A system and method for aligning a patient implant are disclosed. The system comprises: a patient reference imaging apparatus, such as a camera, for imaging a surgical site； a patient implant to be implanted； and an display apparatus, such as a computer, for displaying a virtual model of the implant and overlaying it over the surgical site. This allows the surgeon to align the actual implant with the model implant. The system may further comprise at least one indicative marker that is detectable by the imaging apparatus, and which is inserted into the operative area to act as a reference point. The desired alignment of the patient implant can be based on predetermined alignment data S1300 and the surgical site can be imaged to create patient-specific implant reference data S1400. A virtual overlay of the digital implant model can then be created based on this data S1500.
