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General & Laparoscopic Surgery
Hernia Repair Surgery (Laparoscopic and Open)
Repairs a weak spot in the abdominal wall, usually with a mesh, to get rid of the bulge and the risk of bowel getting trapped in it.
- Surgery duration
- 45 to 120 minutes
- Anaesthesia
- General, spinal or local
- Hospital stay
- Same day to 2 days
- Recovery
- 1 to 2 weeks for light work
On this page
Overview
A hernia usually shows up as a soft bulge that appears when you stand, cough or lift, and slips back when you lie down. In the groin it can feel like a dragging ache by the end of the day. It won't go away on its own, because the gap in the muscle it's pushing through doesn't heal by itself.
That gap in the muscle wall of the abdomen lets fat or a loop of bowel push outward. The common types are inguinal (in the groin, far more common in men), femoral (lower in the groin, more common in women), umbilical (at or near the navel), epigastric (above the navel) and incisional (through an old surgical scar, such as a C-section). Hernia repair pushes the contents back and closes the gap. In most adults the repair is reinforced with a mesh, a flat sheet of medical-grade material that your own tissue grows into.
Mesh has made hernias far less likely to come back than stitches alone. Most people are back to light work within a week or two, though a few in 100 hernias return over the years.
Repairs of inguinal, umbilical and ventral hernias are among the operations our general surgery department performs most often, by keyhole (laparoscopic) or open surgery depending on your hernia. When the time is right, our physiotherapy team helps you rebuild core strength.
Why it's done
Not every hernia needs an operation straight away, but most eventually do. Surgery is advised when a hernia causes symptoms, keeps growing, or is a type likely to trap bowel.
- A groin or navel bulge that aches, drags or limits work and exercise
- A hernia that is getting bigger, or harder to push back
- Any femoral hernia, because these have a high risk of trapping bowel
- An incisional hernia through an old surgical scar that is growing or uncomfortable
- A groin hernia in a child. Small navel hernias in babies are different and often close by about age 3 to 5
- An emergency: a painful, tender lump that won't go back, especially with vomiting. This can mean strangulation, where trapped bowel loses its blood supply
Is it right for you?
Usually a good fit
- A groin, navel or incisional hernia that causes symptoms
- Fit for anaesthesia, with blood sugar, blood pressure and any chronic cough under control
- A hernia on both sides, or one that came back after open repair, which often suit keyhole surgery
May not be suitable
- A small, painless inguinal hernia in a man who prefers to wait, where watchful waiting is reasonable
- Infected skin over the hernia, or a chest infection with heavy coughing, until treated
- Uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smoking, which raise the risk of mesh infection and recurrence, until improved
- Severe heart or lung disease, where an open repair under local anaesthetic may be chosen over keyhole surgery
Types and techniques
Laparoscopic mesh repair
For groin hernias, the surgeon places the mesh behind the muscle wall from the inside, through three small cuts. The two common methods are TEP, which stays outside the lining of the abdomen, and TAPP, which goes through it. It suits hernias on both sides, hernias that came back after open repair, and people who want a faster return to work.
Open mesh repair
A cut of about 6 to 8 cm is made over a groin hernia and the mesh is stitched over the weak area (the Lichtenstein repair). It can be done under spinal or even local anaesthetic, which helps older patients and people with heart or lung problems, and it's often preferred for very large hernias that reach into the scrotum.
Navel, incisional and children's hernias
Navel hernias under about 1 cm can be closed with stitches alone. Larger ones, and most incisional hernias, are repaired with mesh by keyhole or open surgery. A child's groin hernia is repaired without mesh by tying off the sac (herniotomy), usually as day care.
Preparing for surgery
- Blood tests, an ECG and a chest X-ray, plus an ultrasound if the hernia is small or hard to feel
- Get treatment for a chronic cough, constipation or straining to pass urine (often from an enlarged prostate), since all of these strain the repair
- Stop smoking, ideally at least 4 weeks before. Smokers have more wound problems and more recurrences
- If you have diabetes, bring your HbA1c into a safe range, as high sugar raises the risk of mesh infection
- Ask your doctor whether your blood thinners need pausing. Don't stop them on your own
- For a large incisional hernia, losing some weight first makes the repair safer and longer-lasting. Our BMI calculator is a good starting point
- Many policies have a waiting period of up to two years for hernia surgery, so check yours early
The procedure, step by step
- 01
Anaesthesia
Keyhole repair is done under general anaesthesia. Open repair can be done under spinal or general anaesthesia, or a local anaesthetic with sedation.
- 02
Reaching the hernia
For keyhole surgery, three small cuts are made near the navel and the space behind the muscle wall is opened up with gas. For open repair, one cut is made over the hernia.
- 03
Returning the contents
The hernia sac with its fat or bowel is freed and pushed back into the abdomen. Any bowel that was trapped is checked to make sure it's healthy.
- 04
Placing the mesh
A mesh that overlaps the weak area by a good margin is laid in place and fixed with a few stitches, tacks or glue, or held by the pressure of the surrounding tissue.
- 05
Closing
The cuts are closed with dissolvable stitches. A groin repair takes about 45 to 90 minutes, and a large incisional hernia can take two hours or more.
