AAA screening · triple A scan · Harley Street, Central London & St Albans · 7 days a week
An AAA scan is a painless ultrasound that measures the width of your abdominal aorta, the main artery in your tummy, to find an abdominal aortic aneurysm before it causes harm.
At London Private Ultrasound it costs £219 all-inclusive, with no GP referral needed, a verbal report on the same day and a written report within 24 hours.
Heart Health & Stroke Risk Screening (£649) adds a carotid scan, ABI and ECG, read by a cardiologist. Compare the options.
| Price | £219 all-inclusive · Heart Health & Stroke Risk Screening £649 |
|---|---|
| Also called | AAA screening · triple A scan · aorta scan · abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound · aortic surveillance scan |
| What it checks | The widest point of the abdominal aorta, any aneurysm’s shape and position, clot in its wall, and the iliac arteries |
| Preparation | No food for 4–6 hours and no fizzy drinks that day; water and your usual medication are fine |
| Results | Verbal report on the same day · written report within 24 hours |
Whatever weakens the aorta usually affects other arteries too. If one worry brought you here, the AAA scan answers it. If you are booking because of your age, blood pressure, cholesterol or smoking, the screening checks the aorta alongside the arteries to your brain and legs and your heart rhythm, in one visit.
£219
Best for a first measurement, a check on a known aneurysm or one specific worry.
£649
For risk factors such as age, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking or a family history of stroke.
Not sure which one suits you? Give us a call on 020 7101 3377 and we will talk it through. If you are a man aged 65 or over and have never been screened, NHS AAA screening is free and you can refer yourself.
Choose your scan, then a clinic and a time. Same-day and next-day slots are often available, 7 days a week.
Choose your scan
Pick a clinic and a time on the next screen. Not sure which one? Call 020 7101 3377 or message us on WhatsApp.
AAA stands for abdominal aortic aneurysm, often said as “triple A”. It is a permanent bulge in the aorta, the body’s main artery, where it runs through the tummy. It is a widening, not a blockage or a clot.
The headline is one measurement, but a full aortic assessment records more than one number.
The widest point, measured wall to wall. This number decides whether an aneurysm is there, its size group and how often it needs checking.
Most sit below the arteries to the kidneys. Its position and length matter to a surgeon planning any future repair.
Whether the bulge is even or to one side, and any layered clot inside it. Both are recorded because they affect how the aneurysm is followed.
Where the aorta splits towards the legs. These can widen too, sometimes alongside an aortic aneurysm, so they are checked in the same scan.
Calcium and fatty plaque in the wall are noted. They do not mean an aneurysm, but they are a sign of artery disease worth discussing with your GP.
If you bring an earlier measurement, the report compares them. Growth of more than about 1 cm a year needs a vascular review at any size.
An AAA scan looks at the aorta and iliac arteries only. It is not a check of the liver, kidneys or other organs; for those, add an abdominal ultrasound to the same visit.
These are the same size groups the NHS AAA Screening Programme and NICE use, so your report can be read by any NHS or private vascular team.
| Aortic diameter | What it means | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3.0 cm | Normal, no aneurysm | No further scans needed for size; most people get this result |
| 3.0 to 4.4 cm | Small aneurysm | A repeat scan every 12 months, plus blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking care |
| 4.5 to 5.4 cm | Medium aneurysm | A repeat scan every 3 months and a vascular review |
| 5.5 cm or more | Large aneurysm | Referral to a vascular surgeon to consider repair |
| Growing over 1 cm a year | Fast growth at any size | Vascular referral whatever the size |
Measurements can differ by a couple of millimetres between scans, so a reading close to a threshold is read alongside your history. Bring any earlier measurements with you.
The risk of an aneurysm is unusually predictable. Age, sex, smoking, blood pressure and family history explain most of it.
The biggest risk group. Worth booking if you missed or declined your NHS invitation, or want it done now.
Smoking is the strongest risk you can change, and it makes aneurysms grow faster, so check even before 65.
A parent, brother or sister with an aortic aneurysm raises your own risk, which is a reason to scan earlier.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, a previous stroke or narrowed leg arteries.
Not invited by the NHS, but worth checking with a family history, smoking or high blood pressure, especially over 70.
An interval measurement with a written report and a comparison against your last scan.
