We provide colorectal surgery for a range of conditions that affect the colon, rectum, anus and gastrointestinal tract. You can have your surgery as an outpatient or you may need to stay at our hospital until you recover.
Need answers quickly?
Our Rapid Diagnostics Centre offers fast access to advanced imaging, specialist clinics and on-site testing - helping you get clarity in days, not weeks. Plus, our 24/7 private GP service is here whenever you need urgent advice.
Our charitable purpose
As a charitable hospital, we reinvest in exceptional care, research and innovation - helping us improve healthcare for patients here and far beyond our walls.
Everything you need for your visit
Your Patient Hub brings together everything you need to prepare for your visit, understand your care and know what to expect throughout your stay.
Colorectal surgery
Also known as: colectomy surgery, bowel resection, rectal surgery
Easy access
Call us today to book an appointment
Fast referral
Get seen and treated within 14 days
What is it for?
Conditions that affect the colon, rectum, anus and gastrointestinal tract
Colorectal surgery consultation at The London Clinic
Colorectal surgery focuses on treating conditions that affect the colon, rectum, anus and gastrointestinal tract.
If you’re affected by one of these conditions, you’ll first meet one of our renowned consultant colorectal surgeons to discuss your health.
They’ll then look inside your bowels by carrying out a colonoscopy.
A colonoscopy is a type of endoscopy that involves a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end of it being passed through your back passage.
If surgery is required, your surgeon will aim to use keyhole surgery (also known as laparoscopic surgery) because of its many advantages.
Although keyhole surgery may not be possible for everyone, we’ll work to find a solution that’s best for you.
Contact us today to start your five-star treatment journey and get back to the life you love.
Your surgery at The London Clinic
World-leading gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons will oversee your treatment at The London Clinic.
Before your surgery, your dedicated care team will guide you through what to expect, talk about your recovery plan and answer all your questions.
As one of our patients, you’ll also benefit from extra touches such meals that are tailored to support your recovery.
You’ll have a team of specialist nurses helping you get back on your feet quickly and safely.
You can choose additional therapies to help you make the most of your recovery and reduce any discomfort, such as reiki and acupuncture.
Once you’re ready to leave The London Clinic, we’ll give you advice to follow at home to help you have a speedy recovery.
We’ll also keep in contact with you over the following weeks to ensure everything is going smoothly.
FAQs
It usually takes around six to twelve weeks to get back to normal after colorectal surgery.Â
Your consultant will advise you on what you can and can’t do during this time, and over the coming weeks and months.
Your consultant will discuss with you any side effects you might experience and how they’ll be managed. The main side effects of colorectal surgery are:
Changes to how your bowel works
After surgery, you may struggle to have a poo for a few days. It’s also normal to have diarrhoea and a sore bottom.Â
Changes to how you have sex
Men may find it hard to get or keep an erection. While women may feel nervous or anxious about having sex, which could lead to their vagina becoming dry and sex being painful.
Changes to your diet
After surgery, you may find that certain foods upset your bowel, causing diarrhoea or wind.
Fatigue (tiredness or exhaustion)
After your surgery, you may find you tire easily after an activity or need to rest a lot during the day. It may take several months for this stop.Â
Pain
Most people will experience pain after their surgery. Your care team will talk to you about this and make sure you have the right pain relief to manage it.
Stoma
A stoma is an opening in the stomach that’s connected to the digestive system. It allows poo and other waste to leave your body and into a pouch.
Depending on your surgery, you may need a stoma for two to three months or more.
You may need a stoma made from your colon or ileum, these are known as a colostomy or ileostomy.
Your surgeon may offer you a choice of open surgery (one long cut on your stomach) or keyhole surgery (two to four small cuts on your stomach).
Choosing between open surgery and keyhole surgery will depend on your general health, age and weight.
The types of colorectal surgeries our surgeons are highly trained in and regularly carry out include a partial colectomy or total colectomy. These involve removing part of or all of your colon.
Your surgeon may suggest a hemicolectomy, where half of your colon will be removed.
There is also the option to remove your colon and rectum with a proctocolectomy.
We also offer an anterior resection (removing the sigmoid colon and rectum), or an abdominoperineal resection (removing the sigmoid colon, rectum and anus).
Consultants
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Timeline
We aim to get you treated without delay and back to your normal life as quickly as possible. Typically, this involves the following steps:
Book an appointment
Our dedicated appointments team will arrange for you to meet with one of our renowned consultants.
Diagnosis and treatment plan
At your appointment, your consultant will review your medical history, current health and discuss your treatment options.
Pre-operative assessment
You’ll have an enhanced pre-operative assessment appointment to review your general health. This will check you're ready for colorectal surgery.
The day of your surgery
Your care team will welcome you, talk you through the day ahead and get you ready for your surgery.
Afterwards, your colorectal surgeon will find out how you’re feeling, tell you how your treatment went and discuss your recovery plan.
Aftercare
You'll stay at The London Clinic until you've recovered well from your surgery.
We’ll also give you advice about pain medication, dressing changes and possible side effects.
Follow-up
You'll have a follow-up appointment with your consultant to check everything is going as expected and you're recovering well.
Why choose The London Clinic?
Trusted for over 90 years, The London Clinic is an independent charitable hospital that reinvests into care, research, and support for those who can’t easily access private treatment.
The UK’s largest independent hospital
More patients choose The London Clinic than any other.
Top-rated by real patients
4.86/5 from over 1,600 reviews on Doctify and over 4.5 on Google.
Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
Investing in clinical excellence
Backed by Northwestern, we equip our teams with cutting-edge medical equipment.
0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.