Benefits and risks
Benefits
- Gets rid of the bulge and the dragging discomfort
- Takes away the risk of bowel getting trapped and strangulated
- A low chance of recurrence with mesh, a few in 100 for groin hernias
- Keyhole surgery can repair both sides through the same small cuts
- Most people go home the same day or the next
Possible risks
- Bruising and swelling in the groin or scrotum, common in the first two weeks
- A fluid collection (seroma) where the hernia was, which usually settles by itself
- Long-lasting groin pain or numbness in roughly 1 in 10 after groin repair. It's usually mild, and severe pain is uncommon
- Difficulty passing urine for a few hours after surgery, especially in older men
- Mesh infection, which is uncommon but may mean removing the mesh, and rare injury to the bowel, bladder or blood vessels
Recovery timeline
- 01
Day 0 to 1
You're up and walking within hours. Most groin repairs go home the same day or the next morning, and large incisional repairs stay 2 to 3 days. Hold a small pillow against the wound when you cough or sneeze.
- 02
Week 1
Walk several times a day. Keep stools soft with water, fruit and fibre, and don't strain on the toilet. On an Indian toilet, squat slowly and hold a rail or the wall to get up.
- 03
Weeks 1 to 2
Most people return to desk work and short drives. The stitches dissolve, and the surgeon checks the wound at your follow-up visit.
- 04
Weeks 4 to 6
Heavy lifting, gym work and manual labour usually resume at around 4 to 6 weeks for groin hernias, and later after large incisional repairs.
When to call your doctor
- A painful, hard lump at the site that won't go back
- Vomiting, a swollen belly, or not passing wind or stools
- Fever, or redness, heat or discharge from the wound
- Being unable to pass urine at all
- Swelling in the scrotum that keeps growing or becomes very painful
Call us on +91-8826000033 or come straight to our 24/7 emergency department.
Alternatives to surgery
Watchful waiting
A small groin hernia in a man that causes little discomfort can be watched, as long as you know the signs of a trapped hernia. Most eventually become painful and need repair. Femoral hernias shouldn't be watched.
Hernia belts
A belt or truss can hold a groin hernia in while you wait for surgery or if you're not fit for an operation. It doesn't close the gap, and it can rub the skin sore with long use.
A hiatus hernia is different
A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm into the chest. It causes acidity and heartburn rather than a bulge, shows up on an upper GI endoscopy, and is usually treated with medicines first.
Talk to our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team
Ask about your options, the cost and your insurance before you decide. See the insurance and TPA panels we work with.
This page explains Hernia Repair Surgery (Laparoscopic and Open) in general terms. Your own plan depends on your health, your test results and your doctor's advice. Please read our medical disclaimer.
Your care team
Hernia Repair Surgery (Laparoscopic and Open) is led by our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team, with other departments stepping in at each stage of your care.
Leads your treatment
General Surgery Department
At Prakash Hospital, our General Surgery Department delivers expert surgical care for a wide range of conditions, combining advanced techniques with personalized treatment plans to ensure safe, effective, and faster recovery for our patients.
What the department treats
Laparoscopic Surgery
Hernia Repair
Gallbladder Surgery
Appendectomy
Thyroid Surgery
Wound Management
Other departments involved
Physiotherapy
Guides walking, breathing and core-strengthening exercises so you return to lifting without straining the repair.
General Medicine
Controls diabetes, blood pressure and chronic cough before surgery to lower the risk of infection and recurrence.
Urology
Treats an enlarged prostate if straining to pass urine is part of what caused the hernia.
Meet the specialists
Related procedures
Procedures often considered alongside Hernia Repair Surgery (Laparoscopic and Open), or that treat related conditions.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Removes a gallbladder with stones through four small cuts, usually with a stay of one night or less.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy
Removes an inflamed appendix through three small cuts, usually with one or two nights in hospital.
Urology
TURP (Prostate Resection)
Trims an enlarged prostate from inside the urethra so urine flows freely, with no cut on the skin.
Gastroenterology
Upper GI Endoscopy
A camera test of the food pipe, stomach and duodenum for acidity, ulcers, bleeding and swallowing problems.
More in General & Laparoscopic Surgery
Other procedures our General & Laparoscopic Surgery team performs.
Haemorrhoidectomy
Removes large or prolapsing piles that haven't settled with diet, medicines or banding.
Thyroid Surgery
Removes part or all of the thyroid for a goitre, a suspicious nodule or an overactive gland.
Breast Lump Removal
Removes a breast lump after tests, usually as day care, and sends it to the lab to confirm what it is.
Wound Care & Debridement
Treats wounds that won't heal, from diabetic foot ulcers to bedsores, with debridement, dressings and pressure relief.
Explore Other Departments
We offer expert care across key specialties, including Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, ENT, Gynaecology, and more—delivering trusted treatment under one roof.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Hernia Repair Surgery (Laparoscopic and Open) at Prakash Hospital, Noida.
Does the mesh stay in forever? Is it safe?
Can a hernia be cured without surgery?
When can I go back to work or ride my bike?
Can I squat or use an Indian toilet after surgery?
Will the hernia come back?
My baby has a bulge at the belly button. Does it need surgery?
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