If you are the patient, you will present yourself early on the morning of surgery. To relax you, an anesthesiologist will administer a tranquilizing medication prior to your operation. Depending on your individual needs and the nature of your hernia, a local, epidural, spinal or general anesthetic will be administered. Following the operation you will rest in the recovery area, eat breakfast and walk about before leaving the Hernia Institute.

Most Patients Leave Within Hours
Ninety-five percent of patients leave within two hours following their repair. Occasionally a patient stays for a night of observation at the hospital or a nearby hotel. You are encouraged to resume all normal activities as soon as it is comfortable to do so. Driving a car should be deferred 48 hours to allow time for the medication to be completely cleared from your body.

A Lasting Hernia Repair
The surgical procedures used at the Hernia Institute are designed to do lasting repairs.   Almost all will incorporate a three-in-one prosthetic mesh to patch the defect. Surgery, using the new Prolene Hernia System, ensures a sound repair without creating painful stress or tension on the tissues that surround the defect.
 

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Unless it is treated, an incarcerated organ can become gangrenous, progressing to perforation and infection. If this occurs, complications are more grave and outcomes less predictable.
Two facts are undeniable:
1) Your hernia will never heal itself.
2) In men, the longer it remains and the larger it becomes, the greater the chance of testicular problems when it is finally repaired.

Unless it becomes an emergency, most hernias can be repaired on an elective basis. Depending on its size, position and reducibility, repair may be a higher priority.
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Shortly before surgery you need to have a few standard blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram and chest x-ray. Your personal physician can provide a note of medical clearance and any pertinent suggestions regarding your care.
 


The amount of post-operative discomfort you will experience following surgery varies depending on the size of your hernia, type of repair and individual level of tolerance. Half our patients report they require no pain medication whatsoever. The remainder take TylenolŪ, AdvilŪ or a mild medication for pain. Activities can be resumed without restriction. You will be encouraged to "listen to your own body," and to respond accordingly. It is literally impossible for you to harm yourself or damage the repair through any normal activity you do. The repairs we perform are immediately stronger than any force you can generate. Our patients are re-checked annually to confirm the status of their repairs.