Concierge hand & foot surgery · UK
Private ganglion cyst removal, by a consultant hand or foot surgeon.
A proper ganglion excision by a BSSH or BOFAS-affiliated consultant — with observation and aspiration honestly discussed first, and the anaesthetic that fits the lump either way.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A hand or foot surgeon, in theatre
Not a walk-in clinic and not a training room. A named BSSH or BOFAS-affiliated consultant, a proper theatre, and the anaesthetic that suits the lump.
- 02
Observation and aspiration discussed first
Roughly half of adult wrist ganglia settle on their own. We say so — and offer aspiration — before we book you for surgery.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private ganglion cyst removal costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A dorsal wrist ganglion excision in our network: £1,500–£3,000, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorsal wrist ganglion excision (open) | £1,500–£3,000 | 30–45 min | Same day |
| Dorsal wrist ganglion excision (arthroscopic) | £2,500–£4,500 | 45–60 min | Same day |
| Volar wrist ganglion excision | £2,000–£3,500 | 45–60 min | Same day |
| Mucous cyst of finger (DIPJ) excision | £2,000–£4,000 | 30–45 min LA | Same day |
| Foot or ankle ganglion excision | £2,500–£4,500 | 45–60 min | Same day |
| Aspiration ± steroid (clinic) | £250–£500 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which consultant does the case, by the anaesthetic chosen, and by whether the ganglion is dorsal, volar, a finger mucous cyst or foot. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right anaesthetic, the right operation.
Ganglion surgery looks simple on paper. It is one of the commonest reasons for recurrence, nerve injury and unnecessary theatre time when the wrong person does it. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is needed?
Roughly half of wrist ganglia settle on their own. Aspiration is worth a try. We say so before you agree to surgery.
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Worried about recurrence?
Careful excision of the stalk back to the capsule keeps recurrence at 5–15%. Aspiration alone recurs 50–70%.
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Want it done properly?
A named BSSH or BOFAS consultant, a proper theatre, magnification for volar cases and dissolvable sutures.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the recovery window.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us where the lump is
A short, confidential form. Where the ganglion is, how long, whether it is painful or catching, and any nerve symptoms.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether to watch, aspirate or excise, the right anaesthetic, and an indicative price. If observation is the sensible step, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Any blood-thinning medication is reviewed with the team and you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
Arrival, consent and a chat with the surgeon and anaesthetist. LA, regional (Bier block), brachial plexus or GA — whichever fits the case.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
20 to 60 minutes in a proper theatre. Open or arthroscopic excision, the stalk traced to the joint capsule, careful haemostasis and a bulky dressing.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
A short recovery, written aftercare, and home within a few hours. With sedation or GA you will need someone to collect you.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Bulky dressing off at 24–48h, sutures out at 10–14 days, scar and mobility work over four to eight weeks. A review is arranged if needed.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Full healing: 4–8 weeks.
When it helps
When ganglion removal is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an urgent scan rather than a clinic booking.
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Dorsal wrist ganglion
A firm lump on the back of the wrist arising from the scapholunate interval — often intermittent and worse with activity.
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Volar wrist ganglion
A lump on the palm side of the wrist near the radial artery — needs careful imaging and careful surgery.
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Mucous cyst at the fingertip
A small cyst at the DIPJ, usually with an underlying osteophyte from Heberden’s node arthritis — the bone often needs trimming too.
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Painful or catching wrist ganglion
A ganglion that hurts, catches or limits grip — the commonest reason patients ask for surgery.
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Foot or ankle ganglion
A lump on the top of the foot, around the ankle or near a tendon — sometimes pressing on a nerve.
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Cosmetic concern
A visible bump you would rather not have. Reasonable, once benign alternatives and recurrence risk are honestly explained.
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Recurrent after aspiration
A ganglion that keeps coming back after one or more clinic aspirations — surgery is usually the next step.
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Red flag: rapid growth or nerve symptoms
A rapidly enlarging lump, weight loss, or new numbness and weakness needs urgent imaging before any surgery — MRI first, not straight to theatre.
Procedure options
Surgery is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves — and which fits which lump.
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Watchful waiting
Up to 58% of adult wrist ganglia settle on their own — 79% in children. Often the right first step if the lump is painless.
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Aspiration ± steroid
A clinic needle drains the cyst and sometimes a small dose of steroid follows. Quick, cheap, but recurrence is 50–70% at a year.
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Open excision (wrist)
The workhorse operation. A small incision, the cyst traced back to its stalk on the joint capsule and removed cleanly. Recurrence 5–15%.
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Arthroscopic excision (dorsal wrist)
Two small ports and a camera. Similar recurrence to open, sometimes less post-op stiffness and a smaller scar — not suitable for every case.
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Volar wrist excision
A different anatomical challenge — the radial artery and palmar branch of the median nerve sit close by and must be carefully protected.
