The Art of Hip Replacement: When, Why, and How with Dr. Juan C. Suarez

If you're over 50 and you've had an x-ray, chances are someone has pointed to it and said the words "bone on bone." But does that picture on the screen actually tell the whole story? Dr. Juan C. Suarez is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee joint replacement at Baptist Hospital in Miami — and, as host Dr. Brent Anderson can personally attest, he's also the surgeon who replaced both of Dr. Brent's hips with outstanding results. In this episode, Dr. Brent and Dr. Suarez take you inside the entire joint replacement journey: what actually causes hip degeneration, why x-rays don't always predict when surgery is needed, and how the threshold for replacement has shifted with better implants and improved techniques. They dive into the difference between anterior and posterior surgical approaches, what robotics actually does (and doesn't do) in the operating room, and what recovery really looks like in the weeks after surgery. Along the way, they bust some persistent myths — including the eye-opening statistic that 80% of hip arthroscopies performed after age 50 lead to a full hip replacement within two years. IN THIS EPISODE: Why hip cartilage degenerates — from wear and tear to trauma to autoimmune disease The 80% statistic: why hip arthroscopy after 50 is rarely the right answer How surgeons determine when a replacement is truly indicated — and when it's not Anterior vs. posterior approach: why over 60% of surgeons are now choosing anterior What robotics contributes to precision in hip replacement (and what it doesn't do) Hardware choices: ceramic heads, polyethylene liners, and why metal-on-metal was abandoned Post-op recovery: why going slow early leads to better outcomes RESOURCES MENTIONED: Baptist Hospital Miami / Dr. Suarez's practice: baptisthealth.net American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons: aahks.org Arthroplasty Today (journal where Dr. Suarez serves on editorial board) The Lancet — cited the hip replacement as "operation of the century" Journavx (suzetrigine) — new non-opioid FDA-approved pain medication discussed in episode Use the code DRBRENT to save 10% off any Polestar Pilates Teacher Trainings sold on polestarpilates.com. Applies only to Pay in Full.