Hernia surgery time varies significantly but typically ranges from 30 minutes for simple groin or belly button hernias to several hours for complex repairs, like large incisional or multiple hernias, with laparoscopic (keyhole) procedures often taking less time than open surgery. A simple inguinal repair might be under an hour, while a complex abdominal wall reconstruction could take 2 to 6 hours or more.
It will take 24 to 48 hours for the general anaesthetic to wear off. You do not need to stay in bed but we recommend that you get plenty of rest. Gently moving around your home will help your blood circulation and help to prevent blood clots.
A common concern is how soon can I walk after hernia surgery. The answer: often within hours of the procedure. Short, gentle walks reduce stiffness and support healing. Most surgeons recommend walking the day of or after surgery, even if it's just a few steps at first.
With both surgery types, you may feel pain or soreness for the first 72 hours post-op. You can often manage it with over-the-counter drugs, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if your hernia was small or in the groin. Most people have less pain after minimally invasive hernia surgery versus open.
Hernia surgery can be major or minor surgery. It depends on whether it is done through open surgery or minimally invasive surgery. Both types of surgery aim to put the protruding tissue back in place. Sometimes a type of mesh is implanted in the area to provide extra support for the weakened muscle.
After hernia repair surgery, it is common to experience mild to moderate pain and to feel a little run down. It's also normal to feel pulling or twinges in the affected area as you heal. Most people, however, feel better within a few days and much better within a week of surgery.
The main cause of a hernia is a combination of muscle weakness and increased pressure in the abdomen, allowing tissue or organs to push through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall, often due to straining from activities like heavy lifting, chronic coughing, or constipation, combined with underlying weak spots that can be congenital or develop from aging, obesity, or previous surgery.
You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements.
As with any surgery, most patients experience some post operative pain in the area of their hernia repair. Most patients will also experience some level of swelling and bruising in the area. The first 2-3 days are usually the worst for most patients.
Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents a rare but serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a piece of fatty tissue is trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its blood supply. Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss to hold in your hernia.
Try to avoid vigorous coughing if your repair was done with the open method. Coughing may strain your incision. For a couple of weeks, when you need to cough or sneeze, splint your incision. This means putting pressure over your incision with your hands, a rolled up blanket, or a pillow.
Tips to Help You Recover Quickly After Hernia Surgery
In most cases, particularly if you have laparoscopic or robotic hernia surgery, you will be discharged from the hospital on the same day as your surgery. If the repair was more intensive than expected, you may require an overnight stay before being discharged.
Avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
It's best to avoid sleeping on your stomach or side too soon after surgery, as these positions may place stress on the repair. Pillows placed under the knees or behind the back help you maintain a supported, low-tension posture throughout the night and reduce shifting that might cause discomfort.
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine. You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open. Bright red blood has soaked through your bandage.
Typically, how long does hernia mesh last can range between 10 to 15 years, and in most cases, it lasts a lifetime. Synthetic meshes, made from durable polymers, are designed for permanent reinforcement, while absorbable meshes gradually dissolve after providing temporary support.
Keep your stomach empty: Don't eat or drink anything (not even water) after midnight the night before surgery. Your surgery may be canceled if you eat or drink before surgery. If you take any regular medications and have been told to continue them, take them with small sips of water.
Following surgery, patients may experience changes in bowel habits and discomfort due to trapped gas can fart after hernia surgery.
After a hernia repair: If there are stitches on the skin, they will need to be removed at a follow-up visit with your surgeon. If stitches under the skin were used, they will dissolve on their own.
Q: Can you feel the mesh/can it cause pain? A: We don't expect you to feel the mesh itself, but you can feel the new scar tissue and inflammation around the mesh from your repair. This can persist for around 12 months. Some people notice the inflammation initially as a ridge under the scar.
How long can you live with a hernia? There is no definitive timeline. Some individuals live their entire lives with a hernia without needing surgery, while others face complications within months. Regular check-ins with a hernia specialist can help you track any changes and decide when—or if—surgery is necessary.
Stress, both emotional and physical, affects your well-being. But when it comes to hernias, it's physical stress that has the biggest impact. Hernias develop when organs or tissue push through a weak spot in the muscle wall, and your risk of getting a hernia increases with strain.
Antibiotics are administered routinely if bowel ischemia is suspected.