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Open inguinal hernia repair is recommended if you have a hernia that causes pain, severe or persistent symptoms, or any serious complications develop.
Hernias happen when an internal part of your body pushes through a weakness in its surrounding muscle or tissue wall.
An inguinal hernia usually happens when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel, such as your intestine, pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh. It is the most common type of hernia, and mainly affects men. Inguinal hernias can occur naturally over time as you age and the muscles surrounding your tummy become weaker, or when you put too much pressure on your tummy. For example, if you cough or sneeze too hard.
Open inguinal hernia repair is usually carried out under local anaesthetic or a regional anaesthetic injected into your spine to numb your lower body. This means you will be awake during the procedure, but you won't feel anything.
The procedure usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. It is usually performed by a general surgeon. General surgeons perform a variety of minor and major procedures, and are highly experienced in surgery for all kinds of hernias.
Surgery should prevent the serious complications that a hernia can cause and allow you to return to normal activities.
A hernia usually does not go away without surgery.
Non-surgical approaches such as wearing a corset, binder, or truss may exert gentle pressure on the hernia and keep it in place.
These alternatives may ease your pain or discomfort, and can be used if you are not fit for the surgery or waiting to have surgery.
Like all surgical procedures, there are some levels of risks to consider when having open inguinal hernia repair surgery. You can speak to your doctor for more information about the following complications:
Your consultant will provide your tailored advice on how to recovery safely at home, including how to wash your wound, when to rest, and how to eat properly to avoid constipation.
You can usually shower between 24 and 48 hours after surgery. You should avoid strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting, for around three to four weeks. You can return to light activities, such as swimming and gentle walking, after two weeks.
Most people return to work after two weeks and make a full recovery from open inguinal hernia repair within six weeks.
If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
Consultant Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon
MB BCh FRCSEd (Gen Surg)
The London Independent Hospital
Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon
MBBS BSc FRCS(General Surgery)
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Consultant General, Laparoscopic & Colorectal Surgeon
MBBS DM FRCS(Eng) FRCS(General Surg)
The Runnymede Hospital 1 more The Princess Margaret Hospital
Consultant General Surgeon
MBBS, MS , FRCS ( GLA), FRCS ( UK), DIP. LAP SURGERY ( FRANCE)
Ross Hall Hospital 1 more Ross Hall Clinic Braehead
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
MBChB University of Aberdeen 2001 Masters in Medical Law (MML) University of Glasgow 2009 FRCS(Ed) Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2010
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MBChB, FCS (Gen Surg), FRCS (Eng)
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