Concierge colorectal surgery · London
Colostomy reversal in London, by a consultant colorectal surgeon.
A Hartmann’s reversal or a loop colostomy closure — planned properly, with a contrast study first, and a named surgeon from consult to review.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant colorectal surgeon, in theatre
Reversal is not a routine takedown. A named colorectal surgeon plans the case, does the case, and sees you afterwards.
- 02
Contrast study first, plan second
A rectal stump contrast study and up-to-date CT go on the table before a date is set. No date is offered until the anatomy is confirmed.
- 03
Honest about the harder cases
A Hartmann’s reversal is a bigger operation than a loop closure — we say so, and quote realistic recovery and risk figures.
Indicative pricing
What a private colostomy reversal costs in London.
Indicative all-in ranges across our partner hospitals — surgeon, anaesthetist, theatre and inpatient stay. Send the details and we come back with firm figures.
In short
A laparoscopic Hartmann’s reversal in our network: £14,000–£22,000, hospital stay 5–7 nights.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Hospital stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loop colostomy closure (private, self-pay) | £8,000–£13,000 | 60–90 min | 3–5 nights |
| Hartmann’s reversal — laparoscopic | £14,000–£22,000 | 2–4 hours | 5–7 nights |
| Hartmann’s reversal — open (laparotomy) | £14,000–£24,000 | 2–4 hours | 5–8 nights |
| Reversal with defunctioning ileostomy | £16,000–£26,000 | 3–4 hours | 6–8 nights |
| Rectal-stump contrast study (pre-op) | £400–£700 | 30 min | Same day |
| Consultation with colorectal surgeon | £220–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by hospital, by whether laparoscopic or open access is planned, by the complexity of adhesions, and by whether a covering ileostomy is likely. We come back with a firm quote once the operation note and imaging are seen.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right workup, the right honest conversation.
Reversal is often described as a simple takedown. It is not — especially after a Hartmann’s. What matters is who plans it, how the anatomy is checked, and whether you are told the truth about function afterwards.
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Not sure it is possible?
A short rectal stump, previous radiotherapy or a hostile abdomen may make reversal unsafe. We assess the anatomy first, and say so.
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Worried about the surgery?
Enhanced-recovery pathways, laparoscopy where possible, HDU cover for the first night — the operative details that shorten recovery.
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Worried about function?
LARS is real. We name it before surgery so you can decide with your eyes open, and we plan pelvic-floor input from day one.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One surgeon from first message to review — including the recovery window and the stoma-nurse handover.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
Theatre and the ward
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
When the stoma was formed, why, the operation note if you have it, and whether you have finished any chemotherapy.
- 02
Before
We arrange the pre-op workup
A contrast study of the rectal stump (or distal limb), a CT if needed, bloods and an anaesthetic review. Nothing is booked before this is clean.
- 03
Before
The surgeon plans the operation
Hartmann’s reversal or loop closure, laparoscopic where possible, and whether a defunctioning ileostomy is likely. You are told, in plain English, before you sign.
- 04
On the day
Admission and anaesthetic
Admission the morning of surgery, an enhanced-recovery plan, and a general anaesthetic in a licensed theatre.
- 05
On the day
The operation itself
Loop closure through a peristomal incision (60–90 min) or a Hartmann’s reversal by laparotomy or laparoscopy (2–4 hours), with a hand-sewn or stapled colorectal anastomosis.
- 06
On the day
Recovery on the ward
Enhanced recovery — early sips, early mobilisation, and stoma-bag off. Hospital stay 3–5 days for loop closure, 5–7 days for Hartmann’s.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Bowel function settles over weeks to months. LARS is possible after low anastomoses. A wound-check and outpatient review are arranged.
Typical end-to-end: 3–6 months from original stoma to reversal. Bowel function settles over weeks to months.
When it helps
When a colostomy reversal is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the honest note that reversal is not always safe or possible.
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End colostomy after Hartmann’s
Formed for perforated diverticulitis, obstruction or a low anterior resection that could not be joined at the time.
