Your Surgery Is Booked — Now What?
You have surgery next month and your surgeon gave you a discharge instruction sheet.
It mentions crutches, a wheelchair, cold therapy, and other equipment you'll need at home.
But which do you actually rent, which do you buy, and how do you time it all?
The wrong bundle means either wasted money or missing equipment during critical recovery.
This guide covers 6 common surgery types and the exact rental bundle for each.
Read it before your pre-op appointment so you can plan ahead.
Why Rent Instead of Buy?
Renting makes sense when:
- Recovery period is 2-12 weeks with specific equipment.
- Equipment is not needed long-term after recovery.
- Storage space at home is limited.
- Insurance covers rental but not purchase.
- Testing which equipment works before deciding to buy.
Buying makes sense when:
- Chronic conditions require permanent equipment use.
- Multiple family members will use the equipment over years.
- Equipment is very low cost (crutches often cheaper to buy).
- Insurance covers purchase but not extended rental.
For most post-surgery patients, renting saves 60-80% versus buying for the same recovery period.
The Post-Surgery Rental Rules
Rule 1: Book 5 Days Before Pickup
- Yaletown accepts rental bookings up to 5 days before your rental start date.
- Book right after your surgery date is confirmed.
- Emergency same-day pickup often works — call to check availability.
Rule 2: Pick Weekly or Monthly
- Weekly — recoveries under 4 weeks total duration.
- Monthly — recoveries 4 weeks or longer for better rates.
- Extensions are simple with a phone call before end date.
Rule 3: Bring the Right Documents
- Valid government-issued photo ID.
- Credit or debit card for the security deposit.
- Physician's prescription if you plan to claim insurance.
Rule 4: Return During Business Hours
- Return the equipment on your agreed end date.
- Extensions available with advance notice.
- Deposit refunds process after return inspection.
Bundle 1: Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
Rent this bundle:
- Transport chair or wheelchair — first 2-4 weeks for longer trips.
- Rollator — weeks 2-6 for progressing to walking with support.
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Knee (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 4-6 weeks for swelling control.
- Crutches — weeks 4-8 as strength returns to the leg.
Recommended rental period:
- Weekly rental for 2-4 weeks, then monthly if needed.
- Cryo cuff most patients rent for 4-6 weeks total.
- Wheelchair for 2-4 weeks, transitioning to rollator afterward.
Timing tips:
- Pick up equipment 2-3 days before your surgery date.
- Have everything set up at home before hospital discharge.
- Return items as your recovery progresses to save costs.
Bundle 2: Total Hip Replacement (THR)
Rent this bundle:
- Transport chair or wheelchair — first 2-3 weeks for outings.
- Rollator — weeks 1-6 for daily walking with support.
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Back/Hip/Rib (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 4 weeks for hip swelling.
- Bed rail — first 4 weeks for safer bed transfers.
Recommended rental period:
- Wheelchair for 2-3 weeks weekly.
- Rollator for 6-8 weeks (monthly rental).
- Cryo cuff for 4 weeks weekly.
- Bed rail for 4-6 weeks (monthly rental).
Timing tips:
- Book everything for pickup 2 days before surgery.
- Have the bed rail installed before your hospital discharge.
- Follow your surgeon's hip precautions strictly during recovery.
Bundle 3: ACL Reconstruction
Rent this bundle:
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Knee (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 6-8 weeks for peak swelling.
- Crutches — first 4-6 weeks for non-weight-bearing period.
Buy this (not rented):
- Knee brace — often prescribed for 6+ weeks, sometimes reused.
- Ice packs and sleeves — for daily home use.
Recommended rental period:
- Cryo cuff monthly rental for 6-8 weeks total.
- Crutches monthly rental for 4-6 weeks.
Timing tips:
- Cryo cuff is the most important post-op purchase or rental.
- Practice using crutches before surgery to learn the technique.
- Have someone drive you home from Yaletown after pickup.
Bundle 4: Foot or Ankle Surgery
Rent this bundle:
- Knee walker (knee scooter) — 4-8 weeks depending on surgery.
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Ankle (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 4-6 weeks.
- Crutches — backup for stairs, transfers, or knee walker fatigue.
- Wheelchair — first 1-2 weeks if longer distances needed.
Choose your knee walker:
- Standard knee walker — small Vancouver apartment, indoor use, short outings.
- All-terrain knee walker — Vancouver seawall, outdoor recovery, rough sidewalks.
Recommended rental period:
- Knee walker for 4-8 weeks (monthly rental typically).
- Cryo cuff for 4-6 weeks (monthly rental).
- Wheelchair for 1-2 weeks (weekly rental).
Timing tips:
- Book knee walker as soon as surgery date confirms.
- Test the knee walker in the store before surgery day.
- Both knee walkers fold for car transport to and from surgery.
Bundle 5: Shoulder Surgery (Rotator Cuff, Total Shoulder Replacement)
Rent this bundle:
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Shoulder (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 4-6 weeks for swelling and pain.
Buy this (not rented):
- Shoulder sling — often included with your surgery kit or prescribed separately.
- Ice packs — for supplemental icing beyond cryo cuff sessions.
