Hernia Repair Treatment and Surgery

A hernia occurs when an internal organ shifts and protrudes outside the muscle or tissue wall that’s there to contain it. While there are several common types of hernias, the abdominal area between the chest and hips is where most hernias tend to occur.

Hernias are caused by muscles that have become weakened over time or may have been weak since birth. Physical exertion, coughing, pregnancy, and other physical strains can exacerbate the weakened muscles and cause hernias to occur.

Four common types of hernias:

• Femoral hernia: This type of hernia largely affects older women, and occurs when fatty tissue or a part of the intestine protrudes from the top of the inner thigh in the groin area or lower abdomen.
• Umbilical hernia: This is when a part of an internal organ or fatty tissue breaks through the abdominal wall near the belly button.
• Hiatal hernia: This form of hernia occurs when parts of the stomach squeezes upwards through an opening in your diaphragm into the chest.
• Inguinal hernia: This is the most common type of hernia that occurs when parts of an organ protrudes out from a weakened muscle in the abdominal wall. Men are more affected by this form of hernia than women.

When a hernia happens, surgery is typically needed. Depending on the type of surgery, you may need one of the following:

• Open hernia repair: The hernia surgeon will make an incision in the groin and manually push the hernia back into position. Patients can generally go home after a few hours.
• Laparoscopic hernia repair: Performed under anesthesia, the hernia surgeon will use a thin tool similar to a telescope to enter into the abdominal wall through the belly button. Then, carbon dioxide is inserted to better enable the hernia surgeon to view the inside of the body from the laparoscopic lens and to reposition the hernia.
• Robotic hernia repair: This surgery is similar to a laparoscopic hernia repair, except that the hernia surgeon will manipulate the laparoscopic tool from a console. While both types of surgery are effective for treating hernias, robotic repair provides better imaging of the inner abdominal wall and can offer less pain and recovery time for the patient.

If you need hernia surgery, feelings of anxiety or uncertainty may come up. Fortunately, hernia surgeries are incredibly common. More than one million hernia surgeries are performed each year. Of these, approximately 800,000 of them are for inguinal hernias.

Most hernia surgeries are outpatient procedures and take only 30 to 45 minutes to complete. More than likely you will go home that same day. Prior to hernia surgery, your surgeon will order medical evaluations, like x-rays and blood work, to determine your overall health and assess any risks. Once overall health and any risks have been addressed, your surgeon will provide specific instructions for preparing for the surgery. These are some of the most common hernia surgery instructions:

• Showering the night before—or the morning of—surgery is recommended.
• Avoid food or beverages after midnight the night before.
• Avoid taking any medications the hernia surgeon has instructed you not to take (like blood thinners).
• Arrange for help and a ride home after surgery.

Each type of hernia surgery is done a bit differently. In each instance, however, the hernia surgeon makes an incision in the herniated area, goes inside the body to push the hernia back into position and strengthen the weakened muscle, and then stitches the incision back up. 

While most patients return home within a few hours the same day of the surgery, strenuous activity should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks following open hernia surgery. This is so that the stitches and the weakened muscles don’t become re-damaged before healing fully.

After minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgery, you should be able to move normally and return to work within days. Patients from these surgeries additionally report having less postoperative pain, and the scars from the incision are smaller than that of open hernia surgery.

Regardless of the type of hernia surgery you have had, hernia surgeons make several post-procedure recommendations for self-care:

• To reduce swelling, place an ice pack into a towel and onto the incision area 3 to 5 times per day for up to 20 minutes.
• Take post-procedure prescription pain medication as directed.
• Engage in light physical activities per your level of comfort. Walking is encouraged.
• Avoid any heavy exercise for six weeks after surgery. 

Most people who have a hernia surgery experience only mild symptoms of discomfort and recover within a few days. While every person’s situation is different, your hernia surgeon will relay some generally common side effects to watch for.

Common post-procedure side effects:

• Bruising around the incision
• Slight drainage around the incision
• Mild swelling around the incision
• A lump or hardness near the incision or under it
• Feelings of fatigue
• Reduced appetite

If you experience any of these symptoms, this is completely normal. These side effects should dissipate within a few days of the surgery with standard at-home care. If symptoms worsen, however, or any of the side effects below are observed, you should call your healthcare provider immediately.

• A fever above 100.5℉ or chills
• Excessive swelling or pain around the incision
• Increased bleeding or redness around the incision
• Foul-smelling discharge from the incision
• Chest pain or shortness of breath

If you notice an odd bulge protruding from your abdominal area that won’t recede, and it’s accompanied by nausea, fever, or vomiting, hernia surgery may be an option for you. Generally, hernia surgery is recommended for those who:

• Are under the age of 65 (younger patients often make better surgical candidates)
• Do not have a history of respiratory or cardiac complications or other serious medical conditions
• Have not previously had hernia surgery and/or recurrent hernias

Don’t waste another day in pain or discomfort. Contact our surgical team today.