Private epigastric hernia repair in London, by a consultant hernia surgeon.
A proper midline hernia repair - open or keyhole - with mesh where the evidence supports it, in a day-case theatre, and back to office work in a week or two.
Indicative pricing
What a private epigastric hernia repair costs in London.
Indicative ranges across UK private providers.
In short
£2,000–£4,000, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small epigastric hernia - open suture repair | £2,000–£3,000 | 30–45 min GA | Day-case |
| Open mesh repair (onlay or pre-peritoneal) | £2,500–£3,800 | 45–60 min GA | Day-case |
| Laparoscopic IPOM repair | £3,200–£4,500 | 60 min GA | Day-case |
| Laparoscopic or robotic eTEP / TAPP repair | £3,800–£5,500 | 60–90 min GA | Day-case |
| Surgical consultation only | £220–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Ultrasound of abdominal wall (if needed) | £250–£450 | 20 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which surgeon does the case, by defect size and technique, and by whether mesh is used and which type.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right technique, the right time to repair.
Epigastric hernias look small but hurt out of proportion - and the private market throws every technique at every defect.
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Not sure it needs surgery?
Small, painless epigastric hernias can be watched safely. We say so before you agree to theatre.
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Worried it will get worse?
A symptomatic hernia has a real yearly risk of getting stuck - a good argument for elective repair now, not later.
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Want it done properly?
A named consultant hernia surgeon, a day-case theatre and the technique the evidence supports for your defect size.
When it helps
When epigastric hernia repair is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Painful epigastric lump
A small, tender bulge in the midline above the navel - often the first sign, and often out of proportion to its size.
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Lump that comes and goes on straining
A bulge that appears on coughing, lifting or standing and reduces when you lie flat - the classic reducible epigastric hernia.
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Symptomatic hernia enlarging over time
A defect that has grown, or that has started to cause daily discomfort - the threshold at which repair is generally recommended.
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Multiple midline defects
Two or more small defects along the linea alba - often better addressed together with a single mesh repair.
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Recurrence after a previous repair
A hernia back in the same spot after earlier surgery - usually needs a different technique and mesh reinforcement.
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Cosmetic concern about the bulge
A visible midline lump that bothers you - a valid reason for repair once symptoms and imaging have been discussed honestly.
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Diagnosis unclear - is it a hernia?
Not every epigastric lump is a hernia. Lipomas and divarication of recti feel similar - an ultrasound settles it.
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Red flag: incarcerated or strangulated
A tender, hard lump that will not push back in, with pain, vomiting or the skin changing colour, is an emergency - same-day A&E, not a clinic booking.
Repair options
One defect, several techniques - the right one for you.
What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which defect size.
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Open primary suture repair
For a small defect under 2 cm. The sac is reduced and the linea alba closed with strong non-absorbable sutures. Quick, and often enough on its own.
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Open onlay mesh repair
The defect is closed and a mesh laid on top of the fascia. A common, reliable technique for defects of 2–4 cm.
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Open pre-peritoneal (Rives-Stoppa)
Mesh placed behind the muscle and in front of the peritoneum. Excellent recurrence rates for larger midline defects.
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Laparoscopic IPOM
Keyhole surgery with a coated mesh placed inside the abdomen. Small scars, quick recovery - suits many mid-sized defects.
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Laparoscopic or robotic eTEP
Extended totally extra-peritoneal - mesh placed outside the peritoneum through keyhole ports. Increasingly the technique of choice in specialist UK units.
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Laparoscopic TAPP
Trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal repair with mesh, sited between muscle and peritoneum. A well-established minimally invasive option.
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Combined repair with divarication
If the rectus muscles have separated as well, the surgeon may address both problems in the same operation.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether surgery is needed at all - small asymptomatic hernias can be watched safely.
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Epigastric hernia repair is a common, safe day-case operation. The things worth planning are your recovery window, the no-lifting rule, and knowing what is normal after.
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Watchful waiting is safe for small, painless hernias
Per EHS guidelines, an asymptomatic small epigastric hernia can be watched. Repair is offered when it hurts, grows, or worries you.
