Patient Reported Outcomes
Detailed Minor Surgery Outcomes
Every patient is invited to complete an online recovery questionnaire approximately 5–8 weeks after surgery. These results help us monitor outcomes, maintain high standards of care, and provide future patients with realistic information about recovery after minor surgery.
Based on feedback collected from more than 350 consecutive patients undergoing minor surgical procedures at Thames Valley Surgical Services between January 2025 and May 2026.
Satisfied or very satisfied
The overwhelming majority of patients reported a positive overall experience following their procedure.
Positive scar outcome
Almost all patients described their scar appearance after 2 months as good, better than expected, or excellent.
No infection reported
Most patients reported no signs of infection during recovery.
Pain mild or manageable
Most patients described healing discomfort as mild or manageable.
Overall satisfaction
Most patients reported high satisfaction with their surgery and recovery.
Healing and recovery
Recovery experiences vary between patients, but most respondents described healing as straightforward and manageable.
Scar appearance after surgery
Cosmetic outcome is understandably important for many patients. Most respondents reported positive scar healing at approximately 2 months following surgery.
Excellent
Better than expected
Good
Positive overall scar outcome
Scars continue to mature and soften over time. Final scar appearance can continue improving for many months after surgery.
Balanced and honest reporting
Surgery can never be completely risk-free. A small number of patients reported concerns including discomfort, delayed healing, infection worries, stitch concerns, or the need for additional advice.
We believe transparent reporting helps patients make informed decisions and provides a more realistic understanding of recovery.
Continuous quality improvement
Patient feedback is reviewed regularly to help maintain high standards of care and continuously improve the patient experience.
These results sit alongside consistently excellent public patient reviews, including many 5-star Google reviews for Thames Valley Surgical Services.
Frequently asked questions
How painful is recovery after minor surgery?
Most patients described healing discomfort as mild or manageable. Many patients only needed pain relief for a short period, while some did not require painkillers at all.
How common is infection after minor surgery?
Infection following minor surgery is uncommon, although it can occur. In our patient follow-up data, most patients reported no infection concerns during recovery.
What do scars usually look like after surgery?
Most patients reported a good, better than expected, or excellent scar appearance at approximately 2 months after surgery. Scars often continue improving over time.
Why do you publish patient outcome data?
We believe outcome transparency helps patients make informed decisions, understand recovery expectations, and feel more reassured before surgery.