People from all over Philadelphia and beyond seek out our hernia surgeons for their skill and expertise in hernia repair surgeries. We perform a high volume of routine and complex abdominal hernia repair procedures, with impressive results. We provide surgery consultations and outpatient care at 11 convenient locations throughout the region so you get high-quality hernia care, close to home.
What Is Abdominal Hernia Surgery?
Abdominal hernias usually require surgery to repair the problem and prevent the hernia from getting worse.
During abdominal hernia repair surgery, your surgeon:
- Puts you to sleep with general anesthesia.
- Makes one large incision (or multiple tiny incisions) near the affected area to reach the hernia.
- Pushes the bulging tissue back where it belongs (reducing the hernia).
- Repairs the weakened muscle and connective tissues by closing the hole (hernia defect) where the hernia has occurred with sutures.
- Reinforces abdominal muscles with mesh material to add extra support in an effort to prevent a hernia from developing in the future.
Some abdominal hernias can be repaired with routine outpatient surgery, so you go home the same day. More complex hernias may require a more involved procedure that requires a short hospital stay.
Abdominal Hernia Surgery: Why Choose Penn Medicine?
At Penn Hernia Center, surgeons work together with other specialists to bring you comprehensive care for all types of hernias. This team approach to hernia repair improves treatment and streamlines the care process.
Highlights of our program include:
- Top-notch surgeons: Penn's hernia program includes general surgeons and plastic surgeons with expertise in hernia diagnosis and treatment. Regional centers regularly refer complicated cases here because of our exceptional expertise in all types of hernia repair surgery.
- Solid track record of successful outcomes: As a high-volume center for many types of hernia surgery, we are committed to delivering excellent outcomes for both routine and complex cases. Our patients experience low rates of complications and hernia recurrence.
- Easy access to specialty care: Many people don't realize that carrying extra weight (such as obesity) increases your risk of experiencing a recurrent hernia. A recurrent hernia describes an abdominal hernia that comes back after successful hernia repair surgery. We make it easy for people with recurrent hernias who may benefit from weight loss surgery to connect with our bariatric surgery program.
- Focus on prehabilitation: Our surgeons focus on optimizing your health prior to surgery to decrease risk of complications. This may include helping you decrease your blood sugar, quit smoking, improve your cardiovascular health, and rehabilitation and exercise to improve your daily life.
- Innovative techniques, sophisticated surgeries: Our surgeons use the latest technology and advances in hernia surgery to perform your surgery. These advances include separating the muscle layers (components separation), using Botox to stretch the abdominal wall muscles, and minimally invasive procedures. Our specialized expertise in complex hernia revision surgeries provides advanced treatment options for complicated and recurrent hernias.
- Advancements through hernia research: Our center provides experts in the field of hernia surgery with research focused on quality and outcomes improvement, so you can achieve the best results.
- Compassion and support, from start to finish: Our specialists take time to listen to your concerns and thoroughly evaluate your symptoms. We explain all your treatment options and walk you through the surgery process. You can learn more helpful tips in our patient guide to GI surgery.
About Abdominal Hernias
An abdominal (also called ventral/incisional/flank) hernia happens when part of the intestines or fatty tissue pushes through weakened muscles and connective tissue in the abdominal wall. Consistent strain or pressure (such as from coughing) may lead abdominal muscles to weaken over time.
An abdominal hernia can occur anywhere along the abdominal wall. Common types of abdominal hernais are:
- Incisional hernia occurs after another surgery. It is the most common type of abdominal hernia.
- Flank hernia is a hernia on the left or right side of your abdomen that causes a bulge.
- Parastomal hernia occurs after an ostomy (surgery that creates an opening in the stomach for stool or urine to exit the body). These can cause an obstruction (blockage) of the ostomy.
- Spigelian hernia is a rarer abdominal wall hernia that can occur on the left or right side of your abdomen.
- Umbilical hernia develops when part of the intestine or fat tissue pushes through weakened muscle in the belly button.
Diastasis Recti and Hernias After Pregnancy
Often times after pregnancy, a diastasis recti (or widening of the rectus muscles) can develop and cause a bulge. Sometimes a small umbilical or belly button hernia may also be present. Occasionally after a cesarean section a hernia may develop along the incision.
Most diastases will improve with time after pregnancy, but some may require surgical repair. Typically, these are repaired after family planning and may involve a tummy tuck procedure (panniculectomy).
Minimally Invasive Abdominal Hernia Repair
We follow evolving hernia care advances closely and use leading-edge surgical techniques. Our surgeons may opt to repair an abdominal hernia using traditional open surgery or minimally invasive techniques.
Penn surgeons have offered minimally invasive hernia repair since it was first introduced decades ago. Laparoscopic and robotic hernia use high-tech instruments and tools to repair abdominal hernias with only tiny incisions. Less invasive hernia repair offers the potential for reduced scarring and a quicker recovery with less pain.
Abdominal Hernia Surgery Recovery
After abdominal hernia repair surgery, we monitor your healing and overall health for up to two years. Our extensive hernia surgery recovery and rehabilitation encourage healthy habits to reduce your risk of having another hernia.
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