Private Shoulder Replacement

Shoulder replacement surgery (shoulder arthroplasty) is a procedure where damaged parts of the shoulder joint are resurfaced and replaced with artificial components to restore smooth movement.

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket: the ball is the top of the upper arm bone (humeral head) and the socket is part of the shoulder blade (glenoid). When arthritis, severe fractures, or massive rotator cuff problems ruin the cartilage—the slick layer that lets bones glide—the joint becomes painful and stiff.In surgery, the surgeon removes the worn surfaces and shapes the bones.

A metal ball attached to a stem fits into the upper arm bone, and a plastic liner is placed on the socket.

• In a standard “anatomic” replacement, the ball stays on the arm side and the socket stays on the shoulder blade side.
• In a “reverse” replacement, the positions are swapped (ball on the shoulder blade, socket on the arm) to improve leverage when the rotator cuff doesn’t work.

The goal is to recreate stable, smooth joint mechanics so the arm can lift and rotate more comfortably for daily activities.

Shorter wait times

• Time matters when every lift or reach hurts. Private centres can often schedule consultation and surgery sooner, reducing months of severe pain and stiffness.
• Faster care helps you return to daily life, sport, and/or work earlier.

Choice and control

• Choose an experienced shoulder arthroplasty surgeon (anatomic and reverse).
• Select the clinic location (though must usually be out-of-province).
• Plan surgery around work, family, or caregiving schedules.

Peace of mind

• Know exactly who will operate, when it will happen, and the detailed plan (anatomic vs reverse, implant system, approach).
• Clear timelines reduce anxiety and help families coordinate support and physiotherapy.

Preventing further decline

• Function and quality of life: Limits months of pain, poor sleep, and one-armed living that reduce independence.
• Joint and overall health: Earlier surgery can help avoid deconditioning from prolonged immobility (muscle loss, posture/balance issues, cardiovascular fitness).
• Surgical complexity: Progressive stiffness, deformity, or bone loss can make later surgery longer and more complex, with tougher rehab.
• Mental load: Shortens time living with uncertainty, restricted activities, and ongoing night pain.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that shoulder replacement is needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private shoulder replacement.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Surgery takes about 1.5–3 hours (depends on your anatomy and whether it’s anatomic or reverse). Expect most of the day for check-in, anesthesia, and recovery before heading home or to a ward.

Basic steps:

• Check-in and plan
  • Meet the team, review imaging, confirm anatomic vs reverse, and the surgeon marks the shoulder.
• Anesthesia
  • General anesthesia to sleep; many people also get a nerve block to numb the arm afterward.
• Position and prep
  • You’re positioned safely. Skin is cleaned and covered with sterile drapes.
• Exposure
  • An incision is made; muscles are gently moved aside to reach the joint while protecting nerves and vessels.
• Bone preparation
  • The damaged ball (humeral head) is reshaped/cut. The socket (glenoid) surface is prepared.
• Trial parts and alignment
  • Temporary pieces are placed to check size, alignment, and motion; adjustments are made for stability and smooth movement.
• Final implants
  • Anatomic: metal ball + stem on the arm side, plastic liner on the socket.
  • Reverse: ball on the socket side, cup/liner on the arm side.
• Final check and closure
  • The surgeon tests range and stability, closes the layers, and applies a dressing and sling.
• Recovery room
  • You wake up, get simple instructions, and move to recovery.

Your exact plan will come from your surgeon and can vary. Take rehab seriously—the more consistent you are, the better.

What to expect after shoulder replacement

Week 1

• Reality check: pain, swelling, stiffness, tough sleep. Not fun.
• Goals: manage pain/swelling, protect the new joint, start safe motion.
• Activities:
  
  • sling full-time (as told)
  • ice/elevate
  • keep incision clean/dry
  • move fingers/wrist/elbow, gentle pendulums if cleared
  • a helper is great for shirts, meals, and meds

Weeks 2–4

• Still annoying but improving.
• Goals: increase comfortable range of motion (ROM) within limits; keep the shoulder safe.
• Activities:
  
  • regular physio
  • passive to assisted ROM (forward lift and outward rotation to set limits)
  • scapular posture work
  • light daily tasks at waist level while wearing the sling as directed

Weeks 5–12

• The work phase.
• Goals: near-full ROM by ~8–10 weeks (per your protocol); begin strength and control.
• Activities:
  
  • wean from sling when cleared
  • start gentle rotator cuff and shoulder-blade strengthening with light bands
  • practice everyday use below shoulder height
  • steady walking and general fitness

Weeks 13–52

• Building real-world function.
• Goals: full or near-full motion, strength, and endurance; return to most daily activities.
• Activities:
  
  • progressive resistance, posture/core training, coordination drills
  • low-impact sports like cycling, swimming, or golf if approved
  • heavier jobs/hobbies take longer to return to—follow your surgeon/physio's guidance

Red flags anytime

• Fever, increasing redness/drainage, calf pain/swelling, chest pain/shortness of breath, new numbness/weakness, or a sudden “shift” feeling—contact your care team.

