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How Long Does Surgery for a Hernia Take?

How Long Does Surgery for a Hernia Take?

How Long Does Surgery for a Hernia Take?

If you have been diagnosed with a hernia, one of the first questions you might ask is how long the operation will take.

The answer depends on several factors, including the type of hernia, the surgical technique being used and whether the repair is straightforward or more complex.

What Happens During Hernia Surgery?

A hernia occurs when fatty tissue, bowel or another structure pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall.

The aim of hernia repair surgery is to return the protruding tissue to its correct position and strengthen the weakened area. The exact procedure will depend on the location and size of the hernia.

How Long is a Hernia Operation?

For many patients, hernia surgery takes between 30 and 90 minutes.

Smaller, uncomplicated hernias can often be repaired relatively quickly, while larger or recurrent hernias may require more time.

Does the Type of Surgery Make a Difference?

Yes. The length of surgery can vary depending on the surgical approach being used.

At The British Hernia Centre, many hernia repairs are performed under local anaesthetic, avoiding the need for a general anaesthetic in suitable patients. This approach can offer several advantages, including a quicker recovery immediately after surgery. Your surgeon will be able to provide a more accurate estimate based on your individual circumstances.

Hernia Surgery Consultation

How we've helped make a difference

Today I am three weeks beyond the hernia repair I received and just want to write and thank you all for the superb treatment. Everyone I met was entirely professional, very caring, very reassuring and utterly tuned in to the human condition. I would be most grateful if you would pass on my sincere thanks to all who cared for me that day. I will be eternally grateful.
GG
Surgeon and support team are world-class! I very much appreciated the way my questions/concerns were addressed before the surgery. Surgery was very smooth and I would recommend the team to anyone whole-heartedly. 48 hours after surgery, I drove my car for 3 1/2 hours from Zurich to the Valais. says it all...
JG
Excellent team, friendly and competent. Excellent treatment and care given. No pain killers needed and I was able to travel home on public transport the same day. I’m 73 years old. It’s important to listen to advice given as everyone is different.
PW
I am so grateful to have found this excellent website. As a parent, it is so comforting to know that extremely skilled and compassionate experts have devoted their lives to addressing such complex medical challenges. Thank you all. Many thanks for the informative website.
Past Patient
One page on your website told me absolutely everything (and more) that I was interested in finding out. I would have had to read several different pages on several different sites to get the understanding that one page of your website delivered very thoroughly in a nutshell!
Past Patient
I believe yourself and your team should be recognised for your amazing work. After a major but successful operation, I have never had one minute of pain and I believe I’ve got a new lease of life. I would just like to thank you and your team for making this possible.
Past Patient

Frequently Asked Questions

Practical answers to the things patients ask us most.

Are hernias normally repaired by hernia specialists?

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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.

How can I know if hernia surgery provided at my local hospital really is the same as at The British Hernia Centre?

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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?

If I am Self-Paying, what are the costs?

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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.

If I want to see you, can you see me quickly?

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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.

Is there any advantage to being treated at a specialist hernia centre?

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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.

My local hospital/doctor/surgeon says they do the same operation. If that is the case, why do I need to come to you?

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Not many of them really do, but if your local hospital really does do the same operation – and by a dedicated, highly experienced 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…

Hernia Surgery in progress

Will I Need to Stay in Hospital?

Most patients can return home on the same day as their procedure. In some cases, particularly following more complex surgery or when a general anaesthetic is used, patients may need to stay in hospital overnight. Your surgeon will advise what is most appropriate for your situation.

Final Thoughts

The British Hernia Centre has specialised exclusively in hernia treatment for more than three decades, treating many tens of thousands of patients and developing techniques designed to achieve excellent outcomes while supporting a smooth recovery.

A specialist assessment can help determine the most appropriate procedure, expected recovery time and whether local anaesthetic, open surgery or laparoscopic keyhole surgery is likely to be the best option for your individual case. Get in touch with us today to find out more.