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Urogynaecology · UK

Prolapse repair - the right operation, done properly.

Surgery to lift and support a prolapsed bladder, bowel, womb or vaginal vault - repairing with your own tissues wherever possible. A subspecialist urogynaecologist, an honest conversation about mesh, and physiotherapy built into the plan.

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

Indicative pricing

What private prolapse repair costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across UK urogynaecology units.

In short

£5,500–£8,500, home day-case or one night.

Procedure Indicative range
Urogynaecology consultation only £220–£400
Anterior repair (cystocele) £5,500–£8,500
Posterior repair (rectocele) £5,500–£8,500
Combined anterior and posterior repair £7,000–£11,000
Vaginal hysterectomy with repair £8,000–£13,000
Sacrospinous fixation (vault) £7,000–£11,000
Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy £10,000–£16,000
Colpocleisis (obliterative repair) £6,000–£9,000

Prices vary by hospital, by the surgeon, by how many compartments are repaired, and by whether a hysterectomy or continence procedure is done at the same sitting. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy sits at the top of the range.

The problem

The right compartment, the right technique, and the truth about mesh.

Prolapse surgery is where general gynaecology quietly under-delivers - the wrong compartment repaired, non-surgical options skipped, the mesh conversation avoided.

  • Repair what is actually prolapsing

    Prolapse often affects more than one compartment. A careful examination decides exactly what to repair - and what to leave alone.

  • Try the conservative route first

    Physiotherapy and a pessary help many women.

  • Be honest about mesh

    Vaginal mesh remains restricted in the UK. Native-tissue repair is the usual default, and any use of graft material should be explained exactly.

When it helps

When prolapse repair is the right step.

The situations that come up most, plus the one red flag that means prompt assessment before any planned surgery.

  • Symptomatic bulge that will not settle

    A visible or palpable bulge and dragging heaviness that a pessary or physiotherapy has not resolved, or that you would rather have repaired.

  • Cystocele affecting the bladder

    Front-wall prolapse causing urinary frequency, a poor stream or incomplete emptying - anterior repair restores the support.

  • Uterine prolapse

    The uterus descending into or beyond the vagina - repaired by vaginal hysterectomy with support, or a uterus-preserving suspension.

  • Rectocele affecting the bowel

    Back-wall prolapse causing difficulty emptying the bowel or a need to splint - posterior repair rebuilds the wall.

  • Vault prolapse after hysterectomy

    The top of the vagina descending after a previous hysterectomy - corrected by sacrospinous fixation or sacrocolpopexy.

  • Prolapse with stress incontinence

    Where a leak on coughing or exercise coexists, a continence procedure can sometimes be planned alongside the repair.

  • A definitive repair for the frail

    For older women no longer sexually active, colpocleisis offers a quick, durable, low-risk option that closes the vaginal canal.

  • Red flag: bleeding, pain or retention

    New postmenopausal bleeding, severe pain, or a sudden inability to pass urine needs prompt assessment before any planned surgery.

Repair options

The operation depends on the compartment and your goals.

What each option involves - approach (vaginal, laparoscopic) and target (front wall, back wall, uterus or vault), including the current position on mesh.

  • Anterior repair (colporrhaphy)

    Rebuilds the front vaginal wall to support a prolapsed bladder, using your own tissues. Usually vaginal and often day-case.

  • Posterior repair (colporrhaphy)

    Rebuilds the back vaginal wall to support a prolapsed bowel, again with native tissue and a vaginal approach.

  • Vaginal hysterectomy with repair

    Removes the uterus through the vagina and adds support at the top, the traditional operation for uterine prolapse.

  • Uterus-preserving suspension

    Hysteropexy lifts and fixes the uterus without removing it, an option for women who wish to keep their womb.

  • Sacrospinous fixation

    Anchors the vaginal vault to a strong pelvic ligament through a vaginal approach, for uterine or vault prolapse.

  • Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy

    Keyhole abdominal repair that suspends the vault to the sacrum with a mesh graft - the most durable option for vault prolapse in suitable women.

  • Colpocleisis

    An obliterative repair that narrows or closes the vaginal canal. Quick and durable, chosen by women no longer wishing to have vaginal intercourse.

  • The mesh question

    Transvaginal mesh for prolapse remains restricted in the UK. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy mesh is still used in selected cases; native-tissue repair is otherwise standard.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Prolapse repair is a well-established operation. The things worth planning are the compartment, the technique, and a steady, physiotherapy-supported recovery.

  • Anaesthetic in a proper theatre

    Repairs are done under general or spinal anaesthetic. Vaginal repairs are often day-case or one night; sacrocolpopexy is one to two nights.

