What is liver elastography (FibroScan)?
A quick, non-invasive test that measures two things at once. How stiff your liver is, which reflects scarring (fibrosis), and how much fat it contains (steatosis). It uses a gentle vibration and sound waves, takes a few minutes, needs no needles and gives you numbers you can track over time. FibroScan is the best known device for this measurement, which is called transient elastography.
Why might I need a FibroScan?
A liver elastography is recommended whenever the liver needs assessing without a biopsy, for example if you have
- Suspected or known fatty liver disease
- Raised liver enzymes or abnormal liver function tests
- A history of higher alcohol intake
- Chronic hepatitis B or C
- A bright or fatty liver on an ultrasound that you want staged
- Type 2 diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome
- Known liver disease that needs monitoring
How does liver elastography work?
The probe rests on the skin between your ribs on the right side and sends a gentle vibration into the liver. It measures how fast that vibration travels through the tissue. Scarred, stiffer liver carries the wave faster, so the speed converts into a stiffness reading in kilopascals. At the same time the probe measures how the ultrasound signal fades, which gives the CAP score for fat. You feel little more than a light tap.
What do the FibroScan results mean?
Stiffness is reported in kilopascals and placed on the fibrosis scale from F0, no scarring, to F4, cirrhosis. As a rough guide, readings under about 7 kPa suggest little or no scarring and readings above about 12 to 14 kPa raise the possibility of cirrhosis, though the exact cut-offs depend on the cause of the liver disease. The CAP score grades fat from S0 to S3. Your specialist explains your numbers in context rather than in isolation.
Is a FibroScan better than a liver biopsy?
For staging fibrosis and fatty change, elastography is now the first-line test. It samples a far larger volume of liver than a biopsy, with no needle, no anaesthetic and no recovery time. A biopsy is still used in selected cases where the cause of liver disease is unclear or the readings are borderline.
Do I need to fast for a FibroScan?
Yes, for two to three hours. Eating increases blood flow to the liver and can push the stiffness reading up. Small sips of water are fine and you can take your usual medication.
Does a FibroScan hurt?
No. You feel a gentle tap or flick against your skin each time a reading is taken. There are no needles, no radiation and no contrast injection, and you can go straight back to your day.
How long does liver elastography take?
The measurements take around ten minutes. With a short conversation beforehand and time to explain the two readings, you are usually with us for twenty minutes.
Can a FibroScan detect fatty liver?
Yes. The CAP score measures how much fat the liver contains and grades it from mild to severe. Combined with the stiffness reading, it tells you whether fatty change has started to cause scarring, which is the question that matters.
Can a FibroScan detect cirrhosis?
A high stiffness reading raises the possibility of cirrhosis, and elastography is one of the main ways it is found before symptoms appear. A reading in that range comes with a referral recommendation to a hepatologist, with your report in hand, for the full assessment that follows.
Can a FibroScan detect liver cancer?
No. Elastography measures stiffness and fat, not lumps. A liver ultrasound, and where needed CT or MRI, is the test for lesions, which is why the two are often done together. A high stiffness reading does mean cirrhosis needs ruling out, and cirrhosis raises the long-term risk of liver cancer, so that result comes with a referral recommendation for proper surveillance.
Can a FibroScan score go down?
Yes. Both the stiffness and the fat readings fall when the cause is treated, whether that is weight loss, stopping alcohol, treating hepatitis or controlling diabetes. Early scarring can improve, which is why a repeat measurement after six to twelve months of changes is so useful.
How often should I repeat a FibroScan?
It depends on your result and the cause. Many people with fatty liver repeat it every one to two years to track the effect of lifestyle changes. Significant scarring is usually monitored more closely under a hepatologist. Your specialist suggests an interval with your result.
How much does a private FibroScan cost in the UK?
At Harley Street Ultrasound a private liver elastography costs £300, all fees inclusive. The measurement, the specialist’s time and your written report. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available and no GP referral is needed. A liver and gallbladder ultrasound can be added in the same visit.
What if you find something?
Your specialist tells you in the room, in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You will never be sent home to wait for a letter. Most findings are benign and need nothing more than a sensible review date.
Anything that does need attention gets a clear, objective recommendation in your report: monitor, test further, or refer. Follow-up tests can usually be arranged at 99 Harley Street, often the same week, and those results are also explained to you personally.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book a liver elastography in London directly online or by phone. No GP letter, no waiting list, and same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. If you are searching for a liver elastography near me from anywhere in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
If you are wondering how much a private liver elastography costs, the answer is published before you book: £300, all fees inclusive: the examination, the specialist’s time, your written report and your images. Insured patients should bring a referral or authorisation number if their policy requires one.
How soon will I have the written report?
Usually the same day: a Harley Street liver elastography comes with same-day results as standard, and you will already know the findings, because they are explained to you on screen during the appointment.
The written report is prepared by the specialist team and published to your secure patient portal together with your images, with measurements and a clear recommendation, ready to share with your GP or specialist.
What happens after the scan?
Nothing special: there is no aftercare needed. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away. Diagnostic ultrasound at these intensities has no confirmed adverse effects, which is why it can be repeated safely for monitoring. If your results suggest a next step, your specialist explains it before you leave.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Our job is to get you answers quickly; if anything needs urgent attention, your specialist writes to your NHS GP recommending an urgent appointment, so you re-enter the NHS pathway with a diagnosis already in hand rather than joining the queue from the start.
