Types

A hernia can happen in many different areas of the body. The most common, though, is in the abdomen and groin areas.

• Inguinal hernia
• Incisional hernia
• Epigastric hernia
• Umbilical hernia
• Femoral hernia
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
• Hiatal hernia

What does the hernia surgery involve?

Hernia repair surgery is the world’s most common surgical procedure. Hernia surgery can help to relieve pain, return the hernia abdominal organs to their correct place and, strengthen the weak muscle area.

A hernia operation usually takes around an hour as a day care procedure. It can be performed by:

• Open surgery – under local or general anaesthesia, an incision usually around 2.5 to 3 inches is made to your skin near your hernia and your surgeon will push your hernia back into your abdomen. The incision is then either stitched closed or much more commonly a mesh is placed over the hole and fixed using fine stitches. The mesh acts like a scaffold and your own tissue will grow through the mesh to reinforce the weakened area without putting tension on the surrounding tissues.
• Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery – under general anaesthesia, several smaller incisions are made to allow your surgeon to use a less invasive technique using various special instruments including a tiny telescopic camera to repair your hernia. A mesh may then be used to strengthen your abdominal wall.