Private Hernia Ultrasound Scan in London

A private hernia ultrasound at London Private Ultrasound costs £219 for one side or site, £399 for two sites and £499 for three sites, all-inclusive. That covers the scan, your findings explained on the day and a written report with images within 24 hours.

Prices elsewhere in London vary with the clinic and who performs the scan, and typically fall somewhere between about £150 and £300 for a single site. If you also want a GP appointment and blood tests, the Hernia Gold Health Package is £425.

London Private Ultrasound is a diagnostic clinic, so we do not perform hernia repairs. Private hernia surgery prices vary widely with the type of repair, the surgeon, the hospital and the anaesthetic, and commonly run to several thousand pounds. Ask the surgeon for a written quote that covers the surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees.

A scan report helps that conversation. It documents the type, size and contents of the hernia and whether it reduces, so a surgeon can advise whether you need an operation or can safely watch it. Many small hernias are monitored without surgery.

Yes. Ultrasound is a first-line test for hernias because a hernia is a defect that shows itself under pressure. The scan looks at the area while you lie at rest, while you cough or strain, and while you stand, so a hernia that hides when you are flat can be seen as it appears.

It can show the location, size, contents and behaviour of the hernia, and whether it goes back in. It can also show that a lump is something else, such as a lymph node, lipoma or cyst.

Private abdominal ultrasound prices in the UK depend on the clinic and on who performs the scan. In London a standard abdominal scan typically costs around £150 to £260. These figures are approximate and change often.

At London Private Ultrasound the abdominal ultrasound, which checks the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and aorta, is £219. A hernia ultrasound is a different, targeted scan of the abdominal wall, also £219 for one site. Choose the abdominal scan if your symptoms are pain, bloating or abnormal blood tests rather than a lump or bulge.

The scan examines the area while the pressure inside your abdomen changes, which is why it is sometimes called a dynamic ultrasound. The sonographer scans you lying down, then asks you to cough or bear down (a Valsalva manoeuvre), and repeats the scan standing. Gravity and pressure are often what make an intermittent hernia appear.

That is why a still picture is not enough. The scan documents what happens at rest and under strain, which is what a surgeon needs to know. It is painless, although straining over a tender area can feel odd.

The scan is tailored to where your lump or symptoms are. It can assess inguinal, femoral, umbilical, epigastric, incisional and spigelian hernias, and separation of the abdominal muscles (rectus divarication). An incisional hernia is one that forms at or near an earlier surgical scar.

For separation of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy or surgery, see our abdominal wall (diastasis recti) ultrasound.

Often, yes. Ultrasound can usually show whether the contents of a hernia are fat or bowel, how large the defect is and whether the contents go back in when you lie down. The position of an inguinal hernia relative to the nearby blood vessels can help suggest whether it is direct or indirect, although this is not always possible with a small or complicated hernia.

The written report states what was seen, so your GP or surgeon does not need to repeat the imaging.

It can, but scanning at rest, on coughing or straining, and standing makes it much less likely. A very small or intermittent hernia may not protrude on the day, and a hernia deep in the abdomen can be harder to see. Scanning at rest, on coughing or straining, and standing gives the best chance of showing it.

If nothing appears under full provocation, that is a documented result, and the same appointment checks for other causes of a lump. If symptoms continue, your report may suggest a follow-up scan, a GP examination or another test.

CT can show a hernia, particularly a complex hernia, or when the bowel is obstructed. Ultrasound is usually the first test for a lump or bulge because it is quick, uses no radiation, and can be done while you cough or stand, which CT cannot easily do.

CT is not part of this service. If your sonographer thinks CT or MRI would answer your question better, the report will say so and your GP or surgeon can arrange it.

Not with this scan. A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest. It is assessed with tests such as an endoscopy, a barium swallow or CT, arranged through your GP or a gastroenterologist.

Our hernia ultrasound looks at the abdominal wall, for example inguinal, femoral, umbilical, epigastric and incisional hernias. If you have heartburn or reflux, a private GP consultation is the right first step.

The classic sign is a lump or bulge that is more noticeable when you stand, cough, lift or strain and may disappear when you lie down. Other signs are a dragging or aching feeling, pressure, or pain when you cough or bend. A simple check is to stand, cough, and feel the area, but only a scan or an examination can confirm it.

Hernias occur in women too. Femoral hernias in particular are more common in women and can be small, causing pain without an obvious lump, so a scan can be useful when the cause is unclear.

There is no preparation and no fasting. Wear comfortable clothing with easy access to the area, be ready to point to where the lump or discomfort is, and bring details of any previous surgery or scans.

The scan usually takes 15 to 20 minutes, longer if several sites are scanned. Your findings are explained during and after the scan, and a written report with images follows within 24 hours.

No referral is needed. You can book online, by phone on 020 7101 3377 or by WhatsApp, subject to availability.

London Private Ultrasound has two clinics: 27 Welbeck Street, W1G 8EN, in the Harley Street Medical District, and 54 to 56 Victoria Street, St Albans, AL1 3HZ. Both offer the hernia ultrasound seven days a week, 9am to 7pm.

No. Many small, easily reducible hernias that cause few symptoms are monitored safely for years. What changes the advice is the size, symptoms, contents and whether the hernia goes back in, which is exactly what the scan records.

Your report will suggest the next step, such as monitoring, a GP review or a surgical opinion. A private GP consultation can examine you, review your scan and refer you on to a surgeon or specialist where appropriate.

The Hernia Gold Health Package (£425) combines a targeted hernia ultrasound, a GP consultation and a broad blood test panel, including a full blood count, kidney and liver function, and inflammation markers. The GP appointment takes place on the first Friday after your test day. It suits someone who wants a coordinated plan, or who is thinking about surgery. A Silver option (£255) is also available in the booking calendar.

A groin ultrasound (£399) is a wider scan for a lump or pain that may not be a hernia, because it also assesses lymph nodes, muscles, tendons and soft tissues. Choose it if your main problem is groin pain or a groin injury.

Go to A&E now, rather than booking a scan, if a hernia lump becomes hard, very painful and cannot be pushed back, especially with vomiting, abdominal swelling, fever, a lump that turns red or dark, or being unable to pass stool or wind. These are signs of strangulation, a surgical emergency.

A lump that is uncomfortable but goes back in when you lie down can be assessed with a routine scan, subject to availability.