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Hernia surgery in the UK, by BHS-accredited specialists.

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

Indicative pricing

What private hernia surgery costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£2,500–£5,500, home the same day.

Procedure Indicative range
Inguinal hernia repair (open / lap, unilateral) £2,500–£5,500
Femoral hernia repair £3,000–£6,000
Umbilical / epigastric hernia repair £2,500–£5,500
Hiatus hernia repair (para-oesophageal) £8,000–£14,000
Incisional / ventral hernia repair £5,000–£12,000
Complex AWR (eTEP / rTAR / component separation) £10,000–£20,000+
Consultation only £200–£400

Prices vary by hernia type, surgeon, hospital, and whether the repair is open, laparoscopic or robotic. Complex or recurrent cases sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right hernia sub-type, the right surgeon, the right technique.

The single biggest determinant of a good hernia outcome is not the technique - it is the volume of the surgeon doing it. Volume, and matching the operation to your anatomy, is what we fix.

  • Worried about mesh?

    A proper conversation about mesh vs primary, lightweight vs heavyweight, and the honest data on chronic pain - from a BHS-accredited specialist.

  • Complex or recurrent case?

    Prior repair failed, large defect, loss of domain, stoma involved? We route to abdominal wall reconstruction units with eTEP / rTAR / component separation capability.

When it helps

When hernia surgery is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.

  • Groin lump (inguinal / femoral)

    A swelling in the groin that comes and goes with standing, coughing or lifting - usually inguinal, sometimes femoral.

  • Umbilical / paraumbilical swelling

    A soft lump at or beside the belly button. Common in adults after pregnancy or with weight gain.

  • Midline lump above the umbilicus

    A small epigastric hernia through the linea alba - often tender, sometimes multiple.

  • Reflux and para-oesophageal hernia

    Heartburn, regurgitation or a large hiatus hernia (type II–IV) that warrants surgical assessment, not just PPIs.

  • Bulge through a previous scar

    An incisional hernia through a laparotomy, laparoscopic port or stoma site - assessment for open, IPOM+ or eTEP repair.

  • Groin pain in an endurance athlete

    Chronic groin pain in footballers, cyclists and runners - inguinal disruption (sportsman’s hernia) requires a specific surgical repair.

  • Recurrent hernia after previous repair

    A hernia that has come back after previous open or laparoscopic surgery - different approach needed, often robotic.

  • Red flag: irreducible, painful, vomiting

    A hernia that will not push back in, is tender, with vomiting or bowel obstruction, is an emergency - 999 or A&E, not a clinic booking.

Hernia types

The full hernia spectrum - every sub-type, one map.

A summary of every sub-type we cover. Each has its own dedicated page with the detail - techniques, mesh choice, recovery and pricing.

  • Inguinal (adult and child)

    The commonest hernia. Adult repair by open Lichtenstein or laparoscopic TEP/TAPP; paediatric via herniotomy without mesh.

  • Femoral

    Below the inguinal ligament, more common in women. Always repaired - high strangulation risk.

  • Umbilical & paraumbilical

    Through or beside the belly button. Small defects primary suture; larger defects tension-free mesh.

  • Epigastric

    Small midline defects in the linea alba above the umbilicus. Open or laparoscopic mesh depending on size.

  • Hiatus (para-oesophageal)

    Type II–IV hiatus hernias where stomach herniates into the chest - laparoscopic reduction, crural repair, fundoplication.

  • Incisional / ventral

    Post-surgical hernia through a prior wound. Open Rives-Stoppa retro-muscular, laparoscopic IPOM+, robotic eTEP or rTAR for large defects.

  • Parastomal, Spigelian, obturator

    Rarer subtypes around a stoma, through the semilunar line, or through the obturator canal - specialist repair only.

  • Athletic / sportsman’s hernia

    Inguinal disruption without a true hernia. Meyers repair, gilmore or laparoscopic mesh for endurance athletes.

Detailed sub-type pages

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Elective hernia repair is a safe, ubiquitous operation. The things worth planning are preoperative optimisation, mesh vs primary, and knowing what is normal after - and what is a red flag.

  • Hernias do not heal in adults

    The defect in the fascia will not close on its own. Watchful waiting is reasonable for small, painless hernias - surgery is the only definitive fix.

