Joint replacement surgery can have excellent clinical results. However, as the number of patients undergoing surgery increases, the number of failed joint replacements is set to rise. One of the greatest challenges for the revision surgeon is the restoration of bone stock. This article focuses upon revision hip surgery, with particular reference to the scope of the problem; historical and current solutions to bone loss in the femur and acetabulum; the clinical results following revision surgery; and the basic science behind impaction bone grafting, before ending with possible future directions for improving the restoration of bone stock.