| Procedure | Sedentary admin | Sedentary light manual | Active light manual | Heavy manual | Physically demanding |
| Inguinal, small umbilical, femoral, epigastric or incisional hernia, laparoscopic repair | 3-5 days | 3-5 days | 3-14 days | 2-4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Inguinal, small umbilical, femoral, epigastric or incisional hernia, open repair | 3-7 days | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 2-6 weeks | 2-6 weeks |
| Large umbilical or incisional hernia laparoscopic repair | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 6 weeks+ |
| Large umbilical or incisional hernia open repair | 2-4 weeks | 3-5 weeks | 3-5 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
| Hiatus hernia repair | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Cholecystectomy laparoscopic | 3-14 days | 3-14 days | 3-14 days | 2-3 weeks | 3 weeks+ |
| Cholecystectomy open | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Laparoscopic fundoplication | 10-14 days | 10-14 days | 2-3 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 3-4 weeks |
| Major laparotomy | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Gastrectomy or oesophago-gastrectomy for malignancy | 8-12 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 12 weeks+ | Unlikely | no |
| Duodenotomy for ulceration | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Appendicectomy laparoscopic | 1 week | 1 week | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 3 weeks+ |
| Appendicectomy open | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 6 weeks+ |
| Right hemicolectomy with end-to-end anastomosis | 3-6 weeks | 3-6 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 6-12 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
| Left hemicolectomy or anterior resection of rectum | 6-12 weeks | 6-12 weeks | 6-12 weeks | 12-16 weeks | 16-26 weeks |
| Defunctioning stoma closure | 3-4 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Abdominoperineal excision of rectum with permanent colostomy | 8-12 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 12-16 weeks | When and if compatible with stoma |
| Anal verge haematoma | When able to sit | When able to sit | 1-3 days | 1-7 days | 1-7 days |
| Thrombosed internal haemorrhoids | When able to sit | When able to sit | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks |
| Haemorrhoidectomy (sclerotherapy/ligation/cryotherapy) | 1-7 days | 1-7 days | 1-14 days | 1-14 days | 1-14 days |
| Haemorrhoidectomy (surgical) | When able to sit | When able to sit | 2-3 weeks | 3-6 weeks | 3-6 weeks |
| Anal fissure – lateral internal sphincterotomy | 1-2 days | 1-2 days | 1-2 days | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Pilonidal sinus primary suture | 1-3 weeks | 1-3 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 3-6 weeks | 3-6 weeks |
| Pilonidal sinus secondary intention | 3 weeks+ | 3 weeks+ | 3-6 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Anal fistula – small, little dressing required | 1 week | 1 week | 1 week | 2-3 weeks | 2-4 weeks |
| Anal fistula – large, dressing changed by district nurse | when able to sit | when able to sit | Variable, when comfortable | Variable, when fully healed | Variable, when fully healed |
| Abdominoplasty | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-8 weeks | 8-12 weeks | 8-12 weeks |
| Gastric banding | 2-4 weeks | 2-4 weeks | 3-6 weeks | 12 weeks+ | 12 weeks+ |
| Gastric bypass surgery | 2-6 weeks | 2-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 12 weeks+ | 12 weeks+ |