  • Tension-free mesh vs primary suture

    For most adult hernias mesh gives a lower recurrence rate. Very small defects and paediatric hernias can be repaired without.

  • Anatomy-driven approach

    Open Lichtenstein, TEP, TAPP, IPOM+, eTEP and TAR each have their place. The right choice depends on defect size, location and previous surgery.

  • Preoperative optimisation matters

    Smoking cessation ≥6 weeks, BMI ideally <35 for ventral repair, HbA1c <65 mmol/mol, nutrition and prehab all lower complication rates.

  • ERAS pathway ubiquitous

    Enhanced Recovery After Surgery - early mobilisation, opioid-sparing analgesia, early feeding - is standard in every unit we use.

  • Return to work timeline

    Desk work: 1–2 weeks after most simple repairs. Manual work / lifting: 4–6 weeks. Complex AWR: 6–12 weeks.

  • Recurrence risk is real

    Even in expert hands recurrence runs 1–10% depending on hernia type, technique and patient factors. High-volume centres do better.

  • Mesh questions answered honestly

    Modern lightweight polypropylene meshes have an excellent safety profile. Chronic pain and complications are rare but real - worth a proper conversation.

  • Red flags

    An irreducible hernia, severe pain, vomiting or bowel obstruction is an emergency - 999 or A&E, same-day, not a clinic booking.

Reading your operation note

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

Whichever hernia was repaired, and whichever technique, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

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

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.

  1. 01 Header

    Hernia type, side and defect size

    Which hernia (inguinal, femoral, umbilical, incisional, hiatus), which side, and the size of the fascial defect in centimetres.

  2. 02 Technique

    Approach, mesh and closure

    Open or laparoscopic or robotic; Lichtenstein, TEP, TAPP, IPOM+, eTEP or TAR; mesh type and fixation method; closure of defect.

  3. 03 Findings

    Contents, adhesions, incidental findings

    What was in the sac (fat, bowel, bladder), any adhesions divided, and any incidental findings such as a second hernia on the other side.

  4. 04 Impression

    Recovery, restrictions, follow-up

    Read this first: pain control, when to lift, drive and return to sport or work, wound care, and follow-up plan.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Hernia repair is covered by most UK health insurers when the hernia is symptomatic. Cosmetic or asymptomatic cases are usually self-pay.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about hernia surgery.

Quick answers on mesh, cost, techniques, and how much time off work you actually need.

  • What is a hernia, exactly?

    A hernia is a defect (opening) in the fascia through which a sac of peritoneum, and sometimes its contents (fat, bowel), protrudes. The three parts are the defect, the sac and the contents. Adult hernias do not close on their own.

  • Do all hernias need surgery?

    No. Small, painless, easily reducible inguinal hernias in an adult can be watched. Femoral hernias should always be repaired because of strangulation risk, especially in women. Symptomatic, enlarging or complicated hernias need surgery.

  • Open, laparoscopic or robotic - which is best?

    It depends on the hernia. Small primary inguinal repairs do well with open Lichtenstein under LA. Bilateral or recurrent inguinal hernias suit laparoscopic TEP/TAPP. Large ventral / incisional hernias increasingly go robotic eTEP or rTAR. A high-volume surgeon should offer more than one technique.

  • How much does private hernia surgery cost in the UK?

    Roughly £2,500–£5,500 for a simple inguinal, umbilical or epigastric repair; £3,000–£6,000 for femoral; £8,000–£14,000 for a hiatus hernia repair; and £10,000–£20,000+ for complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

  • Is mesh safe?

    Modern lightweight polypropylene mesh has an excellent safety record and dramatically lowers recurrence in adult hernia repair. Chronic pain occurs in a small minority. Mesh questions are worth a proper conversation with a BHS-accredited surgeon.

  • How long is recovery?

    Simple repairs: desk work in 1–2 weeks, driving in 1–2 weeks, heavy lifting in 4–6. Larger incisional or ventral repairs: 4–8 weeks off manual work. Complex AWR (component separation, rTAR) is a 3–6 month recovery.

  • Can hernia surgery be done under local anaesthetic?

    Yes - most open inguinal, umbilical and epigastric repairs can be done under LA with or without sedation. Laparoscopic, robotic, hiatus and complex ventral repairs require GA.

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