Health & Healing
How long does appendectomy recovery take?
Estimated wait
7 days – 56 days
Typically ~14 days
Based on published sources
Timeline guide
- Faster cases~10 days
- Average cases~14 days
- Slower casesUp to 56 days
A burst appendix, an abscess, or open surgery for a manual job pushes recovery well beyond the 1–2 week keyhole figure. General information, not medical advice.
Most appendix removals today are keyhole (laparoscopic), so the typical patient is home within about a day and back to normal daily activities in 1–2 weeks, which is also the usual time off a non-manual job. Full recovery — including heavy lifting and sport — takes up to 6–8 weeks per the NHS.
More details
Open surgery, or a ruptured or infected (abscessed) appendix, extends all of this.
Last updated: 10 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.