Treatments & Procedures
Clear, honest explanations of the conditions we treat and how we treat them.
Adult Circumcision
Adult circumcision removes the foreskin for phimosis, recurrent balanitis, scarring or personal choice. Techniques, evidence, risks and recovery explained.
Typical recovery: Recovery is individual and depends on the technique used, the reason for surgery, and the patient's general health. Swelling and bruising are expected in the early period, and full wound healing takes time. Sexual intercourse and masturbation should wait until the wound is sufficiently healed, according to the operating clinician's advice, rather than a fixed date. Return to work depends on occupation, technique and how healing progresses, so this page does not promise an exact day for any of these milestones.
Learn MoreConditionAnal Fissure
A tear in the anal lining causing sharp pain and bright red bleeding. Fibre, sitz baths, ointments, botulinum toxin and sphincterotomy explained clearly.
Typical recovery: Acute fissures often settle within a few weeks of consistent stool management and topical treatment. Chronic fissures usually need a longer course, and healing is judged over weeks rather than days. After botulinum toxin, the effect develops over days and is temporary. After lateral internal sphincterotomy, most people are comfortable enough for light activity within a few days, with the wound and symptoms settling over several weeks; individual recovery varies with the procedure performed and your general health.
Learn MoreConditionAnal Fistula
A track from the anal canal to the skin, usually after an abscess. How simple and complex fistulas are assessed and treated while protecting continence.
Typical recovery: Healing time varies substantially by fistula anatomy and procedure and should not be reduced to a single fixed timeframe. After abscess drainage, pain usually improves quickly but the wound is dressed and takes time to heal. After fistulotomy, the laid-open wound heals from the base with dressing changes and sitz baths, and timing depends on how much tissue was involved. A draining seton may be left in place for an extended period while inflammation settles or, in selected cases, as longer-term management. Healing after sphincter-preserving procedures such as LIFT, advancement flap, VAAFT or laser ablation is judged over subsequent visits and sometimes requires more than one operation. Individual recovery depends on the complexity of the track, whether Crohn's disease is present, and your general health.
Learn MoreConditionAppendicitis & Appendix Surgery (Appendicectomy)
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix and is a common cause of acute abdominal pain. Prompt assessment is important because untreated appendicitis may progress to perforation, abscess or peritonitis. Treatment commonly involves laparoscopic appendicectomy, although selected patients may be suitable for other approaches after clinical and imaging assessment.
Typical recovery: Many patients with uncomplicated laparoscopic appendicectomy can leave hospital within about 24–48 hours and gradually resume light routine over the following days. Return to work, exercise and heavy physical activity depends on the severity of appendicitis, the type of surgery and the nature of the patient's work. Recovery is usually longer after perforated appendicitis or open surgery.
Learn MoreConditionBreast Lump Evaluation
Structured triple assessment of any new breast lump.
Typical recovery: 1 - 2 weeks
Learn MoreConditionDiabetic Foot Ulcer
Non-healing foot wounds in diabetes requiring urgent, limb-saving care.
Typical recovery: 4 - 12 weeks
Learn MoreConditionEpidermoid (Sebaceous) Cyst
An epidermoid cyst, often called a “sebaceous cyst”, is a benign skin cyst containing keratin. Many remain small and painless and need no treatment. Excision may be considered when a cyst is recurrent, repeatedly inflamed or infected, increasing in size, cosmetically troublesome or when the diagnosis is uncertain.
Typical recovery: Most small uncomplicated epidermoid cyst excisions are day-care procedures and patients can usually resume light routine within a short period. Recovery depends on the size and location of the cyst, whether it was previously infected or ruptured, the size of the incision and the physical demands of the patient's work.
Learn MoreConditionGallstones
Gallstones often cause no symptoms. How biliary pain, gallbladder inflammation, bile-duct stones and pancreatitis are assessed and when surgery is advised.
Typical recovery: Recovery depends on which part of the pathway you need. An attack of biliary colic usually settles within hours, but attacks tend to return until the gallbladder is treated. Recovery after keyhole gallbladder removal is described on the laparoscopic cholecystectomy page. Acute cholecystitis, bile-duct stones, pancreatitis and cholangitis usually require hospital treatment, and recovery from those episodes is longer and varies with severity and your general health.
