Laparoscopic hernia repair surgery is the best and safest treatment option available to treat a hernia. A hernia is a medical condition where the internal organs bulge or protrude through the weak spot of the muscle wall that holds them in their original position. If you have a hernia, you may suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain, bulge or swelling in the abdomen, discomfort, and pain during bowel movement and pain while lifting or coughing, etc. In such cases, the doctor may recommend hernia repair surgery.

How laparoscopic hernia repair surgery is performed?

If you are diagnosed with a hernia and the presence of its symptoms, then you should undergo a surgical intervention to treat the hernia. Because hernias won’t go away on their own. Most of the patients around the world choose laparoscopic hernia repair surgery rather than open hernia repair surgery because of its benefits like painless, safe, minimal cuts, no scar formation, and quick recovery. 

During Laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, an anesthesiologist will sedate you with either local or general anesthesia. Then, all your vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate, and oxygen levels, etc are monitored throughout the surgery. Later, the surgeon will make small incisions on the abdomen. Through these incisions, a laparoscopy is sent to locate the hernia and to visualize the internal organs. Later on, other surgical instruments were sent inside the abdomen through the cuts to remove the hernia. After that, a synthetic mesh will be placed over the weak abdominal wall and provides strength to it.

How long does it take to recover from Laparoscopic Hernia Repair?

Once the surgery is performed, you may be discharged on the same day or 12-24 hours after the surgery. The surgeons and doctors advise you to get some rest after the surgery as it boosts the healing of small cuts which are made during the laparoscopic hernia repair surgery. The time from the completion of surgery to performing daily activities is recovery time. Recovery time varies from one patient to another and depends on factors like

  • Experience of the surgeon in performing laparoscopic hernia repair surgery
  • Severity and complexity of the hernia
  • Size of hernia to be treated
  • Presence of any underlying disease
  • Overall health condition of the patient
  • Post-operative lifestyle of the patient

In the initial days after the surgery, you can notice a little discomfort during bowel movements and urination. Discharge of pus and blood can be seen from the incisions or cuts that are made during laparoscopic hernia repair surgery. However, these go away over some time.

Most patients may take 1-2 weeks to recover from laparoscopic hernia repair surgery and others may require 2-4 weeks.

You can recover quickly from laparoscopic hernia repair surgery by following all the instructions provided by your surgeon and doctor. A few of those instructions are:

  • Don’t use machinery or power tools till you are worn out from anesthesia.
  • Avoid lifting heavy weights until your doctor says it’s ok.
  • Don’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after the surgery.
  • Avid performing strenuous activities till you recover completely.
  • Avoid stressing out while urinating and bowel movements.
  • Don’t go swimming for at least a week or two.
  • Do simple exercises daily for about 20-30 minutes.
  • Eat a lot of food items that are rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  •  Drink plenty of water as this can avoid dehydration and improves bowel movement.
  • If any bleeding is noticed from the incision site, then use gauze bandages.
  • Pat the skin dry instead of rubbing the wound.
  • Use prescribed medications in case of severe pain.
  • Visit the clinic as regular as possible as doctors can evaluate how the wound heals and check whether the surgery is successful without causing any complications.

Conclusion:

Recovery time from laparoscopic hernia repair surgery differs from one patient to another and depends on factors like health condition, an underlying disease, post-operative lifestyle, and severity of the hernia. Following all the instructions suggested by your doctor can boost the recovery process and improve your overall health condition.