Liver FibroScan in London
Fibrosis
Scarring in the liver, and how far it has progressed — the finding the scan exists to measure.
Liver stiffness
How firm the liver has become. Stiffness rises with scarring, which is what makes it measurable.
Fatty change (steatosis)
An abnormal build-up of fat in the liver, the finding behind fatty liver disease.
Monitoring a known condition
Following hepatitis, fatty liver disease or cirrhosis over time, without a needle or a biopsy.
Cirrhosis
Advanced scarring. The measurement distinguishes mild fibrosis from significant fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us your symptoms, or what your doctor has asked for, and we will help you choose.
Contact us →
How it works
Enquire
Send a booking request or call the clinic, and tell us what you need and the times that suit you. No GP referral is needed.
We call you back
We ring to agree a date and time and to answer anything you want to ask first. Nothing is booked and no payment is taken until we have spoken.
Your appointment
We look forward to serving you! On the day one of our experts will perform your procedure to a high standard and answer any questions.
Results
One of our experts will produce a conclusive report on the findings and email this to you within 1 working day.
Private liver assessment in London
Private liver FibroScan in London
A liver FibroScan — transient elastography — is a quick, non-invasive way of assessing the health of your liver. It measures liver stiffness, how firm the liver has become, which is the key indicator of fibrosis, or scarring. Nothing is injected, no tissue sample is taken and there is no radiation dose, so it is a straightforward alternative to a liver biopsy for this question.
It is used to look for and to monitor conditions such as fatty liver disease, hepatitis and cirrhosis, so that a change can be picked up early rather than late. Because the scan takes minutes and involves no needle, it can be repeated as often as it is clinically useful.
A liver FibroScan here is £220, shown before you book, with no referral fee and nothing extra to pay on the day. The clinic is in London, N13 — a short journey from Southgate, Winchmore Hill, Enfield, Wood Green and Muswell Hill — and you can book it yourself without seeing a GP first. If your policy covers diagnostics, see paying with insurance.
What happens during a Fibroscan?
You lie on an examination couch with your right arm above your head, and the clinician carrying out your scan feels along your ribs to find the right spot for the probe. A little water-based gel goes onto the skin so the probe makes proper contact, and it is then held firmly against the area. It does not break the skin, and nothing is inserted.
Each measurement sends a pulse through the liver — most people describe it as a light flick against the skin rather than anything painful. Several readings are taken from the same area, and the machine turns them into a measurement of liver stiffness. You can get up and get on with your day as soon as it is finished; there is no recovery time and nothing to arrange for getting home.
Before you come: do not eat or drink for six hours before your appointment — small sips of water are fine if you need them. There is no need to undress, but wear separates rather than a dress, as the clinician needs to reach your abdomen. If fasting is a problem for you, call 020 8920 3129 before your appointment and we will talk it through.
What does a liver FibroScan measure?
A FibroScan measures two things. The first is how stiff your liver is. Healthy liver tissue is soft, and it becomes stiffer as scarring — fibrosis — builds up, so the stiffness reading is a way of telling how much scarring is there without taking a sample. The second is fatty change: how much fat has gathered in the liver, which is what fatty liver disease describes.
Both come out as numbers, and numbers on their own are not a diagnosis. They are read alongside your liver function blood tests, your history and anything else your clinician already knows about you. That is why the scan is often booked after a blood test has come back abnormal rather than instead of one.
What it does not do: a FibroScan does not produce a picture of the liver. It cannot look for cysts, gallstones or a mass, and it is not a test for liver cancer — those need a liver ultrasound or other imaging, which we also offer. If you are not sure which of the two you need, call 020 8920 3129 and the team will go through it with you before anything is booked.
Who is a liver FibroScan for?
Most people who book one have had a liver function blood test come back abnormal, or have been told they have fatty liver — often written as NAFLD — and want to know whether it has begun to scar. Others book because a scan or a blood test is being repeated to see whether anything has changed since last time.
It is also used where there is a reason to keep an eye on the liver: a long history of drinking above the recommended limits, hepatitis B or C, type 2 diabetes or a raised BMI, or a medicine that is known to affect the liver. Some people have no symptoms at all and are simply following advice to have it checked.
Where there are symptoms, the common ones are a dull ache under the ribs on the right side, tiredness that does not lift, weight loss you cannot account for, or yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. None of those on their own means the liver is scarred — that is what the measurement is for.
No GP referral is needed to book, and you will be told the price before you confirm. If you are pregnant, or you have been told you have fluid in the abdomen, mention it when you call — a FibroScan is not always the right test in those circumstances and the team will say so rather than book you in.
Book a liver Fibroscan
Open any scan for its price and what to expect. Beside the Fibroscan are the ultrasound studies our sonographers carry out most often alongside it — an abdominal ultrasound looks at the structure of the liver and the organs around it, where the Fibroscan measures how stiff the liver has become.
How to book a Fibroscan?