Recommended rental period:
- Cryo cuff monthly rental for 4-6 weeks.
- Some patients need 8-12 weeks for major reconstructions.
Timing tips:
- Have someone else set up the cryo cuff — one arm limitation.
- Practice filling and connecting the unit before surgery.
- Sleep in a recliner if getting in and out of bed is difficult.
Bundle 6: Spine Surgery (Discectomy, Fusion, Laminectomy)
Rent this bundle:
- Hospital bed — first 4-8 weeks for head-of-bed elevation and safe transfers.
- Rollator — weeks 1-8 for balance support during walking.
- Wheelchair or transport chair — first 2-3 weeks for longer trips.
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Back/Hip/Rib (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — first 4 weeks for lumbar swelling.
- Trapeze bar — first 4-6 weeks for safer bed transfers.
Recommended rental period:
- Hospital bed — monthly only — 1-3 months typically.
- Cryo cuff — 4 weeks (monthly rental).
- Rollator — 4-8 weeks (monthly rental).
Timing tips:
- Hospital bed rentals include optional paid delivery and installation.
- Home setup complete before hospital discharge is critical.
- Bed rail and trapeze bar assist with hip precautions during transfers.
Bundle 7: General Foot Surgery (Bunion, Toe Surgery)
Rent this bundle:
- Knee walker (knee scooter) — 2-4 weeks for non-weight-bearing period.
- Cryo Cuff Therapy Ankle (cuff) + Aircast Gravity Unit (cooler) — 2-3 weeks for early swelling.
Buy this (not rented):
- Post-op shoe — often provided by your surgeon.
- Ice packs — for supplemental icing.
Recommended rental period:
- Knee walker weekly rental for 2-4 weeks.
- Cryo cuff weekly rental for 2-3 weeks.
How to Time Your Rental Bundle
2-3 Weeks Before Surgery:
- Confirm your surgery date and discuss recovery equipment with your surgeon.
- Visit Yaletown to discuss which equipment you'll need.
- Practice using demo equipment (crutches, knee walker, wheelchair) in the store.
5-7 Days Before Surgery:
- Book all rental equipment during our 5-day booking window.
- Confirm pickup date 1-2 days before surgery.
- Arrange transportation from Yaletown to your home.
1-2 Days Before Surgery:
- Pick up all equipment at Yaletown.
- Set up hospital bed at home if renting one.
- Test cryo cuff assembly with cool water before use.
Day of Surgery:
- Everything ready at home before hospital discharge.
- Follow your surgeon's post-op instructions immediately.
- Ice with cryo cuff during first few hours home.
Week 1-2 After Surgery:
- Use all equipment as prescribed.
- Track how quickly your recovery progresses.
- Contact Yaletown to extend rentals if recovery is slower.
Week 3+ After Surgery:
- Return equipment as you no longer need it.
- Continue longer-term rentals through recovery.
- Progress to less equipment as strength returns.
What's NOT Rented — Buy These Instead
Some post-surgery items are only available for sale at Yaletown, not rental.
Buy at Yaletown (not rental):
- Bathroom safety products — grab bars, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, transfer benches, commodes.
- Compression socks — Sigvaris, Medi, CEP for varicose vein prevention and DVT.
- Orthopedic braces — knee braces, ankle braces, wrist supports, back belts.
- Wound care — Tegaderm, Mepitel, gauze, tape, sterile saline.
- Superfeet insoles — for shoe support during recovery.
- Nutrition supplements — if part of your recovery plan.
- Personal care — moisturizers, antiseptic wipes, personal hygiene items.
Why these are sales only:
- Personal use items (compression socks, wound dressings) cannot be resold as rentals.
- Bathroom safety products install permanently in your home for long-term use.
- Braces are custom-fit and worn against skin — hygiene concerns.
Common Questions
Will BC extended health insurance cover post-surgery rentals?
Many plans cover rentals with a physician's written prescription documenting need.
Can I extend my rental if recovery takes longer?
Yes — contact Yaletown before the rental end date to extend the period.
Can I switch equipment types during my rental?
Yes — return the current item and rent a different model during the same visit.
How far in advance should I book?
Book within our 5-day window before your rental start date.
Can my caregiver pick up equipment for me?
Yes — caregivers can pick up rentals with your ID and payment information.
Do you deliver rental equipment?
We now offer local delivery — including for rentals — in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, New Westminster and West Vancouver. Wheelchairs, walkers, knee scooters, mobility scooters, hospital beds and mattresses can be delivered to your door, with setup available for larger equipment.
How do I clean the equipment during my rental?
Wipe surfaces with disinfectant wipes daily — every rental is sanitized before pickup.
Can I keep the cryo cuff pad if I want to buy it?
Cryo cuff pads are individual body-part attachments available for purchase separately.
What if the equipment doesn't fit me at pickup?
Our staff adjusts fit during the pickup visit — no equipment leaves without proper fitting.
Do I need a prescription to rent equipment?
No — Yaletown rents without prescription, but some insurance plans require one for claims.
Book Your Post-Surgery Rental Today
Call (236) 466-2141 or visit 1255 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver, BC.