Discover an advanced, muscle-sparing approach to hip replacement with a discreet incision, performed by a surgeon specializing in innovative hip replacement techniques.
Dr. Farzin Kabaei is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in joint reconstruction at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who has performed more than 2,000 hip replacements in Los Angeles. Patients travel from across California and the country for his bikini incision approach, and his team can verify your PPO benefits before you plan your trip.
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Virtual consultations are available for qualified out-of-state patients..
We Work With All PPO Insurance Plans
Dr. Kabaei’s team works with patients covered by all PPO insurance plans. Coverage and benefits vary based on your specific policy, medical necessity, and plan requirements. Our team will review your insurance benefits and help determine your available coverage options.
Insurance coverage is subject to individual plan benefits, medical necessity, and applicable authorization requirements.
Check Your PPO Benefits for Hip Replacement
Share a few details below and our insurance team will review your benefits and follow up with your next steps. Verification is complimentary..
Dr. Kabaei Explains Bikini Incision Hip Replacement
In this short video, Dr. Kabaei walks through how the bikini incision works, who tends to be a good candidate, and what recovery typically looks like.
How Bikini Incision Hip Replacement Works
The bikini incision is a refinement of the direct anterior approach. Dr. Kabaei replaces the hip through a natural window at the front of the joint, gently moving muscles aside rather than cutting through them, and places a short incision in the natural skin crease near the groin. Every case starts with a 3D CT scan and robotic-assisted planning, so implant size, alignment, and leg length are mapped before surgery begins.
- Muscle-Sparing Technique: Major muscles and tendons are moved aside rather than detached, which may mean less pain and a steadier early recovery.
- Discreet Incision: The incision sits within a natural skin crease and typically heals with a low-profile scar.
- Faster Return to Daily Life: Most patients walk within hours, go home the same day, and resume normal daily activities within one to two weeks.
Not every patient is a candidate for this approach. Dr. Kabaei evaluates your anatomy, bone quality, and overall health first, and if another technique is a better fit, he’ll explain why.
Hear From Dr. Kabaei's Hip Replacement Patients
5-Star Reviews From Our Hip Replacement Patients
I am very glad that I found Doctor Farzin Kabaei… I am already walking perfectly, I feel very well, everyone is very surprised how quickly the scar healed on me, the scar looks like a compact scratch, everything happened very quickly for me there was no swelling or bruising after the surgery…
I recently had the direct anterior type of hip surgery at St Johns Santa Monica Hospital conducted by Dr Kabaei, I have completely recovered with no signs of any pain… He uses the latest, cutting edge, minimally invasive technology allowing the patient to recover with speed and low pain.
Dr. Farzin is the best!!! After my hip replacement surgery I was doing great after 3 weeks!!! My therapist said you must have had the best surgeon! and I agreed!
I recently had a hip replacement performed by Dr. Kabaei, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the care I received… From the initial consultation to the post-surgery follow-ups, he was always transparent and made sure I understood every step of the process.
What Patients Say About Their Care
Dr Kabaei has incredible bedside manners and is obviously very knowledgeable. He was the only doctor to review my MRI with me and completely explain my injury and the pro’s and cons of surgery vs not surgery. Highly recommend.
Such a great dr. Takes his time and tries everything he can to not make you have surgery. If you want to see a great doctor go see him. I would only want him working on me.
Incision Placement and Scar Healing
These photos show actual patients of Dr. Kabaei at different stages of healing. Scar appearance depends on skin type, healing, and individual factors, and results vary from patient to patient.
Meet Dr. Kabaei
Dr. Kabaei earned his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UCLA, graduating magna cum laude, and his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic residency at Montefiore/Einstein Medical Center and his fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma and Joint Reconstruction at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Having undergone multiple orthopedic surgeries himself, he knows what it feels like to sit on the patient side of the conversation, and that experience shapes how he cares for every person he treats.
“Every patient I treat is seen by me personally, from the first consultation through the final follow-up. Not a resident. Not a rotating team. Me.” — Dr. Farzin Kabaei
Credentials & Affiliations
- Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
- Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society
- Affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, and DOCS Orthopedic Hospital
- Fluent in English, Farsi, and Spanish
Traveling to Los Angeles for Hip Replacement
You don’t need to live in Los Angeles to have surgery with Dr. Kabaei. Qualified out-of-state patients can start with a virtual consultation, and his team coordinates imaging review, insurance verification, and surgery timing so your trip is planned around your recovery. Learn more about traveling for surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bikini Incision Hip Replacement
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It’s a muscle-sparing version of direct anterior hip replacement performed through a short incision placed in the natural crease near the groin. Muscles are moved aside rather than cut, and the incision typically heals with a discreet scar.
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Hip replacement is commonly covered by PPO plans when it’s medically necessary, but benefits, out-of-network coverage, and prior authorization rules vary by plan. Our team will verify your benefits before surgery. Medicare patients are welcome as well. Visit our insurance page for more details.
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Many patients with hip arthritis who want a faster recovery and a less visible scar are good candidates. Dr. Kabaei reviews your imaging, anatomy, bone quality, and overall health before recommending the approach that fits you best.
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Most patients stand and walk within hours and go home the same day. Many return to normal daily activities within one to two weeks, though recovery varies with health and conditioning.
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For most patients, yes. Because the incision follows a natural skin crease, it usually heals with a low-profile scar, although healing differs from person to person.
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Yes. Patients from across the country start with a virtual consultation when appropriate, and our team helps verify PPO benefits and plan travel around your surgery and follow-up care.