You can arrange your scan today, with no need for a GP referral. Simply:
- send a booking request online — pick your scan from the list above and tell us the times that suit you
- or get in touch if you are not sure which scan you need, and we will help you choose
- either way we ring you back to agree a time and confirm the price, then we see you at the clinic in London — nothing is booked and no payment is taken online
Fibroscan Costs
Every Fibroscan here is £220 for one scan area, with your clinical report included.
No hidden charges and nothing to pay online — we confirm the price with you when we call.
You do not need a GP referral to book. If more than one area needs looking at, each additional area is £220 and the clinician carrying out your scan will tell you before it is carried out — nothing is added to what you pay without you agreeing to it.
Payment methods we accept
Private Fibroscan scan
Price
£220
for one scan area
- No GP referral needed
- Clinical report and images included
- Extra scan areas £220 each, when clinically appropriate
- At our own clinic in London (N13 4RJ)
- We agree your time by phone — nothing is paid online
Our reviews — What our patients say
Every word below is a patient’s own, published on our Google listing.
Brilliant service from booking appt to having the scan and report. The sonographer was extremely knowledgable and had a great bedside manner. I went on 29/12 and I didn't catch the name of the lady but I have to say she answered all my questions thoroughly and honestly.
Dr Bhagat was exceptionally thorough and reassuring. He explained the X-ray and ultrasound results clearly, ruling out any serious concerns and recommending the best next steps. His calm and caring approach put us at ease throughout. Highly recommended.
Went for some diagnostic tests and was seen within hours of contact with Jose. The tests were completed quickly, with everything fully explained and a report provided within 24 hours. Extremely efficient and friendly service. Special thanks to Jose.
Superb service. I had an US for my soft tissue, very welcoming staff. The sonographer was thorough, friendly and accurate. I would chose this place again and highly recommended if you could choose to have your In-Health scans.
Extremely impressed with my scan appointment the sonographer explained clearly all parts of my scan which was most reassuring. The staff were all very knowledgeable and friendly , I can highly recommend the LDC.
I was able to get an appointment for an ultrasound scan within a few days for a reasonable cost and the service was very friendly and efficient and got the scan report back within a couple of hours.
huge thank you to Doctor Jawad Yahya from the bottom of my heart for being an amazing doctor. Thank you for referring me to Doctor Hossein Rostamipour (consultant psychiatrist) for ADHD assessment.
Excellent practice. Friendly, welcoming personnel and the venue is clean and modern. The radiologist was pleasant and explained everything clearly. Highly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions people ask us most often before booking a liver Fibroscan.
Cannot see yours? Get in touch or call — we would rather answer it than have you guess.
What is a Fibroscan?
A Fibroscan is a non-invasive scan that measures the stiffness of the liver. It is used to assess liver health and to look for fibrosis — scarring — and cirrhosis. It is also called transient elastography.
How does a Fibroscan work?
A probe sends a painless pulse of energy through the liver. How fast that pulse travels through the tissue depends on how stiff the liver is, and the machine turns that into a measurement. Nothing is injected and no tissue sample is taken.
How much does a FibroScan cost in London?
A liver FibroScan at this clinic is £220. That is the price you are quoted before you book — there is no referral fee and nothing extra to pay on the day. Prices elsewhere in London vary, so it is worth checking what each one includes as well as what it charges.
Do I need a GP referral for a FibroScan?
No. You can book a liver FibroScan here yourself. If a GP or consultant has asked for the scan, bring their letter or tell us when we call, and the report goes back to them as well as to you.
Why might I need a Fibroscan?
It is usually wanted when a liver condition is suspected, or to follow one that is already known about — hepatitis B, hepatitis C, fatty liver disease and other long-term liver conditions are the common reasons. You can book one yourself; you do not need a GP referral.
Does a Fibroscan hurt?
It should not. The probe rests against the skin over your ribs on the right-hand side, and each pulse feels like a light flick or vibration. Nothing breaks the skin and nothing is inserted. Tell the clinician if anything is uncomfortable and they will adjust.
How should I prepare?
Do not eat or drink for six hours before your appointment. Small sips of water are fine if you need them. There is no need to undress, but wear separates rather than a dress — the clinician needs to reach your abdomen. If fasting is a problem for you, call 020 8920 3129 before your appointment and we will talk it through.
How long does it take?
The appointment is 15 minutes, and you can leave and get on with your day straight afterwards. There is no recovery time and nothing to arrange for getting home.
Are there any risks or side effects?
None are known. Nothing enters the body and there is no radiation dose, which is why the scan can be repeated as often as it is clinically useful — it is widely used as a non-invasive alternative to a liver biopsy for measuring liver stiffness.
Can anyone have a Fibroscan?
Most people can. Tell us beforehand if you are, or might be, pregnant, or if you have an implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker — a Fibroscan may not be suitable, and we would rather know before you travel to us than on the day.
How do I get my results?
A report is produced after your scan and sent to you, and to your GP or consultant if you have been referred by one. We will confirm how and when it reaches you when we call to confirm your appointment.
Is a Fibroscan covered by insurance?
It may be. Cover depends on your policy and your insurer, so check with them before you book — our paying with insurance page explains what to ask and which insurers the clinic works with.
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