Nanoknee, is it better or merely hype?

I am so curious to find this out, too! On Facebook, there is a Nanoknee and Jiffy knee (I think the same type of surgery) and most have great outcomes. From my research, they 'can' use (maybe you have to ask for it) an On-Q pump that gives numbing for up to 3 days...which is why I am researching having mine done with one of them. The surgeon I have seen (NOT Nano or Jiffy) says the nerve block is only approx 12 hours for him, and that scares the heck out of me!

My husband and I received Nano Knee replacements (12/23, 1/24, 3/24) in California. Compared to what I read about traditional recoveries, ours were faster and less painful. We were back to our functional, rather sedentary activities, by 6-7 weeks pain-free. There was more healing to do but it was gradual.

I had LTKR (left knee replaced) using nanoknee (Arroyo Grande, CA/USA) Nov, 2024, then had Mako (robotic assisted) RTKR, on Feb 17, 2025
Nanoknee:, out-of-pocket upfront cost of $8500 -was told by my primary doctor that an overweight patient in her 50s was back at work in 10 days. she claimed this was an incredible procedure much better than "regular" knee surgery. I disagree
Everything else covered by Medicare.
My experience: STILL a painful recovery, I took medications /opioids every four hours. Initial physical therapy was difficult but I did get to 90° bend (ROM) in less than three weeks. I also had to fly back east for my mom's funeral around three weeks out which I was able to do but I had to use a cane and keep ice on it all night . I would say nanoknee procedure was better than the subsequent surgery but it was not, for me , this miraculous recovery where you are back to jogging in two weeks. THE PA for the doctor that I spoke with by video telehealth said, (after I was crying in pain to her) you just had major surgery!! - it is going to take some time for your body to recover, you had bones cut. So, while I think it was a good surgery -I liked the surgeon, sorry to say it's not some miraculous thing like the new TV commercials are portraying. I think they may be exposing themselves to a lawsuit, to suggest, for instance, a firefighter went back to work "immediately" after nanoknee surgery
Now at four months post op on the left "nano" knee, it is still numb, stiff, pinging pain on occasion, not ready for hiking up a mountain just yet. The scar looks great! But I sometimes feel like a failure because I didn't have a miraculous quick recovery.
The Mako surgery -right knee, (@SCOI) was significantly more painful, at five weeks out I am just now able to space out medication's to seven hours apart but need them first thing in the morning and last thing at night -a combination of painkillers including some hydrocodone. (I use a cane for stability in case knee buckles when walking)
The Mako procedure was totally covered by Medicare
(- me: 66F in otherwise good health with zero other metabolic problems, no diabetes no heart issues whatsoever. I do have a lower pain threshold genetically, due to my fair skin, being "redhead"- the doctor acknowledged this and had experience confirming this) I work full-time and hope to get back to kayaking and hiking soon)
I came here looking to see others experience with nanoknee. I hope this helps, happy to answer any questions

So what I get from your experience is that Nanoknee was better than Mako? A friend who had traditional titanium TKR had a longer recovery and more pain than either of those from what I've heard from him.

Yes, nanoknee procedure was a LITTLE better. True I was more mobile sooner. But as I'm recovering from the right knee /Mako, the 1st (nano) knee still has issues -it still has numbness and sudden sharp pains. I hear this is very common with knee surgery recovery . Been thinking about it, it depends on how bad off the bones are to begin with and I think I had pretty arthritic joints, "bone on bone " so perhaps more bone had to be cut? it's just frustrating because it's so expensive -but I don't think it's the magical cure that they are advertising. Frankly I think it's deceptive with their advertising. It's weird that you can't find a whole lot about this procedure online in the way of other people's experience or reviews. I would be very interested to hear from other people and their experience. Thank you for asking!

I am curious how your experience was- any tingling/numbness at 2-3 months post op? I have that and a tight 'band' across top of the knee that feels odd. I did come to the table, so to speak, no pun intended, with bone on bone arthritis. But the nano procedure , altho a better experience than my recent Mako knee replacement, is no miracle- return-to- full- activity ""immediately " as their TV commercial suggests. With an $8,500 out of pocket cost? I don't get it.

My insurance does not cover Nanoknee. If I pay for it myself the cost quoted is 38K. I got a quote for Jiffy Knee for 88K.

Wooooow. Is Jiffy knee covered? Not familiar with that one
Medicare covered all but the $8.5k nano and most/all of the Mako but also just received some notice from them that they didn't cover the whole procedure so yay I get to look at it now. My tax dollars at work.

My husband has had both knees done by a jiffy knee Dr. He has Medicare and a medigap plan F that covered the surgeries 100%. The jiffy knee is covered just like a regular knee replacement.

Just updating info I found. If you have MediCare Advantage insurance most orthopedic surgeons only take PPO insurance not HMO insurance. Most HMO surgeons are not trained in minimumly invasive knee surgery and only the older traditional titanium TKR. I am leaning towards Nanoknee rather than traditional TKR but appreciate any advice before I undergo surgery.