Call 999, do not book a scan, if you have sudden, severe pain in the abdomen or lower back, especially with dizziness, sweating, pale clammy skin or collapse. With a known or suspected aneurysm this can mean it has burst.
If you are a man aged 65 or over and have never been screened, NHS AAA screening is free and you should take it. A private scan is for the people the programme does not cover, or who want a measurement now with a report of their own.
| NHS AAA Screening Programme | Private AAA scan | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Men in the year they turn 65; older men can self-refer | Anyone 18 or over, including women and men under 65 |
| Cost | Free | £219 all-inclusive |
| When | When you are invited, or when a self-referral slot is available | Often the same or next day, 7 days a week |
| What you get | Your measurement and a letter | Measurement, iliac arteries, verbal report and a written report within 24 hours |
| Repeat scans | Every 12 or 3 months if an aneurysm is found | Whenever you or your doctor want an extra measurement |
Avoid food for about 4 to 6 hours before your scan and skip fizzy drinks that day, because gas in the bowel is the main thing that hides the aorta. Water is fine and you should take your medication as normal. If you have diabetes or cannot fast, tell us when you book; attending without fasting is far better than not attending.
Any earlier aortic measurements, NHS screening or surveillance letters and hospital reports. A comparison is worth far more than one number.
Your clinician asks about smoking, blood pressure, family history and earlier scans, so your number is read in context.
You lie on your back, warm gel goes on your tummy and a probe moves over the skin. You may be asked to hold your breath briefly. It is painless, with no radiation.
You are shown your aorta on screen and told your measurement and what it means before you leave.
Your measurements, any change from earlier scans and the recommended next step, ready for your GP or vascular team.
The repeat-scan interval or a referral letter. A specialist consultation can be arranged at extra cost.
Most aneurysms found by a scan are small. The aim is to keep them small, check them regularly and repair them before they reach a risky size.
A repeat measurement every 12 months for a small aneurysm and every 3 months for a medium one, to see whether it is growing.
Stopping smoking and controlling blood pressure do the most. Your GP may also offer a statin and aspirin to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
A vascular surgeon may offer a stent placed through the groin (EVAR) or open surgery to replace the weak section. Planned repair is low risk compared with an emergency.
Book a same-day or next-day AAA scan, 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm, with no GP referral and no waiting for an invitation.
You leave knowing your number. The written report follows within 24 hours, ready for your GP, a vascular surgeon or an insurer.
Measured to national standards in a CQC-registered clinic, with doctor-led clinical governance behind every report.
£219 covers the scan, the iliac arteries, the comparison, both reports and a referral letter if needed. Nothing extra afterwards.
I had a very positive experience at London Private Ultrasound. The whole process was smooth and professional, and I felt very comfortable throughout the appointment. The sonographer was kind, thorough and took the time to explain everything clearly during the scan. I really appreciated the level of care and attention, and the examination helped identify the cause of the symptoms I had been experiencing. I would definitely recommend their service.
This is my third visit to the London Private Ultrasound. The earlier ones were in 2022, then 2024 I got my appointment very quickly, at an agreed and mutually convenient time. I specifically asked for Dr Reza again. As before, he was professional, kind and unhurried, There was ample time to discuss findings which was very reassuring. I received the full report the following morning I continue to recommend this excellent service to my colleagues. Many thanks for keeping up such high standards !
Looked on line at 9.30 ,had an appointment at 10.40 ,results before 12 , Could not have been easier or more professional
Very easy to book at short notice. Friendly staff and professional Sonographer. Would definitely book again.
Quick and easy to make an appointment, I arrived early and was seen early due to availability. Very nice
Very happy with ultrasound very throrough examination. Will use again
Two clinics, seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, with same-day and next-day appointments frequently available. Both offer the full AAA scan at £219, with a verbal report on the same day and a written report within 24 hours.
27 Welbeck Street, London W1G 8EN
Two minutes from Bond Street (Elizabeth line, Central, Jubilee), five from Oxford Circus, eight from Marylebone and Baker Street. Convenient for patients travelling in from Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Soho, the City and Paddington.
54–56 Victoria Street, St Albans AL1 3HZ
A short walk from St Albans City station, with parking nearby. Convenient for patients across Hertfordshire, North London, Watford, Hatfield, Harpenden and Welwyn Garden City.
