The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes about 30 minutes (less than an hour for a repair to both sides). Your surgeon will make a small cut on or near your belly button so they can insert an instrument in your abdominal cavity to inflate it with gas (carbon dioxide).
Even though it's aided by general anesthesia, laparoscopic surgery feels more like an outpatient procedure than a major surgery. And because it's far less traumatic for your body tissues, you can expect to heal, recover, and return to normal activities a lot quicker.
Activity: You will be able to stand, walk, and climb stairs with some mild discomfort starting the same evening of surgery. You may shower the first day after surgery, but no bathing or swimming for 5 days.
Hernia repair surgery normally only requires a 23-hour or less stay. Most patients go home the same day. Abdominal wall hernia repairs may require up to a two-day hospital stay due to the internal stitches and healing that is required.
Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery
General anaesthetic is used for keyhole inguinal hernia repair, so you'll be asleep during the operation. During keyhole surgery, the surgeon usually makes 3 small incisions in your abdomen instead of a single larger incision.
After hernia repair surgery, it is common to experience mild to moderate pain for a few days. Our surgical team recommends the following regimen to mitigate the risk of developing severe pain: The patient takes Tylenol 1000mg the night before surgery before going to bed.
Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better. Be active. Walking is a good choice. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery you had.
You can start eating a soft sloppy diet from the day after your operation. Sloppy food is any food that is moist, can be broken into pieces with a fork, and does not require a lot of chewing. Examples include cereals that have been softened in milk, smooth soup (no lumps) and pureed foods.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that hernia mesh is a permanent implant. It means that once implanted; it is not designed to be removed. The FDA also states that hernia mesh should last a lifetime.
Balanced Meals for Recovery
Consider fruits, vegetables, and whole grains together with healthy proteins from fish, meat, eggs, tofu, nuts, milk and dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese. Avoid high fat and high caloric foods with low nutritional values, such as syrup drinks, French fries, desserts, etc.
Also, talk with your surgeon about taking a stool softener after surgery. They should be fine with this and if so, it can go a long way in preventing constipation. If you do get constipated, do not try and strain to have a bowel movement though as this could do damage to your recently repaired hernia.
It is OK to shower starting around 24 – 36 hours after surgery. If you have bandages on the incisions, take them off before showering. You should see little pieces of tape (called steri-strips) directly attached to your skin.
Laparoscopic surgery must be performed using general anesthesia. This means that the patient will be asleep during the procedure. A surgeon will then make three to four small incisions around the hernia. One incision will measure less than one inch in size, while the other incisions will be a bit smaller.
Reports of 90 – 99% success rates are common. Mesh repairs, in many cases, offer a smaller chance of hernia recurrence rate than non-mesh repairs.
Avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
By the end of the week you should be feeling much better, although doctors recommend postponing sexual activity. Week 3: Your stitches should be closed and you can take full baths and showers. Keep any lifting to a minimum (and still below 20 pounds). Your need for pain medication should taper off.
Elevate the upper body 30-45 degrees to prevent shallow breathing and additional stress on the abdominal muscles and surgical area. Resting in an elevated position also helps reduce pain and stiffness. Use pillows to maintain comfort, support, and proper elevation during sleep.
For a couple of weeks, when you need to cough or sneeze, splint your incision. This means putting pressure over your incision with your hands, a rolled up blanket, or a pillow. Sneeze with your mouth open to lessen the strain on your incision. Please ask your nurse to help you the first time you get up.
Will my stomach shrink after hernia repair? The size of your stomach will not necessarily shrink after a hernia repair. However, depending on the cause of your hernia and the type of repair you have, you may experience changes in your abdominal appearance after surgery.
Typically, the hardest part about hernia surgery recovery, is the discomfort within the first 48 hours after surgery. By the third day after surgery, pain and discomfort will usually begin to improve.
Of course, they should not be doing any strenuous exercise, but all patients after a hernia operation, be it laparoscopic hernia surgery or open, should be encouraged to get out of bed as much as possible and move around. Absolute bed rest is no longer recommended for hernia operations.
At first you may need to rest in bed with your upper body raised on pillows. This helps you breathe easier and may help lessen post-surgery hernia pain. Cold and Heat: Both cold and heat can help lessen some types of post-op pain.