Shoulder replacement is a major surgery. Private clinics in Canada typically charge $20,000 to $28,000.

In the United States, the average cost is between CA$19,200 to $71,100.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, scope of potential treatments, complexity of the issue, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies, equipment)
• Shoulder replacement implant hardware (standard components)
  
• Immediate post‑op recovery and routine early follow‑ups
• Basic post‑op sling/brace and standard dressings (varies)

What’s usually not included

• Pre-op imaging (X‑rays, MRI/CT), lab work, and extra specialist consults
• Travel and accommodation (if surgery is out‑of‑province/state)
• Long‑term physiotherapy after the initial session(s)
• Prescription medications after discharge
• Specialized or custom implants beyond the standard bundle

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your shoulder replacement consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  
  • Ask how many shoulder arthroplasties they perform per year, and the mix: anatomic vs reverse, primary vs revision, complex deformity, and fracture conversions.‍
• Credentials and training‍
  
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopaedic surgeons with fellowship training training in shoulder/elbow or upper-extremity arthroplasty.‍
• Safety‍
  
  • Request last 12–24 month data: infection rate, dislocation/instability (especially for reverse), nerve injury, DVT/PE, periprosthetic fracture, readmissions, and revision rate.
  • Ask for patient-reported outcomes (ASES/Constant/QuickDASH), pain reduction, ROM gains, and return-to-function timelines

• Technique and anesthesia‍
  
  • ‍Anatomic vs reverse: determine which is recommended for you and why (rotator cuff status, glenoid wear, instability).
  • Implant choices: glenoid options (augmented/baseplate), stemmed vs stemless humeral components, cemented vs cementless fixation, polyethylene/metal choices.
  • Strategy for glenoid deformity, bone loss, and soft-tissue balancing; plan if subscapularis is compromised.‍
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Access to shoulder-savvy physiotherapy, clear phased protocol, and communication with your local therapist if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your shoulder replacement consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many anatomic and reverse shoulder replacements do you perform yearly? What are your infection, dislocation/instability, nerve injury, and 12–24 month revision/readmission rates?
• Do you recommend anatomic or reverse for me—and why? What are the trade-offs (ROM, strength, restrictions)?
• Which implant system and components would you use (glenoid type/augmentation, stemless vs stemmed, cemented vs press-fit)? What evidence supports their longevity in cases like mine?
• How will you address my glenoid wear or bone loss? Will you use 3D CT planning, PSI, or navigation?
• What anesthesia do you recommend (interscalene block + sedation vs general) and your multimodal pain-control plan?

Setting and discharge

• Is this same-day or overnight? What criteria determine an inpatient stay?
• Do you have a hospital transfer agreement for emergencies?

Recovery and aftercare

• Is this same-day or overnight? What criteria determine an inpatient stay?
• Do you have a hospital transfer agreement for emergencies?
• Timeline to: sling wean, active motion, light strengthening, driving, return to desk vs manual work, golf/swimming.
• Early movement precautions (e.g., subscapularis protection after anatomic; extension/internal rotation limits after reverse) and for how long?
• What are the red flags to call/ER (i.e. fever, drainage, escalating pain/swelling, calf pain, shortness of breath, new numbness/weakness)?
• Who is my post-op contact (direct phone/email)? Typical response time? How many follow-ups are included and when?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, anesthesiologist, facility fees, implant components, nerve block, in-house meds, sling, imaging review, scheduled follow-ups)?
• What could add cost (custom/augmented glenoids, navigation/PSI, longer OR time, unexpected imaging, extra nights, blood transfusion, complications/re-operations)?
• If intra-op findings change the plan (e.g., convert anatomic to reverse), how are consent and pricing handled?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow-ups can be virtual? Will I receive the operative note, implant labels, and a detailed rehab plan for my local care team?