Our clinic is CQC registered, and our doctors, radiologists, sonographers and surgeons work under the registers and professional standards set by these bodies.
The Royal College of Radiologists
Professional standards, education and guidance for clinical radiology and clinical oncology.
General Medical Council
Official register and professional standards for doctors and regulated medical associates.
Care Quality Commission
Independent regulator of health and adult social-care services in England.
Health and Care Professions Council
Official register for regulated health and care professionals, including radiographers.
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Professional standards, education and support for surgical practice and patient care.
Specialist ultrasound practice and patient-centred imaging care
A private AAA scan in London usually costs between about £60 and £280, depending on whether the report and the iliac arteries are included. At London Private Ultrasound it is £219 all-inclusive, with a verbal report on the same day and a written report within 24 hours.
The NHS invites men for one AAA scan in the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who were never screened can refer themselves to their local programme. Women and younger men are not invited, even with risk factors, which is where a private scan helps.
For men aged 65 and over, yes. Trials showed a single scan cuts deaths from a burst aneurysm by around half, because an aneurysm found early can be monitored and repaired safely. For people at very low risk, a normal result is by far the most likely outcome.
After a planned stent repair (EVAR), most people return to normal activities within a few weeks, and long-term survival depends more on heart and lung health than on the stent. You will need regular scans for life to check the stent stays sealed.
AAA stands for abdominal aortic aneurysm, often said as “triple A”. It is a bulge in the main artery in your abdomen. When the aorta measures 3.0 cm or more across, it is classed as an aneurysm. See what an AAA is.
Aneurysms are around six times more common in men, so screening all women would find very few. Women do develop them, often later and with worse outcomes, so a private scan is reasonable for women with a family history, a smoking history or high blood pressure, especially over 70.
Ideally, yes. Avoid food for about 4 to 6 hours and skip fizzy drinks that day, because bowel gas hides the aorta. Water is fine and you should take your medication as normal. If you have diabetes or cannot fast, tell us when you book.
No. You can book directly online, by phone on 020 7101 3377 or on WhatsApp. Online booking is for patients aged 18 and over. Bring any earlier aortic measurements or surveillance letters so we can compare them.
Allow 20 to 30 minutes. It does not hurt: warm gel goes on your tummy and a probe moves over the skin, and you may be asked to hold your breath briefly. There is no radiation and no recovery time.
Most cause no symptoms, which is why they are found by screening. Some people notice a pulsing feeling in the tummy or a constant ache in the abdomen or lower back. Sudden severe tummy or back pain with dizziness or collapse is an emergency: call 999.
Only by chance. The scan focuses on the aorta and iliac arteries; it is not a check of the liver, kidneys or other organs, and it is not a cancer test. If you want those checked, add an abdominal ultrasound to the same visit.
Yes, as an extra measurement between your NHS scans or for peace of mind, but stay in the NHS programme. Bring your last measurement so we can compare, and share our report with your surveillance team or GP.
Planned repair is low risk. UK National Vascular Registry figures record in-hospital deaths of about 0.3% after planned stent repair (EVAR) and 2.7% after planned open repair. Emergency surgery after a rupture is far riskier, which is why finding an aneurysm early matters.
Ultrasound is the standard test for finding and measuring an AAA and is very accurate for the abdominal aorta. Measurements can vary by a couple of millimetres between scans, and bowel gas or a larger tummy can limit the view, in which case your report says so.
No. Ultrasound through the tummy shows the abdominal aorta only. The aorta in the chest (thoracic aorta) needs an echocardiogram for the first part, or a CT or MRI scan. Tell us if you have a family history of chest aortic disease.
Often, yes. Both clinics, 27 Welbeck Street in Central London and Victoria Street in St Albans, are open 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm, with same-day and next-day appointments. Call 020 7101 3377 or use the booking calendar.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general information and does not replace individual medical advice. An AAA scan measures the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries; it does not check the aorta in the chest or other organs. London Private Ultrasound is a diagnostic clinic; specialist consultation, CT planning and repair are arranged separately. Call 999 for sudden severe pain in the abdomen or lower back, especially with dizziness or collapse.
Sources: NHS, Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening; NICE, Abdominal aortic aneurysm: diagnosis and management (NG156).