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Mucous cyst excision + osteophyte
The cyst and the underlying arthritic bone spur are removed together. Skipping the bone is the commonest reason mucous cysts come back.
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Foot or ankle excision
Open removal, tailored to the anatomy — the superficial peroneal, sural or tibial nerve are identified and protected.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether surgery is needed at all, and which option fits — no obligation.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of hand and foot surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant surgeons across London, Manchester, Birmingham and the South East. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every consultant in our network.
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BSSH or BOFAS-affiliated consultant hand and foot surgeons
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Ultrasound and MRI available for volar wrist and diagnostic doubt
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LA, regional (Bier block), plexus and GA all offered day-case
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Hand therapy or podiatry follow-up available for scar and mobility work
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Ganglion excision is a common, safe day-case procedure. The things worth planning are anaesthetic, recurrence risk, mobility work and knowing what is normal after.
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Recurrence: 5–15% after surgery
Careful excision of the stalk back to the joint capsule is the single biggest factor. Aspiration alone recurs 50–70%.
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Some stiffness after dorsal wrist surgery
A 5–10% loss of end-range wrist flexion is common. Scar and mobility work with a hand therapist restores most of it.
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Volar wrist — the radial artery is close
A named consultant, magnification and careful dissection matter. Palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve is protected too.
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Mucous cyst — the bone matters
Excising the cyst without trimming the underlying osteophyte is the commonest reason it comes back. We plan both.
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Nerve injury is rare but real
Superficial radial nerve (dorsal wrist), digital nerves (finger), sural or peroneal nerve (foot) — numb patches usually recover but can persist.
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Wound and skin healing
Small risk of infection, delayed healing and (with mucous cysts) skin necrosis needing a small graft. Sutures out at 10–14 days.
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Scarring softens over months
The scar looks pink and firm for weeks, then fades and softens over three to six months with massage.
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CRPS is rare
Complex regional pain syndrome after hand surgery is uncommon but recognised — early hand therapy reduces the risk.
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Red flags
Spreading redness, fever, worsening numbness or heavy bleeding 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
Indication and method chosen
Why the operation was done — dorsal wrist, volar wrist, mucous cyst, foot — and which technique was agreed with you.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic and surgical technique
Whether it was done under LA, Bier block, plexus or GA, whether open or arthroscopic, and whether an osteophyte was trimmed.
- 03 Findings
Cyst, stalk and any incidental notes
Notes on the cyst wall, the stalk back to the joint capsule, and any incidental findings such as tendon or joint changes.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, splint plan and review timing
Read this first: expected recovery, when the bulky dressing comes off, sutures out, hand therapy plan and when to return to sport.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for ganglion cyst removal varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when symptomatic, self-pay for cosmetic-only cases. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about ganglion cyst removal.
Quick answers on recurrence, cost, alternatives, and how much time off work you actually need.
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What is a ganglion cyst?
A benign, fluid-filled outpouching from a joint capsule or tendon sheath — most commonly at the wrist, fingers, feet or ankle. The fluid is thick mucin, not tumour, and the lump is not cancer.
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Do I need surgery, or will it go away?
Often, no surgery is needed. Around 40–58% of adult wrist ganglia resolve on their own, and up to 79% in children. Observation is a reasonable first step if the lump is painless.
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What about aspiration with a needle?
Aspiration ± steroid is quick and cheap and can be repeated, but recurrence is 50–70% at a year. Many patients try it once or twice before considering excision.
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How much does a private ganglion removal cost in the UK?
Roughly £1,500–£3,000 for a standard dorsal wrist excision, £2,000–£4,000 for a finger mucous cyst, and £2,500–£4,500 for arthroscopic wrist or foot cases. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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Will the ganglion come back after surgery?
Recurrence after careful excision is 5–15% — much lower than aspiration alone. For finger mucous cysts, trimming the underlying arthritic bone spur is what keeps the recurrence rate down.
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How much time off work do I need?
Office work: 2–7 days depending on which hand and travel. Manual jobs, driving heavy vehicles or cycling: up to two weeks. Contact sport and gym: 4–8 weeks.
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Will there be a scar?
Yes — a small linear or transverse scar over the lump. It looks pink and firm at first and fades over three to six months with massage. Arthroscopic dorsal wrist surgery leaves two very small port scars.
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When should I see a GP or A&E urgently?
A rapidly enlarging lump, unexplained weight loss, new numbness or weakness, or (after surgery) fever, spreading redness or heavy bleeding are all reasons to seek same-day medical help.
Related tests
Looking for something else?
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Ganglion block
Nerve-block injection for chronic pain — not the same as ganglion removal.
Learn more -
Cortisone shots
Steroid injection for joint and soft-tissue pain.
Learn more -
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Nerve entrapment at the elbow — assessment and options.
Learn more -
All tests
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more