Our Services / Hernia Surgery

What is hernia surgery?

Hernias develop when part of an internal organ protrudes through weakened muscle or connective tissue. Hernia surgery restores the organ to its proper position and repairs the tissue.

Small hernias often cause little or no discomfort, and people can live with them for months, even years. But most hernias grow larger or suddenly get worse. Without hernia surgery, you can experience:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Tissue death
• Sepsis (an immune system overreaction to infection)

Tissue death and sepsis are life-threatening. Most hernias require surgical repair to restore comfort and prevent an emergency.

What hernias might require surgery?

Hernias most likely to need surgery include:

Ventral hernias

Ventral (abdominal) hernias are caused by tissue pushing through the abdominal wall muscles. They can happen anywhere in your abdomen. An epigastric ventral hernia develops above your navel. Ventral incisional hernias appear below the navel where you’ve had previous surgery.

Inguinal hernias

Inguinal hernias usually appear in the inguinal canal, at the lowest part of your abdomen. They’re the most common ventral hernias.

Umbilical hernias

An umbilical hernia affects the belly button. Fat or intestine pushes through the weak tissue in or around your navel.

Femoral hernias

A femoral hernia usually happens near the top of your thigh.

Hiatal hernias

A hiatal hernia is a part of the stomach protruding through an opening in the diaphragm (the muscle sheet between your chest and abdomen). Unlike abdominal hernias, hiatal hernias cause digestive problems like acid reflux.

Dr. Al-Kalla specializes in surgery for these and other hernias.

How is hernia surgery performed?

Hernia surgery takes several forms, including minimally invasive techniques and traditional open surgery.

Minimally invasive approaches require a series of tiny incisions away from your hernia. Dr. Al-Kalla views the site through a miniature camera. He holds special surgical instruments or controls highly sophisticated robotic arms holding the instruments.

Some hernias require open surgery that involves making one long incision. During open surgery, Dr. Al-Kalla directly views your hernia and surrounding tissues. Minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgeries cause less tissue damage and pain, so healing happens quickly. But they aren’t always possible.

In both cases, Dr. Al-Kalla might use a surgical mesh to reinforce the weakened tissue. The mesh helps prevent another hernia.

Call Optimal Weight Loss and Surgery Consultants today or book an appointment online to arrange your hernia surgery evaluation.