Abdominal Ultrasound in London: Private Doctor-Performed Scan With Same-Day Results
A private abdominal ultrasound at The Online GP by The Wellness costs from £195, performed by a GMC-registered doctor with results discussed before you leave our Marylebone clinic. No referral is required. Abdominal ultrasound is the first-line investigation for abdominal pain, bloating, abnormal liver or kidney blood tests, gallstones, fatty liver, and many other conditions. On the NHS, a non-urgent referral for abdominal ultrasound can take 4 to 8 weeks. At our clinic, same-day appointments are frequently available, giving you answers in hours rather than weeks.
Book an Abdominal Ultrasound - WhatsApp | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call: 020 3951 3429
What an Abdominal Ultrasound Examines
An abdominal ultrasound is one of the most versatile diagnostic imaging tools in medicine. A single scan can assess multiple organs and provide answers to a wide range of clinical questions.
Liver. The largest solid organ in the abdomen, the liver is assessed for fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects approximately 1 in 3 UK adults, according to the British Liver Trust), cirrhosis, hepatitis-related changes, masses, cysts, and vascular abnormalities. Fatty liver disease is often detected incidentally and, when identified early, can be reversed through lifestyle changes before it progresses to more serious liver damage.
Gallbladder. Ultrasound is the gold-standard investigation for gallstones, which affect approximately 10 to 15% of the UK adult population (NICE, 2024). It also detects gallbladder wall thickening (suggesting inflammation or cholecystitis), polyps, and sludge. If you are experiencing right upper abdominal pain, particularly after fatty meals, gallbladder assessment is the most important component of the scan.
Kidneys. Both kidneys are assessed for size, shape, cortical thickness, hydronephrosis (swelling due to urine obstruction), kidney stones, cysts, and masses. Kidney ultrasound is indicated for flank pain, blood in the urine (haematuria), recurrent urinary tract infections, abnormal kidney function blood tests, and screening for polycystic kidney disease.
Pancreas. The pancreas is assessed for inflammation (pancreatitis), cysts, masses, and duct dilatation. Visualisation of the pancreas can be limited by overlying bowel gas, which is one reason fasting before the scan is important.
Spleen. The spleen is assessed for enlargement (splenomegaly), which can be associated with liver disease, blood disorders, infections, and other conditions.
Abdominal aorta. The main artery running through the abdomen is measured to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The NHS offers AAA screening only to men at age 65. Private screening is available at any age for those with risk factors (smoking, family history, high blood pressure).
Free fluid. Ultrasound can detect free fluid (ascites) in the abdominal cavity, which may indicate liver disease, heart failure, infection, or malignancy.
When to Get an Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal pain. Pain in any area of the abdomen can potentially be investigated with ultrasound. Right upper quadrant pain suggests gallbladder or liver pathology. Right or left flank pain suggests kidney pathology. Generalised or epigastric pain may involve the pancreas, stomach area, or multiple organs.
Bloating and digestive symptoms. Persistent bloating, changes in bowel habit, and unexplained digestive discomfort warrant investigation, particularly if lasting more than a few weeks. While ultrasound cannot directly visualise the bowel lining (endoscopy is needed for that), it can identify structural causes such as gallstones, liver changes, and abdominal masses.
Abnormal blood tests. Elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP), abnormal kidney function (raised creatinine or urea), or raised bilirubin all warrant ultrasound investigation to determine the structural cause.
Unexplained weight loss. When combined with other investigations, abdominal ultrasound forms part of the work-up for unexplained weight loss to identify or exclude abdominal pathology.
Known conditions requiring monitoring. If you have a known liver condition, kidney cysts, gallbladder polyps, or other abdominal findings, periodic ultrasound monitoring may be recommended.
Health screening. An abdominal ultrasound as part of a comprehensive health check (such as our Executive Body Scan at £695) provides a structural assessment of your major abdominal organs that blood tests alone cannot achieve.
