Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair
An incisional hernia is a weakness in your abdominal wall, which happens when previous wounds do not heal properly. If left untreated, an incisional hernia can cause serious complications.
Any operation on your abdomen needs a cut that is closed with stitches. Sometimes your wound does not heal properly and a weakness happens in the muscle layer. This results in the contents of your abdomen, along with the inner layer, pushing through your abdominal muscles. This produces a lump under your skin called a hernia.
You should no longer have the hernia. Surgery should prevent serious complications and allow you to return to normal activities.
You can sometimes control the hernia with supportive clothing or simply leave it alone. It will not get better without surgery.
The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic.
The operation usually takes 1 to 2 hours.Your surgeon will make a small cut on or near your umbilicus (belly button) so they can insert an instrument in your abdominal cavity to inflate it with gas (carbon dioxide). They will make several small cuts on your abdomen so they can insert tubes (ports) into your abdomen. Your surgeon will insert surgical instruments through the ports along with a telescope so they can see inside your abdomen and perform the operation.
Your surgeon will free up the structures from your abdomen that are stuck in the hernia, and insert a synthetic mesh to cover the weak spot.
You should be able to go home after 1 to 2 days.
Increase how much you walk around over the first few days. You may need to take painkillers to help you.
Your doctor will tell you when you can return to work. Do not lift anything heavy for at least 6 weeks.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Most people make a full recovery and can return to normal activities. However, the hernia can come back.
Some complications can be serious and can even cause death.
General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Unsightly scarring of your skin
- Infection of the surgical site (wound)
- Blood clot in your leg
- Blood clot in your lung
Specific complications of this operation
Keyhole surgery complications
- Damage to structures such as your bowel, bladder or blood vessels
- Developing a hernia
- Injury to your bowel
- Surgical emphysema
Hernia repair complications
- Developing a collection of blood (haematoma) or fluid (seroma) under your wound
- Difficulty passing urine
- Injury to structures that come from your abdomen and are within the hernia
Consultants who provide this treatment
Any further questions?
We will not contact you for any other reason than to respond to the question or information you request in this form.
For information about how your personal data may be processed please see our Privacy Policy.
This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice your healthcare team gives you. This information is published under license from EIDO Healthcare UK and is protected by copyright. Other than for your personal, non-commercial use, you may not copy, print, download or otherwise reproduce it.
What to do next
- Talk to us about ways to pay, either insured or self-pay, and find out if you need a referral from your doctor.
- If you need one, ask your doctor for a referral letter.
- To book an appointment with a consultant you can either call us, email us, or book online if you are self-paying for your treatment.
- Currently, not all Consultants are available for Self-Pay Online Booking. Please contact us directly if you do not see the consultant/service you are looking for and would like to make a booking.
Cancellation Policy
Funding your treatment
Find out more about getting started with private health insurance.
Find out more about our self-pay options.
Find out more about financing your treatment.