Instruments and a method for preparing the articular surface of the patella to receive a patellar implant are utilized without everting the patella. A medial or lateral parapatellar incision and an anterior midline incision are made adjacent the patella. The patella is clamped with a patella clamp, a hole is drilled from the anterior surface of the patella. A reamer is inserted through the medial or lateral parapatellar incision and is then attached to the end of a drive shaft that extends outwardly beyond the articular surface of the patella. The posterior facing cutting surface of the reamer device is then placed in contact with the articular surface. The drive shaft is then rotated and moved anteriorly causing the cutting surface of the reamer device to remove a desired amount of patellar cartilage and bone to accommodate a patellar component. The patellar component is secured into place by aligning a central peg protruding from the top surface of the patellar component with the previously drilled hole in the patellar remnant.