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Colectomy in London, by a consultant colorectal surgeon.

Surgical removal of part or all of the colon - laparoscopic, robotic or open - with staging, prehabilitation, Enhanced Recovery, and an MDT-agreed plan for what comes next.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private colectomy costs in London.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£14,000–£24,000, typical stay 3–5 days.

Procedure Indicative range
Laparoscopic right hemicolectomy £14,000–£22,000
Laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy £14,000–£24,000
Robotic (da Vinci) colectomy £18,000–£30,000
Open colectomy (any segment) £16,000–£28,000
Subtotal / total colectomy £22,000–£38,000
Panproctocolectomy with ileostomy or pouch £28,000–£48,000
Consultation and staging review £250–£450

Prices vary by hospital, by which consultant does the case, by approach (laparoscopic, robotic or open), and by whether a stoma, defunctioning ileostomy or ileal pouch is needed. Cancer surgery may include separate MDT, pathology and adjuvant treatment costs.

The problem

The right surgeon, the right approach, the right recovery.

A colectomy is a big operation, and the outcome depends as much on the team, the approach and the preparation as on the disease itself. We help you make each of those calls before you go in.

  • Which surgeon, honestly?

    A colorectal specialist on a specialist MDT - not a general surgeon who does the occasional bowel case.

  • What about recovery?

    Enhanced Recovery, prehabilitation and structured follow-up materially change how you come out the other side.

When it helps

When a colectomy is the right step.

The situations that lead to a planned colectomy - plus the one presentation that means A&E now, not a clinic booking.

  • Colon or rectal cancer

    The commonest indication - resection of the tumour with a margin of healthy bowel and its draining lymph nodes.

  • Complicated diverticular disease

    Recurrent diverticulitis, stricture, fistula or perforation may need elective sigmoid colectomy.

  • Ulcerative colitis

    Medically refractory UC, dysplasia or fulminant colitis - subtotal colectomy or panproctocolectomy with pouch.

  • Crohn’s colitis

    Segmental or subtotal colectomy for stricturing, fistulating or refractory Crohn’s disease of the colon.

  • Sigmoid or caecal volvulus

    Recurrent volvulus after endoscopic decompression is usually treated with elective resection.

  • Ischaemic colitis

    Segmental resection where a portion of colon has infarcted or strictured after an ischaemic episode.

  • Hereditary syndromes (FAP, Lynch)

    Prophylactic or therapeutic colectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch-syndrome cancers.

  • Red flag: obstruction or perforation

    A blocked or perforated bowel - severe pain, distension, vomiting, sepsis - is an emergency. A&E now, not a clinic booking.

Resection types

One name, several very different operations.

What each type of colectomy actually removes - and which approach usually goes with which problem.

  • Right hemicolectomy

    Removal of the caecum, ascending colon and hepatic flexure - the standard operation for right-sided colon cancer.

  • Left hemicolectomy

    Removal of the descending colon, sometimes with the splenic flexure - for left-sided tumours or ischaemia.

  • Sigmoid colectomy

    Removal of the sigmoid colon - the commonest operation for diverticular disease and sigmoid cancers.

  • Transverse colectomy

    Resection of the transverse colon for mid-colon tumours; often extended to an extended right hemicolectomy.

  • Subtotal colectomy

    Removal of most of the colon, preserving the rectum - used in fulminant colitis or synchronous tumours.

  • Total colectomy

    Removal of the entire colon with an ileorectal anastomosis or end ileostomy.

  • Panproctocolectomy

    Removal of the colon and rectum, with either a permanent end ileostomy or an ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA).

  • Laparoscopic vs robotic vs open

    Laparoscopic and robotic (da Vinci) approaches speed recovery for the right patients; open surgery remains the right call for complex or emergency cases.

Safety and recovery

The risks worth knowing - honestly.

Modern colectomy is safe in experienced hands, but it is major abdominal surgery. These are the complications your consultant should discuss with you before you sign the consent form.

  • Anastomotic leak

    The most feared complication - a leak from the join in the bowel. Uncommon (roughly 2–8%) but serious; new pain, fever or tachycardia in the first week is investigated urgently.

  • Post-operative ileus

    A temporary pause in bowel function is normal for one to three days. Prolonged ileus is the commonest reason for a longer stay.

  • Wound infection and dehiscence

    Superficial wound infection is not rare; deep infection or wound breakdown is uncommon and managed with dressings, antibiotics or a return to theatre.

  • Venous thromboembolism (DVT/PE)

    Major abdominal surgery carries a real VTE risk. Heparin, stockings and early mobilisation are standard; extended prophylaxis is used after cancer surgery.

  • Cardiovascular event

    Any major operation stresses the heart. A proper pre-operative work-up and consultant anaesthetist reduce - but do not eliminate - the risk of MI or arrhythmia.

