Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underwent surgery this Friday at a private hospital in Brazil, where a hip replacement was performed to address problems in the head of the femur. Doctors determined the cause to be osteoarthritis, a condition that had caused persistent pain for some time.
The planned procedure began at noon and lasted roughly four hours. The head of the medical team, Dr. Roberto Kalil Filho, explained that the operation proceeded without complications and that Lula was awake, conversing, and in good condition shortly after the surgery.
Officials stated the operation was conducted under general anesthesia, a standard approach for this type of hip surgery. Lula remained in the intensive care unit as the immediate post operative period progressed and was expected to move to a regular hospital room that evening.
During the same session, the medical team also carried out blepharoplasty on the eyelids of both eyes, a procedure to remove excess skin for a refreshed appearance. The doctors described this as a straightforward intervention, which contributed to a longer than usual surgical time.
The hip procedure concluded a little over an hour after it began, with the eyelid correction starting later in the afternoon and lasting about sixty minutes, according to the medical team. The presidency had not previously confirmed that plastic surgery would be performed, given the late planning around this additional step.
Dr. Kalil Filho noted that the government had not released information about the eyelid surgery earlier because it had not been fully confirmed at that time. Lula, who will turn 78 in October, is entering his third term as president and is expected to remain hospitalized until early next week before being discharged, continuing recovery at the official residence Alvorada Palace. The doctors indicated that since the president retains leg strength, they would encourage walking as soon as possible, albeit with the help of a walker in the initial days.
For months, Lula had been dealing with pain that limited movement and affected morale. The diagnosis of osteoarthritis affected the right femoral head, impacting the cartilage that cushions the joints. This led to the decision to replace the hip with a titanium prosthesis, a total hip arthroplasty performed by a team of some twenty professionals who had arrived in the country from Sao Paulo to oversee the intervention.
recovery process
According to the presidency, the recovery period is expected to span about three to four weeks, during which Lula will be able to function in a normal capacity for most daily activities and will not need to hand over duties to the vice president. Some movement restrictions will be in place during the initial days, with personal medical guidance to assist in the healing process.
Lula explained to the press that the operation was chosen after postponing it for several weeks because of a demanding schedule of international commitments. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing health to end the ongoing pain and restore full mobility. After recovery, Lula plans to resume his international agenda, including a visit scheduled for early November to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.