Paulina Porizkova Just Shared Intense Photos Of Her New Surgical Scars On IG
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Over the past few years, supermodel Paulina Porizkova has opened up on Instagram about the trouble she’s had with hip pain. Now, she’s sharing news about her hip replacement surgery, which she is undergoing due to her congenital hip dysplasia.
The 58-year-old shared the news in a post, where she juxtaposed a photo of herself posing on the beach in a swimsuit with a photo in a hospital bed.
“Long overdue now—hip replacement,” she wrote in the caption. “It turns out I was born with congenital hip dysplasia—and because of that, the cartilage in my hips is worn out. And I don’t mean worn out as in ‘worn down.’ No. There is none left.”
Paulina said she visited three doctors who “recoiled” when they saw her X-rays. “Well, it’s bone on bone,” they exclaimed. “At least we know you’re good with pain tolerance!”
Paulina shared that the situation is “so bad, in fact, that doing one hip at the time is pointless.” So, she’s having surgery and will be laid up to rest for a bit. “I’m so grateful this is a fixable problem,” she added.
Paulina's news raises some questions about her surgery and recovery, as well as her hip dysplasia. Here’s what you need to know.
She underwent a double hip replacement in January.
Paulina underwent the procedures to help with her pain from hip dysplasia in January, and she took her IG followers along for the ride. The 58-year-old model struck a pose or two in her hospital gown before the surgery at NYU Langone. The model was up and walking just two hours after the surgery.
“Thank you all so much for the good vibes and wishes! They seem to be working- this is day 4 post op- and I’m walking with no assistance, even up and down the stairs in my apartment. In fact, even with the post-op pain, it’s less painful to walk,” she shared.
Paulina praised her doctor, Roy Davidovitch, who specialized in anterior hip replacements. “Within five minutes, I knew I had found the right doctor for me... he made no easy promises, he spent plenty of time on giving me all the information I needed, and got my sense of humor,” she added on IG.
Paulina continued to update fans as she recovered with a book on the couch. This was her first major surgery, she said, so the recovery process is new to her.
“In one way, recovery after surgery was so much easier than I thought, and on the other - it turns out it’s much harder too. Isn’t that just …life," she wrote. "The easier bit was directly after surgery. I had been in pain for so long- I was afraid of the simple act of standing up and walking. That - turned out to be so much less painful than I could ever had anticipated!”
Paulina said she was feeling so good she even forgot she was in recovery, squatting down at one point to pick something up. “And boom! Fireworks went off in my left hip; a virtual cavalcade of popping and grinding and dislocating…I managed to stand up while my hips protested in no uncertain terms.”
Paulina reached out to her doctors, who said while it was risky, or in Paulina’s words “dumb-ass move,” she would be okay. Paulina said she’s been reminded that there is no winning at physical therapy. And she’s back on the couch with ice and a snoring pup, and a good book.
She shared her two large scars on Instagram.
In a post on February 1, Paulina showed off her battle scars on her hips as she pulled her robe back.
“Going into this surgery, I couldn’t help but think about scars. The ones I have, I embrace. But I have no desire to make new ones,” she wrote on IG. “On our vacation, I kept saying goodbye to the smooth skin across my hip bones, even as I felt guilty for being vain.”
Now, about 7 days post-op, Paulina said she’s finding a relationship of curiosity with her scars.
“I know the incisions will soon become a part of me. They will be a reminder of old pain and new victories. They will join all of the other inscriptions on my body and mind - both visible and invisible - all of which, ultimately, will be the glue that holds me together, a netting of past fractures which have healed stronger. They will become a part of what constitutes the map of me. And like all other scars on my outside and inside, I will accept them. I will be proud of them,” Paulina reflected in another post.
What is hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a condition that occurs when the bones in your hip joint don't fit together correctly, according to the Cleveland Clinic. While it’s more commonly diagnosed in young children, older children and adults can develop the condition.
Most people with hip dysplasia are born with the condition, which means that diagnoses are common in babies. If it's caught and treated before the baby is six months old, there are often no long-term health impacts, the Cleveland Clinic explains. However, sometimes milder cases aren't recognized until a child is older.
Women and young girls are two to four times more likely to have hip dysplasia, per Boston Children's Hospital.
Are there different types of hip dysplasia?
The term “hip dysplasia” generally refers to all forms of the condition. However, doctors often call it "developmental dysplasia of the hip" in babies, and "acetabular dysplasia" in adolescents and young adults, Boston Children's Hospital says.
Is it genetic?
There are several elements that can lead to hip dysplasia, and genetics is one factor. The condition can also be caused by being born in the breech position (feet first) and, in babies, it can be caused by being swaddled with the hips and knees in a straight position, the Mayo Clinic says.
It can also develop during pregnancy if the baby’s position puts pressure on the hips, the Cleveland Clinic says.
What are the signs of hip dysplasia?
These are the biggest signs of hip dysplasia in adults, per the Cleveland Clinic:
Hip pain, usually in the front of your groin
Feeling like your hip is loose or unstable
Limping when you walk or move
Having legs that are different lengths
How common is it?
Hip dysplasia occurs in every one in 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year, the Cleveland Clinic says. Up to 5.2 percent of adults may have it, according to one study.
What is the treatment?
Treatment for hip dysplasia can involve physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip joint as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the Cleveland Clinic says. In more severe cases, surgery (like the one Paulina is undergoing) may be needed.
During surgery, doctors can correct the hip socket position, or they can do a full hip replacement for older folks who have severe damage to their hips, per the Mayo Clinic.
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