Hernia Surgery
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Specialist Hernia Surgery and Hernia Procedures
The British Hernia Centre is a specialist clinic in London providing expert hernia surgery and hernia repair procedures. Our surgeons focus exclusively on the diagnosis and treatment of hernias, offering highly experienced care for patients seeking specialist treatment.
Established in 1989, the centre operates from the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital and has treated many tens of thousands of patients over more than three decades. Patients travel from across the UK and internationally to access our dedicated expertise in hernia surgery.
Understanding Hernias
A hernia develops when a weak spot forms in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall of the body. This allows an internal organ, fatty tissue, or tissue or part of your bowel to push through the opening.
Hernias most often occur in the abdomen or groin, although they can appear in other areas of the body. Many people notice a lump or swelling, particularly when standing, coughing or lifting.
Some of the common types of hernia include:
- Inguinal hernia: the most common type, usually appearing in the groin near the top of your inner thigh
- Femoral hernia: a less common type that develops lower in the groin where blood vessels pass from the abdomen into the leg
- Umbilical hernia: a hernia that appears near the belly button
- Incisional hernia: a hernia that develops through a weakness in the abdominal wall following previous surgery
Because the weakness in the muscle wall does not repair itself, surgery is often recommended to correct the problem.
What Happens During Hernia Surgery?
Hernia surgery, also known as hernia repair surgery, is performed to return the protruding tissue to its normal position and reinforce the weakened muscle wall.
During the procedure, the surgeon gently pushes the tissue back into place and strengthens the affected area. In many modern hernia procedures, a lightweight surgical mesh is used to reinforce the repair and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Types of Hernia Surgery
Local Anaesthetic Hernia Repair
In most suitable cases, our preferred technique is tension-free hernia repair performed under local anaesthetic. This involves a small incision over the hernia so the surgeon can return the bulge to its normal position and reinforce the weak spot in the abdominal wall using surgical mesh.
Many patients are able to walk shortly after surgery and return home the same day. Most patients resume light activity and normal daily routines within about a week.
Avoiding general anaesthetic can be beneficial for some patients, particularly older individuals or those with other medical conditions.
Keyhole Surgery and Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
Laparoscopic hernia repair, often called keyhole surgery, uses several small incisions so specialised instruments and a camera can be inserted into the abdomen. This technique is performed under general anaesthetic and may be appropriate in selected situations, such as certain incisional hernias or recurrent repairs.
The most suitable surgical approach is always discussed during consultation so patients understand their treatment options.
How we've helped make a difference
Frequently Asked Questions
Most hernias around the world are repaired by general surgeons as just one of the list of procedures they perform. Hernia is not a subject that has attracted enough interest generally to make it a specialised area. The slow development of modern hernia techniques is a result. We feel that hernia needs specialisation.
See also, why a specialist hernia centre.
The easiest way to compare is to start with these simple questions. For example,
How many tens of thousands of hernia cases has your surgeon and his team performed? (Always ask that question) Is it done routinely under just local anaesthesia? Will you need overnight hospital admission at all? Will you be able to return to work and normal activities in the same amount of time? Are the risks of recurrence anything like the same? Do they have a 100% safety record and ZERO MRSA?
This depends upon a few variables. We repair just about every kind of hernia there is and we see patients who range from the peak of fitness and good health to really elderly and sometimes infirm patients. Some hernias are straight-forward, primary (first time) repairs, others are recurrences of repairs done elsewhere. Some are single, some are double hernias (or even more!) – and so forth. Typically the total costs are surprisingly affordable, but we need to know about the case to give an accurate guide. Try that form on the Contact Us Page. There is one for Abdominal Wall Hernia, another for Hiatus Hernia. That gives us the most important information about your case and we get back to you with our recommendations and a guide of the costs.
Not everything that is excellent is expensive and you may be very pleasantly surprised at how affordable it is.
Most certainly. Hernias need to be seen as early as possible and we would work around the clock to ensure we have no long waiting lists. Depending upon workload, we can see patients within days, commonly within two weeks and rarely more than 3 weeks after contacting us. For appointments, just call us. See the Contact Us page for everything you need.
Hernia surgery is no different to any other walk of life in this regard. If other operations are done better by people who specialise in that work, then hernia is no different. Expert opinion now recognises the importance of specialisation in hernia, not only by the surgeon, but the rest of the team and the unit where the work is done.
Our own results have been improved on because of our experience with so many cases each year. We started off with excellent results, but by doing tens of thousands of hernias, even they were dramatically improved upon. See Value of Specialisation.
Not many of them really do, but if your local hospital really does do the same operation – and by a dedicated, highly expereinced team specialising in hernia who are achieving – and publishing – the same results, you can use either of us. Not all hernia operations are the same, unfortunately, nor are the outcomes, so choose wisely.
The next Question will help you…
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Recovery After a Hernia Procedure
Recovery from hernia surgery is usually straightforward. Most patients are able to walk soon after the procedure and return home the same day.
Light activities can often be resumed within a few days, although heavy lifting should be avoided until the repair has fully healed.
Arrange a Consultation
If you have symptoms of a hernia or have been advised to consider hernia surgery, the team at The British Hernia Centre can help.
During your consultation we will confirm your diagnosis, explain the most appropriate hernia procedure for your condition and discuss recovery and treatment options.
Contact The British Hernia Centre today to arrange your consultation with a specialist hernia surgeon.