  • Adhesive small-bowel obstruction

    Adhesions form in most abdominal operations and can, months or years later, cause obstruction. Laparoscopic approaches reduce but do not remove the risk.

  • Incisional hernia

    A weakness at the incision, more common after open surgery. May need a second operation to repair.

  • Stoma and pouch complications

    Where a stoma is formed, skin problems, retraction, prolapse and parastomal hernia are managed with specialist stoma nursing. Ileal pouches carry their own risks including pouchitis.

  • Red flags after discharge

    Fever, worsening abdominal pain, vomiting, no wind or stool for over 24 hours, a swollen calf or breathlessness - call the ward or A&E the same day.

Reading your operation note

Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever approach was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant colorectal surgeon reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical and pathology language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to walk you through the note before your MDT-review conversation, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and resection performed

    Why the operation was done - cancer, diverticular, IBD - and which segment of colon was removed.

  2. 02 Technique

    Approach, anastomosis and stoma

    Whether it was laparoscopic, robotic or open; whether an anastomosis was made or a stoma formed; any defunctioning ileostomy.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intra-operative findings and histology

    Tumour location and size, nodes sampled, any peritoneal or liver findings, and the histology when it returns.

  4. 04 Impression

    ERAS plan, follow-up and surveillance

    Read this first: expected recovery, red flags, MDT plan for any adjuvant treatment, and the surveillance colonoscopy and CT schedule.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for colectomy is standard for medically indicated cases across major UK insurers. Cancer, diverticular and IBD pathways usually include staging, surgery and follow-up.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about colectomy.

Quick, honest answers on approach, stoma, recovery, risks and follow-up.

  • What is a colectomy?

    A colectomy is surgical removal of part or all of the colon (large bowel). The exact operation depends on which segment is diseased - right, left, sigmoid, transverse, subtotal, total or panproctocolectomy - and on why it is being done.

  • Laparoscopic, robotic or open - which is best?

    For most elective colon resections, laparoscopic or robotic (da Vinci) surgery gives faster recovery, less pain and a shorter stay with equivalent cancer outcomes. Open surgery is still the right choice for complex, adhesive or emergency cases. Your surgeon will match approach to your case.

  • Will I need a stoma?

    Not usually for a straightforward right, left or sigmoid resection. A temporary defunctioning ileostomy is sometimes used to protect a low join. Permanent stomas are usually reserved for panproctocolectomy or when an anastomosis is unsafe.

  • How long is the hospital stay and recovery?

    Under an Enhanced Recovery (ERAS) programme, laparoscopic colectomy patients typically go home in 3–5 days. Open or complex cases stay 5–10 days. Full return to normal activity takes 4–8 weeks; heavy lifting waits 6 weeks.

  • What are the risks?

    The main risks are anastomotic leak (2–8%), post-operative ileus, wound infection, VTE, cardiovascular events, incisional hernia and, later, adhesive obstruction. Stoma or pouch complications apply where relevant. Your consultant will quote figures for your specific case.

  • What is prehabilitation and does it matter?

    Prehab is two to four weeks of structured exercise, nutrition (including iron correction), and smoking and alcohol advice before surgery. It measurably reduces complications and length of stay, particularly in older patients and those with cancer.

  • How much does a private colectomy cost in London?

    Roughly £14,000–£24,000 for a laparoscopic right or sigmoid resection, £18,000–£30,000 for robotic, £22,000–£38,000 for subtotal or total colectomy, and up to £48,000 for panproctocolectomy with a pouch.

  • Will I have chemotherapy afterwards?

    For colon cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy is offered based on the histology - usually for node-positive (stage III) disease and selected high-risk stage II. The MDT reviews your case and recommends what is right for you.

  • What follow-up is standard after colectomy for cancer?

    NICE recommends a surveillance colonoscopy within a year, CEA blood tests and CT chest, abdomen and pelvis at intervals for at least three years, with the schedule tailored to your stage and risk.

  • When should I get emergency help after surgery?

    Any new severe pain, fever, vomiting, absence of wind or stool for over 24 hours, a swollen or painful calf, sudden breathlessness or heavy bleeding are reasons for same-day medical review - call the ward or A&E.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30. Reading time ~8 min.

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In practice, in London

The honest picture around colectomy in London

For colectomy, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. The wait for colectomy on the NHS depends heavily on where you live and how urgently the referral is graded. Central and West London private clinics can normally book within a week, with imaging or a procedure slot to follow shortly after. It’s worth being honest about the reason for going private: usually it’s time, not a fundamentally different test.

In practice, a private colectomy appointment in London means a named consultant, a proper hour in the room (or the equivalent on a video call), and a report you can actually read. Most of the imaging suites and endoscopy units we use sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For colectomy in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.

The value is knowing which consultant reads this particular presentation best, which unit turns reports around fastest, and which pathway won’t hit a dead end if the findings point somewhere unexpected.