Hernia Repair Surgery

No, hernias do not heal on their own and will not go away without surgical treatment. In fact, hernias tend to get larger over time. While some small hernias may not cause immediate problems, surgery is the only definitive treatment. Delaying surgery can lead to complications such as incarceration (trapped tissue) or strangulation (cut off blood supply), which are medical emergencies.

During surgery, you will be under anesthesia and feel no pain. After surgery, some discomfort and soreness at the incision site is normal, but this is manageable with prescribed pain medication. Most patients describe the pain as moderate and report that it decreases significantly within the first few days. Laparoscopic surgery typically causes less post-operative pain than open surgery.

The surgery typically takes 1-2 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the hernia, the type of repair (open or laparoscopic), and whether it's a primary hernia or a recurrent one. Simple inguinal hernia repairs may take about 45 minutes to 1 hour, while more complex cases might take up to 2-3 hours. Most patients are discharged the same day.

Like all surgeries, hernia repair carries some risks, though serious complications are rare. Potential risks include infection (1-3%), bleeding, recurrence of the hernia (1-10% depending on technique), chronic pain (1-3%), damage to surrounding structures, and complications from anesthesia. Using mesh and experienced surgeons significantly reduces these risks. The benefits of repairing a hernia generally far outweigh the risks of leaving it untreated.

While hernia recurrence is possible, modern surgical techniques with mesh reinforcement have significantly reduced this risk. With mesh repair, the recurrence rate is typically 1-3%, compared to 10-15% with traditional suture-only repairs. Factors that can increase recurrence risk include smoking, obesity, chronic coughing, heavy lifting too soon after surgery, and poor wound healing. Following post-operative instructions carefully helps minimize this risk.

Return to work depends on your job type and the surgical approach. For desk jobs or sedentary work, most patients can return within 1-2 weeks. If your job involves physical labor or heavy lifting, you may need 4-6 weeks off. Laparoscopic surgery patients typically return to work faster than open surgery patients. Always follow your surgeon's specific recommendations based on your individual case and healing progress.