Fatty Liver Service
Our consultant-led fatty liver service offers early detection, advanced diagnostics, and personalised care to help reduce the risk of long-term liver damage.
What is Welbeck’s fatty liver service?
Fatty liver disease (MASLD) is common, affecting around 1 in 4 adults in the UK, and more than half of people who are overweight or living with conditions such as type 2 diabetes. It often develops silently, with no symptoms until liver damage has already begun, making early detection and monitoring essential.
Based in our state-of-the-art Digestive Health centre and led by specialist consultant hepatologists, Welbeck’s fatty liver screening and monitoring service provides a clear, expert-led pathway to identify clinically significant disease early and reduce the risk of progression to cirrhosis.
The service combines advanced, non-invasive diagnostics — including FibroScan and optional multiparametric MRI with cT1 scoring — with structured follow-up, personalised lifestyle and medical support, and access to emerging therapies where appropriate. What sets this service apart is direct, consultant-led care from start to finish, enabling proactive monitoring of liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis risk over time.
You may benefit from this service if you:
have suspected or confirmed fatty liver disease
have abnormal liver blood tests
have metabolic risk factors (type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or obesity)
are concerned about your alcohol intake
are concerned about liver scarring or cirrhosis
have had fatty liver identified on a scan
want a specialist assessment of your liver health
Our aim is to detect liver inflammation and scarring early, so that effective steps can be taken to prevent progression and support long-term liver health.
At Welbeck, your care is led by specialist hepatology consultants from start to finish — ensuring expert interpretation of results, clear guidance on next steps, and continuity of care throughout your journey.
More information
This service brings together several tests and consultations into one coordinated pathway. It focuses on understanding your liver health in detail and tracking any changes over time.
While care is always tailored to your unique needs, a typical pathway includes the following steps:
Initial consultation and testing
You’ll meet with a consultant hepatologist who will:
review your symptoms, medical history, and medications
assess your risk factors, such as weight, diabetes, and cholesterol
discuss lifestyle factors, including diet and alcohol intake
review the results of any recent liver blood tests
plan the most appropriate investigations
You may have a combination of advanced, non-invasive tests to assess your liver, tailored to your individual needs:
comprehensive blood panel, including full blood count, kidney and liver function, HbA1c, lipids, thyroid and iron studies
enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test
liver ultrasound, with optional elastography
FibroScan to assess liver stiffness and fat content (optional)
multiparametric MRI with cT1 scoring (optional)
The multiparametric MRI is an advanced scan that measures liver fat (PDFF), iron levels, and fibro-inflammation. This enables earlier detection of active disease and fibrosis risk, allowing your consultant to more accurately monitor disease activity over time — often without the need for a biopsy.
Your results, plan, and ongoing care — all in one place
Your consultant will bring together all of your results and guide you through a clear, personalised plan tailored to your individual needs. This includes:
confirming or ruling out fatty liver disease
assessing the stage and activity of the disease
estimating your risk of progression
setting out tailored treatment, lifestyle, and monitoring recommendations
You’ll have dedicated time to discuss your results, understand your options, and agree on the next steps with confidence.
Where appropriate, your consultant can coordinate access to trusted Welbeck specialists across cardiology, sleep medicine, hormone health, pain management, and weight management — ensuring any related health factors are addressed as part of your overall care.
We then provide structured follow-up to monitor your progress and adapt your care over time, including 6-month follow-up consultations and review.
Preparation is simple, and your consultant and our experienced nurses will guide you at every stage. In most cases, you’ll be asked to:
fast for 3 to 4 hours before your initial consultations, so you’re prepared for blood tests and scans
bring any recent test results or medical records
share details about current medications and your alcohol intake
There’s no recovery time needed after your visit as all tests are non-invasive – you can usually return to your normal activities straight away.
The focus of aftercare is ongoing support and monitoring. Depending on your results, your care plan may include:
repeat blood tests and FibroScan at 6 and 12-month intervals
access to dietetic and psychological support via a trusted partner (by referral)
referral for cardiology tests, such as a CT coronary angiogram, where cardiometabolic risk is identified
Doppler ultrasound, if you have advanced liver disease
endoscopy, if cirrhosis is suspected
If your disease is more advanced, your consultant will guide you through the next steps and ensure you receive the right level of specialist care.
What are the risks of the fatty liver service?
Our fatty live service is non-invasive and low-risk, and most tests are safe and well-tolerated.
Possible risks include:
mild discomfort during blood tests
feeling slight pressure during the FibroScan
MRI-related considerations, such as claustrophobia in some patients
reactions to contrast agents if used during imaging (rare)
Overall, the benefits of early detection and monitoring usually outweigh any minimal risks associated with testing.
Our fatty liver service is not just about diagnosis – it also supports long-term management. The goal is to reduce liver fat, control inflammation, and prevent long-term complications.
Your treatment plan may include:
lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and improved diet
management of related conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol
structured monitoring to track disease progression
medication where clinically appropriate
access to emerging treatments, such as resmetirom, where clinically appropriate
Resmetirom is a newer therapy that may be suitable for some people with more advanced fatty liver disease (non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with fibrosis). Your consultant will assess whether this is appropriate for you.
Please contact our Digestive Health centre for pricing and additional information.
At Welbeck, your care is led by specialist hepatology consultants with deep expertise in liver health, delivering high-quality, personalised care at every stage.
Where appropriate, your consultant can coordinate access to trusted colleagues across the wider Welbeck network — ensuring any related health needs are addressed quickly and seamlessly.
All consultations, diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, providing a smooth, efficient experience and access to advanced, accurate testing in one location.
You can access this service in several ways.
We accept:
self-referrals
GP referrals
referrals from other healthcare professionals or consultants
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with a Welbeck hepatology specialist, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day or next-day appointments where possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
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Frequently asked questions
In many cases, early-stage fatty liver disease can improve with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, a balanced diet, and regular physical activity. However, once significant scarring develops, changes may be harder to reverse, which is why early assessment is important.
Most people do not need a liver biopsy. This service uses advanced non-invasive tests, including FibroScan and multiparametric MRI, to assess liver health accurately without invasive procedures, such as biopsy.
You can usually expect diagnostic results within 5 to 7 days, with a follow-up consultation arranged shortly after to discuss your results and next steps.
This service is suitable for adults with risk factors for fatty liver disease, abnormal liver tests, or concerns about liver health. It’s also helpful if fatty liver has been found incidentally on a scan and you want a specialist assessment.