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Loop colostomy — defunctioning
Made to protect a downstream anastomosis or heal a fistula. Usually closed once healing is confirmed.
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Emergency colostomy for perforation
A stoma raised in the emergency setting can often be reversed 3–6 months later once inflammation settles.
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After adjuvant chemotherapy
Reversal is usually delayed until 8–12 weeks after chemo has finished — earlier surgery risks poor healing.
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Stoma complications
Parastomal hernia, prolapse, retraction or high output that has become intolerable — reversal is one option, revision the other.
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Quality of life
For many patients the stoma is manageable but not wanted long-term. Reversal is a valid goal — if the anatomy allows.
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Anastomotic-leak stoma
A stoma placed to defunction a leaking anastomosis can often be closed once imaging shows the join has healed.
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Red flag: reversal not always possible
A short rectal stump, pelvic radiotherapy, recurrent cancer or a hostile abdomen may mean the stoma is permanent. An honest surgeon says so.
Procedure options
Loop closure, Hartmann’s reversal — and everything in between.
What each option on the table actually involves — and which fits which starting position.
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Loop colostomy closure
Closed through a peristomal incision — the two bowel ends are freed, joined and dropped back. Short operation, quicker recovery.
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Hartmann’s reversal — laparoscopic
A keyhole approach to free the rectal stump from adhesions and join it to the descending colon. Less pain, faster return to eating.
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Hartmann’s reversal — open
A midline laparotomy when adhesions or a short stump make keyhole unsafe. The same anastomosis, a longer recovery.
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Hand-sewn colorectal anastomosis
The two bowel ends are joined by hand — often used when the stump is short or the tissues are difficult.
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Stapled colorectal anastomosis
A circular stapler joins the colon to the rectal stump through the anus. Quick, reproducible, standard for many reversals.
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Reversal with defunctioning ileostomy
A short-term loop ileostomy protects a low or difficult join. Closed 6–12 weeks later as a second, smaller operation.
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Concurrent hernia repair
An incisional hernia at the old stoma site is often repaired at the same visit — a mesh repair is planned in advance.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether reversal is feasible in your case, what it involves, and what the alternatives look like.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of colorectal surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant colorectal surgeons across central and greater London, with the hospitals set up for enhanced recovery and HDU cover on night one.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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Consultant colorectal surgeons on the ACPGBI specialist register
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A CQC-registered hospital with HDU cover for the first night
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Enhanced recovery pathway with dietitian and stoma-nurse input
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Named 24/7 point of contact for the first two weeks after discharge
Safety and recovery
The risks, named — and what recovery actually looks like.
Reversal is major abdominal surgery. Most people get through it well; a minority run into a leak, a hernia, or LARS. The honest list is below.
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Anastomotic leak
The join can leak in 3–10% of cases, more often for low anastomoses. Fever, tachycardia, worsening pain or peritonism from day 3 onwards is investigated urgently.
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Ileus is common — not a failure
A quiet, distended bowel for a few days after surgery is normal. It usually settles with fluids, walking and time; occasionally a nasogastric tube is needed.
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Surgical-site infection
The old stoma site is at higher risk of a wound infection. Redness and discharge are treated with wound care and, if needed, antibiotics.
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Incisional hernia at the stoma site
A hernia at the old stoma opening develops in up to 30% at two years — sometimes small and harmless, sometimes needing repair.
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Adhesive small-bowel obstruction
Any abdominal operation can leave adhesions. A minority of patients get a bowel obstruction later, sometimes needing further surgery.
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Bowel dysfunction after reversal
Frequency, urgency, clustering and leakage are common in the first months. Most improves — some does not, especially after a low join.
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LARS after low anastomoses
Low anterior resection syndrome — urgency, clustering, incomplete emptying — affects up to 60% after low joins. It is treatable, and worth naming before surgery.
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Wound dehiscence and redo stoma
Uncommon, but a leak or non-healing anastomosis can mean a new stoma to protect the join while it heals.
