What luxating patella surgery costs in Sydney

EMReviewed by Eben Martin, Veterinary Surgeon · Updated August 2026

Sydney's specialist tier publishes fixed patella pricing around $5,050, and referral quotes above that are common for high grade or combined procedures. Experienced general practices sit lower; the grade of the knee should drive which tier you choose.

The price tiers that apply in Sydney

OptionTypical Australian rangeNotes
General practice package$3,000 to $4,000Some clinics bundle bloods, overnight stay and rechecks
Specialist surgeon$4,500 to $6,000One Sydney specialist centre publishes $5,050 fixed
Both knees or high grade$6,000 and upStaged operations are the norm

Nationally, patella surgery commonly costs $3,000 to $6,000 per knee, with general practice packages at the bottom of the range and specialist surgeons at the top.

The Sydney market

Sydney has the deepest specialist bench in the country: multiple referral hospitals, published fixed price lists at some specialist centres, and experienced general practices that do orthopaedics with surgery guarantees. The spread between a GP quote and a referral hospital quote is wide, and both ends are legitimate for the right case.

Worth travelling?

Sydney owners rarely need to travel, but the fixed price surgical clinics in Melbourne and high volume operators in Brisbane can still undercut a Sydney referral quote by thousands on a straightforward case.

Holding a Sydney quote right now?

Have the surgeon read the case and the quote before you book. From $250.

Ask about your quote

Common questions

Should a grade 2 knee in Sydney get a GP or specialist quote?

Get both if you can. Grade 2 is judgement territory: an experienced GP who does patellas regularly is a legitimate choice, while grade 3 and 4 knees, revisions and combined cruciate cases belong with the specialist tier. The x-rays and the examination decide it, which is exactly what an independent opinion can referee.

Both knees are affected. Does the price double?

Broadly yes, staged a few months apart, though some clinics discount the second knee. Worth asking directly, and worth an independent look at whether the second knee genuinely needs surgery at all before you commit to it.

Other cities

Melbourne · Brisbane · Perth · Adelaide · Canberra · Gold Coast · Hobart · Australia wide guide

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