Before Your Scan: Preparation
For the best possible image quality, you should fast for 6 hours before your abdominal ultrasound. No food. Small sips of water are permitted. Fasting serves two purposes: it ensures the gallbladder is distended (full of bile), providing the clearest images for detecting gallstones and other gallbladder pathology, and it reduces gas in the stomach and bowel, improving visualisation of deeper structures including the pancreas.
Morning appointments are ideal for fasting scans. When you contact us to book, our team will confirm the preparation requirements and help you choose an appropriate time.
If you are having a combined abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, you may also be asked to drink water to fill your bladder for the pelvic component. We will advise you on the specific preparation needed for your scan.
During and After Your Scan
The scan itself takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. You lie on an examination couch, and your doctor applies warm gel to your abdomen. A handheld transducer is moved across the skin surface, producing real-time images of your internal organs on a screen. The procedure is completely painless.
Your doctor may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it (this moves the liver and gallbladder into a better position for imaging), change position (turning onto your side to improve kidney views), or point to specific areas of discomfort so they can focus the scan accordingly.
Because the scan is performed by a doctor at The Online GP by The Wellness, your results are discussed with you immediately after the examination. If everything looks normal, you leave with reassurance. If an abnormality is found, your doctor explains what it is, what it means, and what should happen next. This might include additional blood tests, further imaging (CT or MRI), lifestyle advice, medication, or referral to a specialist. Everything can be initiated from the same appointment.
Combining an Abdominal Ultrasound With Other Investigations
An abdominal ultrasound provides structural information. Blood tests provide functional information. Together, they give the most complete picture.
For example, if you have abdominal pain and your liver enzymes are raised, the blood test tells you the liver is under stress but not why. The ultrasound can reveal whether the cause is fatty liver, gallstones obstructing the bile duct, hepatitis-related changes, or a mass. Without both, the picture is incomplete.
At The Online GP by The Wellness, blood tests and ultrasound can be done in the same visit. Your doctor can order the relevant blood panel, perform the ultrasound, and when blood results return (typically 24 to 48 hours), arrange a follow-up to discuss the complete picture. This is dramatically faster and more efficient than the NHS pathway of GP appointment, blood test referral, wait for results, GP follow-up, ultrasound referral, wait for scan, wait for report, then another GP appointment to discuss findings.
Our Executive Body Scan at £695 includes a comprehensive abdominal ultrasound alongside echocardiogram, carotid Doppler, thyroid scan, AAA screening, and extensive blood work, providing the most thorough single-visit health assessment available.
Book an Abdominal Scan or Full Assessment - WhatsApp | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com | Call: 020 3951 3429
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an abdominal ultrasound cost? From £195 at The Online GP by The Wellness. Doctor-performed with same-day results.
What does it check for? Liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, abdominal aorta, and free fluid. Investigates pain, bloating, abnormal blood tests, and more.
Do I need to fast? Yes. Fast for 6 hours before the scan. Small sips of water are fine. Morning appointments are ideal.
Do I need a referral? No. Book directly on WhatsApp. If unsure, a £49 phone consultation can determine whether a scan is appropriate.
Can it detect cancer? It can detect masses and structural changes that warrant further investigation. It cannot definitively diagnose cancer on its own.
How quickly can I be seen? Same-day and next-day appointments frequently available. NHS non-urgent referrals take 4 to 8 weeks.
Who performs the scan? A GMC-registered doctor, not a sonographer. Results discussed immediately.
The Online GP by The Wellness provides private doctor-led healthcare and diagnostic imaging from our Marylebone clinic. Contact us on WhatsApp at +44 7961 280835, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call 020 3951 3429.
References
NICE. Gallstone disease: diagnosis and management. CG188. Updated 2024.
British Liver Trust. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Updated 2025.
NICE. Renal and ureteric stones: assessment and management. NG118. Updated 2024.
NHS. Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. Updated 2025.
Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for ultrasound provision. 2024.
