Minimally invasive hernia surgery with advanced robotics in Glasgow
An inguinal hernia is when a section of your bowel (such as your small intestine) or some of your abdominal fatty tissue pushes through a weakness in your abdominal wall. Although there are some medications and lifestyle changes that can help alleviate your symptoms, hernia repair surgery is the only way to correct the problem and live hernia-free.
If you have painful or uncomfortable symptoms caused by your inguinal hernia, surgery might be the best option for you. It not only fixes the problem but also prevents it from happening again in the future.
Open surgery is where your surgeon uses a large cut in your tummy to access your abdomen, allowing them to repair and strengthen your abdominal wall, correcting the hernia.
Laparoscopic or ‘keyhole’ hernia surgery is where your surgeon uses several small cuts in your abdomen to access your hernia. A specialist tool called a laparoscope allows them to see inside without making larger cuts, and they use specially made small surgical tools to repair and strengthen the abdominal wall, repairing the hernia.
Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive than open surgery, because the surgeon does not need to ‘open you up’ with a large incision. It can allow for less pain after surgery as well as a faster recovery time.
The most noticeable symptom is a visible or palpable bulge on one side of your groin. The bulge may be more pronounced when standing, coughing, or straining.
You might experience significant pain and discomfort in your groin area, especially when bending over, lifting heavy objects, coughing, or straining. The pain may range from a dull ache to a sharp, more intense pain, depending on the postural position you are in.
A sensation of heaviness, pressure, or weakness in your groin area is common, particularly after physical activity.
The bulge in your groin might increase over time, along with the pain and discomfort.
In some cases, an inguinal hernia can become incarcerated or strangulated, which happens when the herniated tissue becomes trapped, and its blood supply is cut off.
This is a medical emergency and can cause more severe symptoms, such as:
If any of these more severe symptoms occur, you need to get medical help straight away.
Over 10 of our consultants are specially trained in using the Da Vinci robot. This means we can offer patients a vast range of robotically assisted private treatment options that are not available anywhere else in Scotland. Our treatment options fall under the following medical specialities: general, colorectal, gynaecological, and urological surgery.
Our highly experienced general surgeons perform thousands of successful laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair operations every year using robotic surgery. They are specially trained in using the Da Vinci robotic surgical system which offers a broad scope of transformative benefits, including advanced imaging for precision and accuracy, navigation, and technique.
Robotics helps your consultant perform surgery successfully using advanced technology, and it speeds up your recovery time.
With the Da Vinci system, your surgeon sits at a console next to you and operates using tiny instruments, which only need to make few very small incisions to operate on you.
A camera provides a high-definition, 3D magnified view of inside your body. This gives your consultant a crystal-clear view of the area they are operating, which is magnified ten times to what the human eye can see.
Every hand movement your surgeon makes is translated by the Da Vinci system in real time to bend and rotate the instruments with the highest levels of precision and accuracy. The system has a built-in tremor-filtration to help your consultant guide each movement smoothly and seamlessly.
Mr Andrew Renwick, consultant general and colorectal surgeon
Paula is an active person who enjoys jogging, hill walking, and spending time with her husband and dogs. Throughout 2024, Paula experienced a significant decline in her physical activity and mobility due to discomfort from an incisional hernia. The condition, compounded by feelings of nausea and a dull ache, impacted her emotional well-being and overall quality of life.
Paula chose robotic-assisted surgery, impressed by its minimal invasiveness, reduced recovery time, and reduced scarring. While she initially didn’t fully appreciate the advantages of robotics until she was recovering from surgery, she felt ready and informed ahead of the robotic-assisted procedure.
Paula had surgery in December 2024 and was discharged the following day. During the procedure, her consultant general surgeon, Mr Pawlak, also identified and repaired an umbilical hernia, which is a slightly different type of hernia closer to your belly button. He fitted a permanent pro-grip mesh to prevent the hernias from recurring.
“I was so impressed by the timings of everything – it all moved so quickly and efficiently. I was also happy with the cost and feel the whole thing has just been so quick and amazing.”
To find out more about Paula's experience and her recovery, read her full patient story.
There are numerous advantages to robotic-assisted surgery, as highlighted above. These benefits include:
Your consultant can use robotics to perform a complex surgery that was once only available as an open or traditional keyhole procedure. The advanced robotic system enables our specialists to execute highly controlled, minute movements that human hands could not, allowing for the highest standards of precision and accuracy. Surrounding tissues and nerves experience less damage, enhancing your comfort during the recovery process.
This expanded range of motion allows for surgery to be carried out using a minimally invasive technique, leading to a quicker recovery and reduced pain following surgery.
A quicker recovery translates to a shorter hospital stay and an earlier return to various aspects of daily life we often take for granted, such as:
Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.
Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 9.9% APR.
If you have private health insurance, surgery will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.
If you want to know more about this procedure and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today.
Reception: 0141 8103151
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