For hip replacement, I take "minimally invasive" to mean the anterior approach - a five inch incision made on the front side of the hip. No muscles are cut so recovery is quicker and less painful. The other procedures use posterior or lateral incisions, and these require that gluteus muscles be cut to reach the hip joint.

Anterior requires more skill by the surgeon. But hip replacement has a much shorter recovery period than knee and shoulder.

As for the knees, I had both done, 4 months apart, in 2022 when I was 67. I'm very fit and the recovery went well. I strengthened leg muscles pre-op and followed the rehab exercises diligently for 2 months post-op. The first two weeks are rough, but everyday the pain gets better.

Getting rid of that pain and swelling in my knees was life changing. My knees have never felt better.

Joe