D from a CT scan. The plan — implant size, position, alignment, down to the millimeter — is built before the operating room. During surgery, the system keeps your surgeon exactly on that plan. It measures; the surgeon operates.
Why millimeters matter
An implant aligned precisely to your anatomy wears evenly, feels more natural, and — this is the part that matters at year fifteen — tends to last. Alignment is one of the four biggest factors in how long a knee replacement lasts, along with your weight, bone quality, and activity choices. The robot exists to remove doubt from the one factor that's entirely in the operating room's control.
- Before
The CT scan builds your blueprint
A 3D model of your actual joint — not an average joint, yours. Implant size and position get decided here, calmly, in software.
- During
The surgeon executes, the robot verifies
The system tracks the joint in real time and keeps cuts and placement on the plan. Your surgeon's hands and judgment run the show — with a second set of eyes that never blinks.
- After
Precision pays off in rehab
Balanced ligaments, accurate leg length (the hip question everyone should ask), and an implant positioned to wear evenly — our rehab team feels the difference in how knees bend and hips trust themselves.
The honest version of "is it better?"
Here's what we tell family members: robotic assistance makes an excellent surgeon more precise. It does not make an average surgeon excellent. The tool guarantees the plan gets executed; the training, judgment, and volume of the person holding it still decide everything else. So ask any practice two questions: who is my surgeon, and how often do they do this? Ours: fellowship-trained joint surgeons doing replacements every week for two decades — meet them — operating in a surgery center we own.
Common questions
Does insurance cover robotic joint replacement? Does it cost more?
It's billed as a joint replacement, and covered like one. It doesn't typically cost you more here — and our outpatient surgery center usually makes the total meaningfully less than a hospital. The full cost conversation →
Is recovery faster with the robot?
Recovery speed is mostly about you, your rehab, and your surgical setting. What precision buys is a joint that's balanced correctly from day one — which makes rehab smoother and the long game better. We won't promise "half the recovery time"; nobody honest will.
Do you use the robot on every joint?
Most of our knee and hip replacements are robotic-assisted; shoulders use 3D preoperative planning. Your surgeon will tell you what they recommend for your joint and why.
What if I hear "Mako" from a friend — is that what you use?
Mako is one of the major robotic platforms patients hear about by name. Ask us in your consult — we'll show you the actual system, the actual plan, and what each step means for your joint.
The surgeons behind the robot
Board-certified, fellowship-trained, and in the office every week — read their story, then decide.
Brian Flowers, MD, FAAOS
Rohan Gheewala, MD
Paul Chin, MD, PhD, FAAOSMedically reviewed by Keith W.V. Johnson, MD, FAAOS · Updated September 28, 2026