  • Bleeding and infection

    A vaginal pack reduces early bleeding. Wound and urinary infections are uncommon and usually settle with antibiotics; call for fever or offensive discharge.

  • Difficulty passing urine at first

    Temporary urinary retention after the catheter comes out is common. Occasionally a catheter is needed for a few more days until the bladder recovers.

  • Injury to bladder, bowel or ureter

    A recognised but uncommon risk, higher with more complex repairs. The team is set up to recognise and repair it at the time.

  • DVT and PE

    Blood-clot prophylaxis - stockings, heparin and early mobilisation - is standard. Call the same day for calf pain, swelling or breathlessness.

  • Prolapse can come back

    No repair is guaranteed for life. Recurrence rates vary by compartment and technique; physiotherapy, oestrogen and avoiding heavy strain all help it last.

  • Effect on sex

    Most women return to comfortable intercourse after six weeks. Occasionally repairs cause tightness or discomfort (dyspareunia), which should be discussed before surgery.

  • Vaginal oestrogen supports healing

    For post-menopausal women, vaginal oestrogen before and after surgery improves tissue quality and may reduce recurrence. It is local, not systemic HRT.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Heavy vaginal bleeding, fever, spreading redness, severe pain, inability to pass urine, or calf pain and breathlessness need the same-day team or A&E.

Reading your operation note

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

Whichever repair was performed - vaginal or laparoscopic - the note your surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant urogynaecologist reviewing a patient’s operation notes

A quiet reminder

Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - it is fine to ask for plain English.

It is reasonable to ask your clinician to talk you through the operation note and your recovery plan before your review.

  1. 01 Header

    Compartments repaired and approach

    Which compartments were corrected - front wall, back wall, uterus or vault - and whether the operation was vaginal, laparoscopic or open.

  2. 02 Technique

    Repair method and any graft

    The technique used, whether your own tissues or a graft supported the repair, and any additional procedure such as a continence operation.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intra-operative findings

    What was seen at surgery, the condition of the tissues, and any complication managed at the time.

  4. 04 Plan

    Recovery and follow-up

    Read this first: activity limits, when to resume intercourse and lifting, catheter arrangements, and the plan for physiotherapy and review.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Prolapse repair is usually covered when medically indicated, though continence add-ons and choice of technique can affect authorisation.

Frequently asked

Common questions about prolapse repair.

Quick answers on mesh, conservative options, recovery, recurrence, cost and the NHS route.

  • Will prolapse repair use mesh?

    For most repairs, no. Transvaginal mesh for prolapse remains restricted in the UK following a national safety pause, so native-tissue repair using your own tissues is the standard vaginal approach. Mesh is still used in selected abdominal operations such as laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, where the evidence supports it. Your surgeon will explain exactly what will and will not be used before you consent.

  • Should I try a pessary or physiotherapy first?

    Often, yes. Pelvic-floor physiotherapy can improve mild prolapse and its symptoms, and a vaginal pessary can relieve a bulge without surgery. Many women try one or both before deciding on an operation. Surgery is the right first step when the prolapse is advanced, when conservative measures have not helped, or when you would simply prefer a definitive repair.

  • How long is recovery after prolapse surgery?

    Most women are home within a day or two and back to light activity quickly. Plan on roughly two to six weeks off work depending on your job, and avoid heavy lifting, straining and vaginal intercourse for about six weeks while the repair heals. A gradual return, supported by pelvic-floor physiotherapy, gives the most durable result.

  • Can prolapse come back after repair?

    It can. No prolapse repair is guaranteed for life, and recurrence rates vary by which compartment is repaired and the technique used. You can improve the odds of a lasting result by keeping to a healthy weight, treating constipation and chronic cough, using vaginal oestrogen after the menopause, and continuing pelvic-floor exercises. If prolapse does recur, further options remain available.

  • How much does private prolapse repair cost in the UK?

    Expect roughly £5,500–£8,500 for a single anterior or posterior repair, £7,000–£11,000 for a combined repair or sacrospinous fixation, £8,000–£13,000 for a vaginal hysterectomy with repair, and £10,000–£16,000 for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Colpocleisis is around £6,000–£9,000.

  • What is the NHS route, and why go private?

    Prolapse repair is available on the NHS through urogynaecology services, and the surgery itself is well established. The main differences privately are speed - avoiding a long waiting list - continuity with a chosen subspecialist surgeon, and a scheduled date that fits your life. For many women the NHS route is entirely appropriate; private care is sometimes chosen when waiting times, choice of surgeon or timing matter most.

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