June is National Hernia Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to learn about the condition and, if you have one, book your appointment to get it fixed. If you have a hernia — a hole in the supportive tissue under your skin, usually the abdomen or groin —you may already know that surgery is the only way to get it repaired. But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t love the idea of spending time in the hospital.
Increasingly, however, relatively minor surgeries on healthy adults are being performed outside of hospitals. Hernia repairs are a common type of surgery done in these facilities, often called outpatient or ambulatory surgical centers.
Outpatient Surgical Centers for Hernia Repair
You don’t stay overnight at one of these centers; you have surgery and leave on the same day. That means you get to recover in the comfort of your own home. The outpatient surgery experience is personalized for every patient to make sure you receive the best care.
If your hernia isn’t getting larger or causing problems, it may be safe to postpone surgery. However, getting your hernia repaired now can give you the peace of mind that, by taking care of yourself today, you’re avoiding more significant problems down the road.
Why Have Surgery in an Outpatient Center?
Outpatient surgery centers have grown increasingly popular in recent years, in part because they’re less expensive than hospitals. But they can also potentially offer a better experience.
A hospital needs to be ready to care for patients with a wide range of conditions. Hospitals deliver excellent care, but an outpatient surgery center serves one purpose: offering a convenient, personalized experience for patients undergoing surgeries.
That said, some patients need the extra services and specialists that a hospital can provide. A hospital may be the best place for someone to get a hernia repair if they also struggle with significant heart problems or other complications.
What to Expect From Hernia Surgery
Before you have surgery, you’ll likely speak with the surgeon in an office. They’ll ask some basic questions, including when you first noticed the hernia, whether you’re in pain and if you can push the tissue back inside the hernia.
Then, if surgery is the right choice, you’ll make an appointment at the surgical center. After you get checked in, you’ll move to a pre-operation room. Here, you can meet your nurses, anesthesiologist and surgeon, and ask them any questions you have.
Minimally invasive surgery is offered, though it requires you to undergo general anesthesia, meaning you’re fully asleep. Though this idea may be comforting, it comes with side effects and risks that you’ll want to discuss with your anesthesiologist.
The surgery itself is a little like patching a hole in drywall. After making a small incision, the surgeon ensures that the organs are safely inside the hole. Then they close the hole with a combination of your own tissue and a synthetic mesh.
Hernia surgery usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. Over time, your tissues grow into the mesh, which helps strengthen the patch and stays in place for a lifetime.
After hernia surgery, you may be a little sleepy but should be able to get up and walk around. After perhaps 10 or 20 minutes in a post-operative area, you’ll likely be ready to be picked up and go home.
After arriving home, you will likely be able to do most normal daily activities right away. You may have some pain for a few days, but it’s usually treatable with over-the-counter medicine.
You’ll want to hold off on strenuous activities and heavy lifting for six to eight weeks.
Start Here to Repair Your Hernia
If you or a loved one have a hernia, don’t wait to get it taken care of. Our team offers you the best experience possible with the latest medical treatment and the shortest recovery time. To learn more about getting your hernia repaired, click here.
