Abdominal wall / incisional or ventral hernia repair
An abdominal wall hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a weakness or gap in the muscles of the abdomen. These can appear at the belly button (umbilical), above it (epigastric), or at the site of a previous surgical scar (incisional hernia).
A hernia can cause pain and discomfort and surgical repair with the use of specialised mesh is the most appropriate treatment for most patients. These can occur in the abdominal wall for many reasons, but many can be found at the scar of previous surgery.
Depending on the size of the hernia and some other factors, this surgery may need a larger incision. Smaller hernia repairs can mostly be accomplished with keyhole surgery.
Common causes
Previous abdominal surgery is the most common cause of incisional hernias — scar tissue is inherently weaker than the original abdominal wall. Other contributing factors include obesity, heavy lifting, pregnancy, persistent coughing, and natural weak points present from birth.
Recovery
Recovery depends on the size and complexity of the repair. Keyhole repairs typically allow return to light activity within 1–2 weeks. Open repairs of larger hernias may require 6 weeks before heavy activity is resumed. Dr Cocco will provide specific guidance tailored to your procedure.