What to Expect Long-Term After Having Hernia Surgery

A hernia occurs when a tissue or organ bulges through an opening or structural weakness in the muscle or tissue that contains it. The most common types involve an abdominal organ pushing through the wall of the abdominal cavity.

The bulge may come and go, at least at first, and it may or may not cause symptoms, such as pain. However, most tend to worsen and eventually require surgical repair.

At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, Dr. John Bollins and his team specialize in the surgical treatment of hernias, utilizing minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.

While the surgery is pretty straightforward, many patients don’t know what to expect long-term after it, so the team is taking this opportunity to discuss what you need to know.

Types of hernias

There are many different types of hernias, but the most common tend to be the following:

Inguinal hernia

These are the most common types of hernia, accounting for 75% of all cases. They mostly affect men and occur when part of the bowel protrudes into the inguinal canal, a passageway that runs down the inner thigh.

Femoral hernia

This is a less common type of groin hernia that occurs in the femoral canal, which runs under the inguinal canal. Oftentimes, fatty tissue pokes through the canal.

Hiatal hernia

These hernias are also fairly common. When the opening in your diaphragm — where your esophagus passes through — widens, the top of your stomach can push up through the opening and move into your chest.

Incisional hernia

Just as it sounds, an incisional hernia occurs when tissue protrudes through a former abdominal wall incision that’s weakened over time. It’s a common occurrence with abdominal surgery.

How do surgeons repair the hernia?

While traditional, open surgeries that use long incisions are still done, the doctors at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota always try for laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery, as the incisions are smaller, the risk of blood loss is lower, and the risk of infection is also lower. In addition, recovery time is usually much shorter.

During laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, or “keyhole surgery,” Dr. Bollins makes several tiny cuts, then inserts a thin tube with a tiny video camera (laparoscope) that projects images of your insides onto a large screen. He then inserts surgical instruments into the other incisions and pushes the herniated tissue back into place.

For robotic hernia repair surgery, the method is the same, but robotic arms make the incisions and manipulate the instruments, under the close guidance of the surgeon, who works the technology from a console. The system allows for a greater degree of precision.

For either option, once the doctor replaces the wayward mass, he next repairs the weakened tissue around it by suturing together healthy tissue to create a strong barrier wall. He may also use surgical mesh to provide extra support and prevent a hernia from recurring.

What to expect during recovery and long-term

Recovery time depends on many factors, including the type of hernia you had and how complex the surgery was. Some procedures last about 30 minutes, while others can take up to five hours.

Most people who don’t have a complicated procedure can return to light work duties within a few days. If you have a physically demanding job that requires you to lift heavy objects, you may need to wait a few weeks.

You should be able to participate in light exercise, like walking, the day following your procedure, but take it easy, as you may still be fatigued. You can gradually increase your duration and intensity as you continue to heal. Dr. Bollins can provide you with a general timeline based on what you do and your overall health.

After the area’s healed, you can go back to your normal routine.

The one thing you need to think about is the possibility of a recurrent hernia, though a recent study indicated that only about 16% of hernia patients required additional surgery because they had a recurrent hernia within 10 years of the initial surgery. Recurrence rates differ depending on the type of surgery you had and where your hernia is located.

If you’ve noticed a bulge in your abdomen or chest that shouldn’t be there and is causing you discomfort, it’s time to get it checked out. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Bollins, call Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota at our Hibbing, Duluth, or Hermantown, Minnesota, office or book your appointment online.

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