Learn MoreConditionInguinal Hernia
A bulge in the groin caused by weakness in the abdominal wall.
Typical recovery: 2 - 3 weeks
Learn MoreProcedureLaparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Keyhole removal of the gallbladder for stones and chronic inflammation.
Typical recovery: 1 - 2 weeks
Learn MoreConditionLipoma
A lipoma is a benign lump made of fatty tissue, most often found just beneath the skin. Typical lipomas are soft, slowly growing and usually painless, and many do not require treatment. Surgical removal may be considered when a lump is symptomatic, increasing in size, cosmetically troublesome or when the diagnosis is uncertain.
Typical recovery: Small superficial lipomas removed under local anaesthesia are commonly treated as day-care procedures, and many patients return to light routine within a short period. Recovery depends on the size, depth and location of the lipoma and the nature of the patient's work. Larger or deeper excisions and wounds over areas exposed to significant movement or tension may require a longer period of activity restriction.
Learn MoreConditionPerianal Abscess
A perianal abscess is a collection of pus caused by infection around the anus. It typically causes increasing pain, swelling and tenderness and usually requires prompt surgical drainage. Antibiotics alone are generally not sufficient for an established abscess, although they may be added when there is cellulitis, systemic infection, diabetes, immunosuppression or other specific clinical concerns.
Typical recovery: Many patients improve substantially after adequate drainage and can return home the same day or after a short hospital stay, depending on the severity of infection and anaesthesia used. The open wound may continue to discharge and heal gradually over several weeks. Return to work and routine activity depends on pain, wound size, occupation and whether the infection was uncomplicated or associated with deeper disease or sepsis.
Learn MoreConditionPiles (Haemorrhoids)
Swollen anal cushions causing bleeding, itching and discomfort.
Typical recovery: 3 - 7 days
Learn MoreConditionPilonidal Sinus
Pits and tracks in the natal cleft causing discharge, pain and abscesses. Drainage, minimally invasive options and off-midline closure surgery explained.
Typical recovery: Recovery differs sharply between techniques. After abscess drainage, pain usually improves within days, with wound care for a few weeks. After minimally invasive or sinus-preserving procedures, pain is generally less and most people return to normal activity within days to a couple of weeks. After excision with off-midline closure, recovery typically takes a few weeks, with restrictions on prolonged sitting and heavy activity while the wound consolidates. Excision left open to heal by secondary intention needs regular dressings and commonly takes weeks to months to heal completely. Individual recovery varies with the extent of disease, the technique used and your general health.
Learn MoreProcedureThyroidectomy
Removal of part or all of the thyroid gland for nodules, goitre or cancer.
Typical recovery: 1 - 2 weeks
Learn MoreConditionUmbilical & Incisional Hernia
Umbilical hernias occur through a weakness around the navel, while incisional hernias develop through a previous abdominal surgical scar. Some small, minimally symptomatic hernias can be observed, but surgery may be appropriate for pain, progressive enlargement, functional limitation or concern about incarceration. The type of repair is individualised according to the hernia size, location, previous operations and patient factors.
Typical recovery: Recovery varies considerably. A small uncomplicated umbilical hernia repair may be performed as day-care or short-stay surgery, with gradual return to routine activity thereafter. Larger incisional hernia repairs may require a longer hospital stay and several weeks of progressive recovery. Return to work, heavy lifting and exercise should be individualised according to the size and complexity of the repair and the physical demands of the patient's occupation.
Learn MoreConditionVaricose Veins
Leg vein reflux causing aching, swelling and skin changes. Duplex ultrasound assessment, endovenous laser ablation and the NICE treatment order explained.
Typical recovery: Endovenous laser ablation is usually a day-case procedure. Walking is encouraged early afterwards. Return to work and exercise varies with how much treatment was required, your occupation, symptoms before treatment and individual recovery, so no fixed timeline applies to everyone. Bruising, tightness or tenderness along the treated vein can occur during early recovery, and the treating clinician gives individual advice. Where compression is advised after intervention, NICE advises it is not used for more than 7 days. Recovery after open surgery is generally longer. Individual recovery also varies with whether skin changes or ulceration are present and your general health.
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