What is a hernia?
A hernia is when internal organs or fatty tissue break through or protrude out from the tissue meant to contain it. Most hernias occur in the abdominal region and include:
Umbilical hernia
An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of your intestine or fatty tissue through a weakened area of your abdominal wall near your belly button.
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia occurs when fatty tissue or a part of your intestine protrudes in the groin area of your upper thigh.
Incisional hernia
An incisional hernia is a protrusion that occurs near a prior abdominal incision scar.
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia is when a portion of your stomach protrudes through the opening of your diaphragm, where the esophagus passes through your chest into your abdominal area.
Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia is a protrusion that occurs near your groin at the top of your inner thigh.
When do I need hernia surgery?
The team at the office of Gil Q. Galloway, M.D., Inc. determines who needs hernia surgery. For the record, hernias don’t get better over time, and surgery is the primary treatment.
However, the team recommends surgical repair of your hernia based on the location, severity of symptoms, and overall health.
What happens during hernia surgery?
Your surgeon creates a personalized surgical plan for your hernia surgery and reviews the details at your pre-surgical office visit. When possible, the team uses minimally invasive tools and surgical techniques when repairing hernias to minimize tissue damage, scarring, and recovery time.
During a laparoscopic hernia surgery, your surgeon makes a small incision in your abdomen and inserts the laparoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera. Your surgeon uses the images from the laparoscope to serve as a guide for performing your hernia surgery.
Your surgeon locates the weakened area of your tissue that is allowing the herniation and places an abdominal mesh to reinforce the tissue.
The team at the office of Gil Q. Galloway, M.D., Inc. may also use robotic tools to perform your hernia surgery. Robotic hernia surgery is a minimally invasive technique that allows your surgeon to perform your procedure using smaller incisions with greater flexibility.
How long is recovery following hernia surgery?
Recovery time following hernia surgery varies. However, without any complications, you should be able to resume most activities within 1-2 weeks and strenuous activities within four weeks.
Find out more about hernia surgery at the office of Gil Q. Galloway, M.D., Inc. by calling or booking an appointment online today.
