The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
General surgery
General surgery covers a broad range of urgent and non-emergency (elective) surgical procedures.
About general surgery
Our general surgeons use the most advanced, minimally invasive techniques to treat your condition. Because of the increasingly specialist nature of all surgery, we tend to divide general surgery into a number of sub-specialties.
General surgery is carried out by surgeons who are trained to perform a broad range of surgical procedures. They treat hernias, appendicitis, gallstones and investigate unexpected weight loss, indigestion and other abdominal symptoms such as bloating.
Types of general surgery
Bariatric surgery
Weight loss surgery is for people who are obese or morbidly obese (BMI must be 30 or greater), and have failed to lose weight through dieting and exercise. Surgical weight loss options are considered to be an acceptable risk for people whose overall health is more at risk because of their excess weight.
Breast surgery
Although a sub-specialty of general surgery, treatment can often include breast cancer surgery or reconstructive procedures that do not require a plastic surgeon. Patients experiencing a range of breast symptoms, may need a general surgeon or a specialist breast cancer surgeon.
Colorectal surgery
This type of general surgery deals with surgery treatment for disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. Our colorectal units offer treatments for both complex and conventional colorectal surgery using traditional and robotic laparoscopic techniques.
Endocrine surgery
Focused on surgery of the endocrine glands, endocrine surgery also includes procedures for the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands and the adrenal glands. Surgery to the glands of the endocrine pancreas, and some neuroendocrine glands can also be undertaken as part of this type of surgery.
HPB surgery
Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery refers to surgery involving the liver, pancreas, gallbladder or bile ducts. We're able to treat all forms of liver, pancreatic and bile duct disease including heartburn, diabetes, cancer and hepatitis.
Upper GI surgery
This type of surgery covers the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, liver, pancreas, gall bladder and small intestine. It includes treatment for cancers, gastro-oesophageal reflux, gallstones, obesity and pancreatitis.
General surgery treatments
These are some of the treatments our general surgeons undertake.
Need to know
Sometimes, your appendix (small pouch attached to your colon) can swell and cause severe pain. This condition is called appendicitis. Medically its not known what causes the reaction. At HCA Healthcare UK, our general surgeons can carry out a surgical operation called an appendicectomy to remove your...
A groin-area hernia is the most common type of hernia. It's caused by a weakness in your abdominal wall, which allows the contents of your abdomen to push through the muscle, producing a lump called a hernia. If left untreated, a hernia will not heal on its own and can cause serious complications.
Gallstones are small stones that form in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder stores bile to help you digest fats in food. To treat gallstones, your gallbladder can be removed using keyhole surgery. You can live without a gallbladder and your liver will still make bile.
LINX® is a type of keyhole surgery that involves putting a small, flexible band of interlinked titanium beads with magnetic cores around your food pipe (oesophagus) just above the stomach. This is to mimic the valve at the bottom of your food pipe that creates a barrier to the reflux of acid or bile.
An umbilical hernia occurs near the belly button (umbilicus). It is a condition caused by a weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall. This weakness allows part of the bowel or internal tissue to push through, forming a pouch or painful bulge called a hernia. Surgery to repair a hernia and strengthen...
Haemorrhoids also known as piles are swellings in or around the anus that contain large blood vessels. They can be uncomfortable and itchy and sometimes bleed. Most piles don't need surgery but there are a few different ways you can have them surgically removed, including banding and stapling.
Your gallbladder is a small organ (body part) that stores bile, a liquid which helps you digest fatty food. Sometimes small stones called gallstones forms inside your gallbladder. These often cause no symptoms and you may not even know you have them. However, they can sometimes block the flow of bile...
Hernias are caused by a weakness in the muscle or tissue wall which allows an internal part of the body to push through. There are few or no symptoms other than a lump or swelling that may appear after coughing or straining. Usually the lump can be pushed back in or disappears when you lie down. Some...
A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach extends up through your diaphragm and into your chest. Surgery is generally for people who aren't helped by medications to relieve heartburn and acid reflux, or have complications such as severe inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus.
Our General surgery locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Chiswick Outpatients
Bond House 347-353 Chiswick High Road W4 4HS London
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.