Recovery for large hernia surgery typically involves returning to light activity in 1-2 weeks and desk jobs in 2-4 weeks, with a full recovery, including strenuous activities and heavy lifting, taking 4 to 6 weeks or longer, depending heavily on the type of repair (open vs. laparoscopic/robotic) and your overall health; laparoscopic repairs often have faster initial recovery due to smaller incisions.
You should also be able to return to work after 1 or 2 weeks, although you may need more time off if your job involves manual labour. Gentle exercise, such as walking, can help the healing process, but you should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for about 4 to 6 weeks.
Testicular swelling after inguinal hernia surgery is a common occurrence and is generally a part of the recovery process. This swelling results from the impact on tissues around the testicle during surgery and usually subsides on its own within a few weeks.
Just take care of your pain and do not perform any kind of strenuous activity. As per doctors, hernia patients need two days of bed rest, though it might take more time in case of open surgery. In laparoscopic surgery, patients do not need any kind of bed rest.
The first bowel movement may occur anywhere from 1 – 10 days after surgery. As long as you are not nauseated or having abdominal pain, this variation is acceptable. Constipation can occur after this operation, and taking milk of magnesia (two tablespoons; twice a day) can prevent this issue.
The "6-2 rule" for inguinal hernias in children is a guideline for surgical timing: Neonates (birth-6 weeks) need surgery within 2 days; children 6 weeks to 6 months need it within 2 weeks; and children over 6 months need it within 2 months, because younger infants have a higher risk of incarceration (strangulation). For adults or older children with reducible hernias, some sources suggest seeing a surgeon if symptoms last over six weeks.
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.
Tips to Help You Recover Quickly After Hernia Surgery
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.
Hernia recurrence.
Recurrence is the most common complication of inguinal hernia repair, causing patients to undergo a second operation.
Avoid tub baths for at least 5 days after the operation, because soaking will separate the skin tapes and the wound could break open. Sponge bathing for infants and showering for older children are permitted the day after surgery. The wound tapes should be carefully patted dry after showering.
If you have open surgery, a cut is made in the skin in the top of your inner thigh (groin). If you have keyhole surgery, air is pumped into your tummy through a cut and a thin, flexible tube with a camera inside (a laparoscope) is inserted so your surgeon can see the hernia.
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.
Laparoscopic primary repair of hernias had been previously reported to result in low recurrence rates and to be associated with substantially less pain in the immediate postoperative period and earlier return to normal activities compared to open repair (New England Journal of Medicine 1997;336; 1541-7).
Loose-fitting and comfortable clothing will really help with recovery, as it reduces rubbing and irritation of your incisions and dressings. Think of your favorite, baggy sweatpants and sweatshirt. If you don't have a favorite one of either, get them!
Wear a Truss, Corset or Binder to Treat Your Hernia
The biggest issue with a hernia is that there is an organ in your body that is protruding through a muscular wall that is supposed to contain it. Wearing a truss, corset, or binder can help keep this organ in place, reinforcing the damaged muscular wall.
What are the guidelines for bed rest after hernia surgery? Doctors often tell patients to rest for 24-48 hours after surgery. Then, they slowly start moving and doing more activities over a week or two.
Hernia surgery can be major (open) or minor (laparoscopic) surgery. Recovery time for hernia surgery is quicker for laparoscopic surgery compared to open 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.
They appear as small bulges and may cause symptoms such as pain or discomfort near the abdomen. Large hernia – They are usually from 5-10 cm in diameter and are easily noticeable. They almost always cause painful symptoms, along with nausea and vomiting. Very large hernia – They exceed 10 cm or above in diameter.
Incisional hernias: Whenever the body wall is cut, such as if you have had an open appendix operation or a Caesarean section during childbirth, the healed scar is never as strong as the original body wall. Hernias are common along incision lines and can be one of the most difficult hernias to repair.
There is no true optimal BMI or weight for hernia repair. Every person and their hernias are different. The general rule is that the thinner one can become the more advantageous it is for a durable and safe repair. Generally speaking, a BMI of 18-25 would be ideal for any type of hernia surgical repair.