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Imaging · London

Private breast ultrasound in London, by a specialist breast radiologist.

A radiation-free scan by a specialist breast radiologist - often paired with mammography for a full triple-assessment, with same-day biopsy where needed.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private breast ultrasound costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£250–£450, with the report usually the same day.

Scan type Indicative range
Standard breast ultrasound £250–£450
Ultrasound + core biopsy £600–£1,200
Ultrasound + mammography (triple-assessment) £450–£850
Symptomatic breast clinic (full triple-assessment) £600–£1,200
Post-op breast surveillance ultrasound £280–£500
Urgent same-week ultrasound £400–£800

Prices vary by clinic, whether mammography or a same-day core biopsy is added, and whether the axilla is included.

The problem

A breast scan is only as good as the specialist behind it.

Breast ultrasound is a sub-specialty - the answer depends on a radiologist who reads breast imaging every day, and who can biopsy on the spot. That is the sort of clinician to look for.

  • Want it done in one visit?

    Clinical exam, ultrasound, mammography and same-day biopsy - under one roof.

  • Worried about who scans you?

    Consultant breast radiologists only - not general sonographers.

What it shows

Find the scan that matches the symptom.

Breast ultrasound answers a range of questions quickly and safely.

  • Breast lump

    The first-line scan when you can feel a lump - cyst, fibroadenoma or something needing biopsy.

  • Focal pain

    A targeted look at one area of persistent, one-sided breast pain.

  • Nipple discharge

    Assesses the ducts behind the nipple for a papilloma or other cause.

  • Dense breast tissue

    Adds sensitivity where mammography alone can miss small cancers.

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding

    Radiation-free - the imaging of choice during pregnancy and lactation.

  • Implant assessment

    Checks the implant capsule and surrounding tissue for rupture or fluid.

  • Family history surveillance

    For women under 40 or with dense tissue, alongside your surveillance plan.

  • Red flag: any new hard, tethered or ulcerating lump

    Do not wait - a same-week triple-assessment appointment is arranged.

Breast ultrasound types

Not all breast ultrasound appointments are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Standard breast ultrasound

    A targeted scan of one or both breasts and the axilla - the everyday breast US.

  • Ultrasound + core biopsy

    Real-time image-guided sampling of a suspicious lesion, done on the same visit.

  • Triple-assessment (clinical + US ± mammography)

    Clinical exam by a breast specialist alongside ultrasound and, where indicated, mammography.

  • Symptomatic breast clinic

    A half-day one-stop pathway for a new, worrying symptom - everything under one roof.

  • Post-op surveillance US

    Follow-up scanning after lumpectomy, mastectomy or reconstruction to monitor the area.

  • Implant assessment US

    Focused imaging of implants for rupture, seroma or capsule change.

  • Axilla lymph node US

    Detailed look at the armpit nodes - often paired with breast US when a lesion is found.

  • Urgent same-week US

    Rapid access for red-flag symptoms when a scan is needed within days.

Safety and eligibility

One of the safest breast tests in medicine.

Breast ultrasound is exceptionally safe - the practical points are chaperones, how it sits alongside mammography, and biopsy precautions when needed.

  • Painless and radiation-free

    Ultrasound uses sound waves - no ionising radiation, and no injections.

  • A chaperone is always present

    Every breast ultrasound is done with a chaperone in the room, without exception.

  • Warm gel used

    The gel is warmed and wiped off at the end - no lingering coldness or mess.

  • Not a mammography alternative in most women over 40

    For screening in women over 40, mammography remains the first-line test - ultrasound is complementary.

  • Dense breasts benefit from US alongside mammography

    When breast tissue is dense on mammography, ultrasound adds real sensitivity for small cancers.

  • Biopsy has small bleeding/infection risk

    Core biopsy risks are small - bruising is common, bleeding and infection are rare.

  • Pregnancy safe

    Ultrasound is entirely safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and is the first-line breast test.

  • Always bring prior imaging

    Old mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs help the radiologist compare - please bring them or the report.

Reading your report

A breast ultrasound report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Every breast ultrasound report keeps to the same four parts.

A consultant breast radiologist reviewing ultrasound images on a clinical workstation at a UK private clinic

A quiet reminder

The report is written for your doctor, not for you - and that is normal.

If anything is unclear, ask the reporting clinician to talk you through it before your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and risk factors

    Your details, the symptom or referral question, and relevant history - family, hormonal, prior surgery.

  2. 02 Technique

    Probe and protocol

    Which probe and frequency were used, whether Doppler was added, and whether the axilla was included.

  3. 03 Findings

    BI-RADS per lesion and the axilla

    A structured description of each lesion with size, position and a BI-RADS category - plus the axillary nodes.

  4. 04 Impression

    Read first - normal, benign, biopsy plan, MDT

    The conclusion in brief: normal, benign, biopsy recommended, or discussion at the breast MDT.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about breast ultrasound.

Quick answers on cost, referrals, mammography, BI-RADS, biopsy and safety.

  • Ultrasound or mammography - which do I need?

    It depends on your age and the question. Under 40, ultrasound is usually the first test. Over 40, mammography is first-line and ultrasound is added for a specific finding or dense tissue. For a new lump, both are often done together as a triple-assessment.

  • What is BI-RADS?

    BI-RADS is a standard 0–6 scoring system radiologists use to classify breast findings. 1 is normal, 2 is benign, 3 is probably benign (short-interval follow-up), 4 is suspicious (biopsy), 5 is highly suggestive of cancer, and 6 is biopsy-proven cancer.

  • Does a breast ultrasound hurt?

    No. It is a handheld probe with warm gel - no compression, no needle, and no radiation. If a core biopsy is added, local anaesthetic is used first so the biopsy itself is not painful.

  • How much does a private breast ultrasound cost in London?

    A standard scan is typically £250–£450. Adding mammography for a full triple-assessment is £450–£850, and adding a same-day core biopsy is £600–£1,200.

  • Do I need a referral?

    No - most breast ultrasound appointments accept self-referral.

  • Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

    Yes. Ultrasound uses no radiation, so it is the first-line breast imaging test in pregnancy and lactation.

  • I have dense breasts - should I still have mammography?

    Yes. Mammography remains the first-line test over 40, but dense tissue reduces its sensitivity - adding ultrasound picks up cancers mammography can miss.

  • How quickly do I get the results?

    For a standard breast ultrasound the report is same-day, and the radiologist usually gives an immediate impression at the end of the scan. If a core biopsy is taken, the histology takes 5–7 days.

  • What does a core biopsy involve?

    Local anaesthetic is injected, a small nick is made in the skin, and a fine spring-loaded needle takes several tissue samples under ultrasound guidance. It takes about 15 minutes and you go home the same day with a small dressing.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    If you have a new hard, tethered or ulcerating lump, bloody nipple discharge, a persistent skin change or a lump in the armpit - do not wait.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Getting breast ultrasound sorted in London, without the guesswork

With breast ultrasound, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for breast ultrasound is thorough, but the queue is real. Many patients are told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London can often shorten that window to a matter of days - often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.

A typical private booking for breast ultrasound in London starts with a consultant conversation - sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For breast ultrasound specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

Honesty about expectations is part of the job. A private breast ultrasound appointment in London won’t change the underlying medicine - the guidelines, the consultants, and the equipment are largely the same as on the NHS. What it changes is speed, continuity, and the amount of time you get to actually talk through the findings. Check that any consultant you see is on the GMC specialist register and that the facility is registered with the CQC.