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Red flags after discharge
Fever above 38°C, worsening abdominal pain, no wind or stool for more than 24 hours, or heavy bleeding are reasons to call the team the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether it was a loop closure or a Hartmann’s reversal, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your outpatient review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Original operation and indication
Why the stoma was made — perforation, obstruction, defunctioning — and the date and type of the original procedure.
- 02 Technique
Approach and anastomosis
Laparoscopic or open, whether adhesiolysis was needed, and whether the join was hand-sewn or stapled, high or low.
- 03 Findings
Bowel condition and defunctioning ileostomy
How the bowel looked, whether a leak-test was done, and whether a covering ileostomy was formed.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, function and follow-up
Read this first: expected stay, diet plan, when to expect bowel function to settle, and when to come back.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for colostomy reversal is usually funded by UK insurers when the original stoma was made for a covered condition. We check cover — and any pre-authorisation — before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about colostomy reversal.
Straight answers on timing, tests, hospital stay, leak risk, and what bowel function feels like afterwards.
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How long after my original operation can the colostomy be reversed?
Usually 3–6 months. Longer if you have had adjuvant chemotherapy — reversal is normally delayed until 8–12 weeks after the last cycle so the tissues heal properly.
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Is a Hartmann’s reversal a bigger operation than a loop closure?
Yes. A loop closure is done through a small incision around the stoma and takes about an hour. A Hartmann’s reversal usually needs a laparotomy or laparoscopy, adhesiolysis and a proper colorectal anastomosis, and takes 2–4 hours.
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What tests do I need before reversal?
A contrast study of the rectal stump to confirm it is patent and has not narrowed, an up-to-date CT if there is any question of recurrence or fistula, bloods, and an anaesthetic review. Nothing is booked before this is clean.
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Will I need a temporary ileostomy after the reversal?
Sometimes. A short-term loop ileostomy is used to protect a low or technically difficult anastomosis. It is closed as a second, smaller operation 6–12 weeks later.
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How long is the hospital stay?
Three to five nights for a loop colostomy closure. Five to seven nights for a Hartmann’s reversal — a little longer if the abdomen is difficult or a temporary ileostomy is made.
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What is the risk of an anastomotic leak?
Overall about 3–10%, higher for low anastomoses and lower for hand-sewn colocolic joins in healthy tissue. It is the complication surgeons watch for hardest in the first week.
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Will my bowel function be normal afterwards?
Most people have frequency, urgency and clustering for weeks to months, then settle. After a low join, low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) can persist — this is a real problem and worth naming before surgery.
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Can every colostomy be reversed?
No. A very short rectal stump, previous pelvic radiotherapy, recurrent cancer, poor sphincter function or a hostile abdomen can make the risks outweigh the benefits. An honest surgeon says so early.
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What happens to the incisional hernia at my old stoma site?
It is often repaired at the same visit — sometimes with mesh — provided the field is clean. If not, it is planned as a separate elective operation later.
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When should I call the team urgently after discharge?
Fever above 38°C, worsening abdominal pain, no wind or stool for more than 24 hours, heavy rectal bleeding, or a wound that becomes red, hot or discharges pus.
Sources
- Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI). Guidelines on stoma reversal.
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). Clinical practice guidelines — ostomy management.
- European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP). Guidance on Hartmann’s reversal and enhanced recovery.
- NICE. Colorectal cancer — NG151.
Reviewed 2026-07-30 by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Next review 2027-07-30. Reading time ~6 min.
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In practice, in London
What colostomy reversal looks like on the ground in London
For colostomy reversal, the private London route is mostly about consultant fit and hospital choice rather than raw waiting time. Waiting lists on the NHS for colostomy reversal vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, we can normally offer a slot inside the same week, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality — the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS — it’s the calendar.
A typical private booking for colostomy reversal 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 colostomy reversal in particular, we bias towards consultants who do this every week rather than every month.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see colostomy reversal — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.
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