A hernia is a weak spot in the abdominal wall that lets tissue or bowel bulge through. It often shows up as a lump in the groin or near the belly button that gets bigger when you cough, lift or stand.
Laparoscopic repair closes the weakness from the inside and reinforces it with a mesh, through small incisions — with less pain and a quicker return to normal life than open repair.
- Technique
- Keyhole mesh repair
- Hospital stay
- Usually same day or overnight
- Light activity
- Within days
- Heavy lifting / gym
- After 6 weeks
Signs of a hernia
- A bulge in the groin, belly button or an old surgical scar
- A lump that grows when you cough, strain or stand and flattens when you lie down
- Aching, heaviness or burning at the site, especially by the end of the day
- A hernia that has become hard, very painful or can’t be pushed back — this is an emergency
If a hernia suddenly becomes hard, very painful, red, or you start vomiting, go to the nearest emergency department — it may be strangulated.
Hernias I repair laparoscopically
Inguinal (groin) hernia
The most common type, especially in men. Keyhole repair treats one or both sides through the same small incisions.
Umbilical hernia
A bulge at or near the belly button — common after pregnancy or with weight gain.
Incisional hernia
A hernia through the scar of a previous operation, repaired with mesh reinforcement.
Recurrent hernia
Hernias that have come back after an earlier repair, planned carefully around the previous surgery.
What to expect
01Consultation
We listen, examine you and go through your reports and scans. A first visit usually takes 20–30 minutes, and family members are welcome.
02Tests and a clear plan
If more information is needed, we arrange blood tests or scans. Then we explain your options in plain language — including whether you need surgery at all.
03Surgery, if needed
Most operations are done by keyhole. Before the day you'll know what to expect: the procedure, anaesthesia, hospital stay and insurance paperwork.
04Recovery at home
You go home with clear instructions on food, activity, medicines and warning signs, plus a patient guide for common operations.
05Follow-up
A check-up to review healing and any biopsy results, and to clear you for your normal routine.
Common questions
Will my hernia go away on its own?
No. A hernia is a structural weakness in the abdominal wall, and it only gets bigger over time.
If you wait: the bulge grows, pain increases, and there is a risk of incarceration (bowel gets stuck in the hernia — a surgical emergency) or strangulation (its blood supply is cut off — a life-threatening emergency).
When to operate: any hernia that causes pain or discomfort, any hernia that is growing, hernias in physically active people, and groin (inguinal) hernias in men.
When we might watch and wait: a very small, painless belly-button hernia in a low-risk patient, or elderly patients with significant medical risks.
What is mesh, and is it safe?
Mesh is a medical-grade synthetic material (usually polypropylene) that acts as a scaffold to reinforce the weakened abdominal wall. Repairs with mesh have a much lower chance of the hernia coming back than repairs with stitches alone.
Is it safe? Modern hernia meshes are well studied and used in millions of repairs worldwide. Like any implant, mesh can occasionally cause problems: a small number of patients have groin discomfort that lasts for months, and rarely a mesh becomes infected or has to be removed. Some mesh products have been recalled over the years — ask us which mesh we plan to use and why.
Will I feel it? Most patients don't once they've healed; tissue grows over and through the mesh and it becomes part of the abdominal wall. If discomfort doesn't settle, tell us.
We go through these risks before surgery so you can decide with full information.
Can the hernia come back after surgery?
With modern laparoscopic mesh repair, the chance of recurrence is low.
Things that increase the risk: chronic cough (smoking, uncontrolled COPD), chronic constipation and straining, heavy lifting too soon after surgery, obesity, and poor nutrition.
My approach: address these risk factors before surgery where possible. If you smoke, we work on stopping. If you're constipated, we fix that first.
I have multiple hernias. Can they all be fixed at once?
Usually, yes — and it's often better to fix everything in one operation. For example, an inguinal and an umbilical hernia can generally be repaired laparoscopically in a single sitting, with a recovery similar to fixing just one.
What are the risks of surgery?
Every surgery carries risks, and you deserve to know them.
Common, and usually minor: temporary nausea from anaesthesia, shoulder-tip pain from the gas used in laparoscopy (settles in 24–48 hours), mild pain or a minor infection at the incisions, and tiredness for the first week.
Uncommon but serious: bleeding that needs treatment, injury to nearby organs such as the bowel or bile duct, blood clots in the legs or lungs (early walking helps prevent these) and complications of anaesthesia.
Your personal risk depends on your condition and overall health. We discuss it openly at your consultation, before you decide anything.