HighSurgery

Recovery Time After 11 Common Operations: What the NHS Says

Comparisons, Postoperative Recovery and Care Published:

Checked on 2 November 2026: compiled with AI from the official sites listed in the sources, each figure confirmed by two separate searches of the official site or on the page itself, and read by our editor before publication; every month the figures are checked again, automatically. Rules and prices change; the official site always has the last word.

How long will recovery take? Below is what the NHS says about the hospital stay, the return to work, driving and full recovery after 11 common operations, each read on nhs.uk on 2 November 2026. Your own surgeon’s advice comes first: recovery depends on your health, your job and how the operation was done.

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Written with AI from the sources listed at the end.

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A dash means the figure was not confirmed on the official site on the date checked.
Recovery Time After 11 Common Operations (checked 2 November 2026)
OperationHospital stayBack to workDrivingFull recovery
Inguinal hernia repairthe same day as the operationusually at least 1 to 2 weeks (or up to 6 weeks if your job involves heavy lifting)–up to 4 to 6 weeks
Gallbladder removalYou can usually go home on the same day, but some people need to stay overnight.1 to 2 weeks after surgery, depending on the type of work and surgery.until you’re able to do an emergency stop without any pain or discomfortIt can take several weeks to recover after your gallbladder is removed.
Appendicectomy–after 1 or 2 weeks–1 to 2 weeks
Hip replacementaround 1 to 3 days after the operationabout 6 weeksat least 6 weeksseveral months
Knee replacement–6 to 12 weeksat least 6 weeks after a total knee replacement or 3 weeks after a partial knee replacementIt may take several months or longer to fully recover from a knee replacement.
Hysterectomybetween 1 and 4 days later, or up to 5 days for an abdominal hysterectomy6 to 8 weeks2 to 6 weeks6 to 8 weeks
Caesarean section1 or 2 days–a few weekswithin 6 weeks
Vasectomy–within 24 hoursuntil you can safely do an emergency stop–
Varicose vein treatmentthe same day1 to 2 weeksat least 48 hours after your procedure–
Knee arthroscopywithin a few hours; sometimes you may need to spend the night in hospital–at least 2 weeks after your operationfrom around 1 week to several months
Bunion surgery–2 to 12 weeks6 to 8 weeks–

How to use this table

  • Ask your hospital for a written recovery plan: it gives the dates for your own operation.
  • Before driving, you must be able to do an emergency stop without pain; some insurers set their own rules after surgery.
  • A physical job usually needs longer off work than a desk job.

Before you rely on it

  • These are typical times for people in good health; complications or other conditions make recovery longer.
  • The NHS updates its pages: the date each row was checked is in the sources. This page does not replace medical advice.

Sources