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Recurrence 5–15%
Recurrence is the most common long-term issue. Higher for suture-only repairs of defects over 2 cm - one reason mesh is preferred above that size.
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Chronic post-operative pain 5–10%
A minority of patients notice persistent discomfort at the site for months. Usually mild, and settles further with time.
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Wound infection 2–5%
Uncommon after day-case elective repair, and usually treated with a short course of antibiotics.
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Seroma or bruising for a few weeks
Fluid collection or a firm lump under the wound is common early on, and settles without treatment in most patients.
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Mesh complications are rare
Modern meshes are well tolerated. Mesh infection, migration or chronic pain attributable to the mesh itself occur in well under 2% of cases.
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Incarceration and strangulation are real
An untreated symptomatic hernia carries a 1–3% per year risk of getting stuck or losing its blood supply - the argument for repairing symptomatic ones.
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No heavy lifting for six weeks
The most important recovery rule. Walking is fine from day one; loaded lifting or heavy gym work waits six weeks to protect the repair.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness, uncontrolled pain, a tender lump you cannot reduce, or vomiting after surgery are not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, 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 review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Defect size, site and technique chosen
The exact size of the defect in centimetres, its position along the linea alba, and which repair technique was used.
- 02 Technique
Mesh type, plane and fixation
Whether a mesh was used, what kind, in which plane it sits, and how it was fixed. Also the anaesthetic used and any local infiltration.
- 03 Findings
Sac contents and any incidental findings
What was in the sac - pre-peritoneal fat, omentum, or bowel - and any other findings such as an additional small defect or divarication of recti.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, lifting limits, review timing
Read this first: expected recovery, the no-heavy-lifting window, when to return to office work and exercise, and when the follow-up is booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Epigastric hernia repair is almost always covered by UK private medical insurance when the hernia is symptomatic.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about epigastric hernia repair.
Quick answers on when to operate, open versus keyhole, cost, and how long recovery really takes.
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What is an epigastric hernia, exactly?
An epigastric hernia is a defect in the linea alba - the midline strip of tendon between your rectus muscles - sitting between the lower end of the breastbone and the belly button. Pre-peritoneal fat, and sometimes peritoneum or a small piece of omentum, pushes through. By definition it is midline; a lump off to one side is something else.
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Is an epigastric hernia the same as an umbilical or paraumbilical hernia?
No. Umbilical and paraumbilical hernias sit at or immediately around the navel. Epigastric hernias are strictly above the navel and below the breastbone. The techniques used to repair them overlap, but the labels are not interchangeable and matter for coding and imaging.
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Do I definitely need surgery?
Not always. British Hernia Society and EHS/AHS guidance says a small, painless epigastric hernia can be watched safely. Repair is recommended once it becomes symptomatic, enlarges, or if imaging shows a wide-necked defect. About one in five epigastric hernias are found incidentally on a scan and never cause trouble.
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Why do small epigastric hernias hurt so much?
The neck of the defect is often narrow, so even a small amount of fat pinched through can cause pain out of proportion to the size of the lump. That narrow neck is also why incarceration is possible even in tiny hernias.
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Open or keyhole - which is better?
It depends on defect size and your anatomy. A defect under 2 cm is often best fixed by an open suture repair. Larger defects, multiple defects, or a recurrence are usually better addressed with mesh - increasingly by laparoscopic eTEP or robotic TAPP in specialist UK units. The right surgeon walks you through the trade-offs before the day.
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How much does a private epigastric hernia repair cost in London?
Typically £2,000–£3,000 for an open suture repair of a small defect, £2,500–£3,800 for an open mesh repair, and £3,200–£5,500 for a laparoscopic or robotic repair - all day-case.
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How long until I am back to normal?
Office work in one to two weeks. Driving usually at one to two weeks once you can perform an emergency stop without hesitation. No heavy lifting or intense gym work for six weeks to protect the repair. Most people feel comfortably back to normal by six to eight weeks.
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