Recovery After Hernia Repair
What to Expect
Most patients go home on the day of or the day after surgery. Sutures are dissolving and buried, dressings stay on for 7 days. You may eat and drink normally, and walk around straight away. A follow-up appointment with Mr Karametos is made for 1 week after surgery. You will need to wait 3-5 days before returning to driving. There will be lifting and exercise restrictions for a period of time after surgery that will vary according to the type of hernia repaired and technique used for repair.
After surgery to repair your hernia you may have discomfort that may be slight with keyhole surgery or greater with large open operations. Our team of anaesthetists will provide you with pain medication on discharge.
Care at Home
Laparoscopic or Endoscopic Hernia Repair
Most people who have laparoscopic hernia repair surgery are able to go home the same day. Recovery time is about 1 to 2 weeks. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 2 weeks. Strenuous exercise should wait until after 6 weeks of recovery. Studies have found that people have considerably less pain after laparoscopic hernia repair than after open hernia repair. Laparoscopy surgery is also less likely to cause wound infections or chronic pain when compared to open surgery.
Open Hernia Repair
Most people who have open hernia repair surgery are able to go home the same day. Recovery time is about 3 weeks. You most likely can return to light activity after 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise should wait until after 6 weeks of recovery. Don't do anything that causes pain.
Call our office if you have any of these symptoms:
Most patients go home on the day of or the day after surgery. Sutures are dissolving and buried, dressings stay on for 7 days. You may eat and drink normally, and walk around straight away. A follow-up appointment with Mr Karametos is made for 1 week after surgery. You will need to wait 3-5 days before returning to driving. There will be lifting and exercise restrictions for a period of time after surgery that will vary according to the type of hernia repaired and technique used for repair.
After surgery to repair your hernia you may have discomfort that may be slight with keyhole surgery or greater with large open operations. Our team of anaesthetists will provide you with pain medication on discharge.
Care at Home
- Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated.
- Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before and increase the amount you walk gradually. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
- If you are given an abdominal binder to wear, use it as directed. This is an elastic bandage that wraps around your belly and upper hips. It helps support your belly muscles after surgery.
- Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight-lifting, or aerobic exercise, until advised by Mr Karametos.
- Do not lift anything more than 5kg within 6 weeks post hernia repair.
- Wait at least 5 days before returning to driving.
- Most people are able to return to work within 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. However, if your employment requires heavy lifting or strenuous activity, you may need to take 4 to 6 weeks off from work. Our office staff is able to issue you the Certificate of Capacity and Return to Work Certificate.
- You may shower after surgery as you have waterproof dressings. Do not take a bath or swim for the first 2 weeks.
- It is common to experience irregular bowel movements after surgery. Avoid constipation so you may want to take a soluble fibre supplement such as Metamucil every day . If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, take a mild laxative such as Movichol or Coloxyl with Senna.
- Mr Karametos will tell you if and when you can restart your usual medicines including any blood thinners. He will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines including antibiotics and painkillers.
- If you have dressings on the incision, leave them until you see Mr Karametos at the follow up appointment.
- Do breathing exercises at home as instructed. This will help prevent pneumonia.
- If you had laparoscopic surgery, you may also have pain in your left shoulder. The pain usually lasts about a day or two. Nurofen helps this.
- It is important to attend the post op appointment with Mr Karametos on the scheduled date. Call our office if you are not able to.
Laparoscopic or Endoscopic Hernia Repair
Most people who have laparoscopic hernia repair surgery are able to go home the same day. Recovery time is about 1 to 2 weeks. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 2 weeks. Strenuous exercise should wait until after 6 weeks of recovery. Studies have found that people have considerably less pain after laparoscopic hernia repair than after open hernia repair. Laparoscopy surgery is also less likely to cause wound infections or chronic pain when compared to open surgery.
Open Hernia Repair
Most people who have open hernia repair surgery are able to go home the same day. Recovery time is about 3 weeks. You most likely can return to light activity after 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise should wait until after 6 weeks of recovery. Don't do anything that causes pain.
Call our office if you have any of these symptoms:
- The incision is noticeably warm and red.
- A groin is hard and swollen.
- You have a fever.
Further Reading (ref: American College of Surgeons)
There are many types of hernias and many types of hernia repair operations. We perform them all, but the right operation for you will depend on many factors. All operations should be individualised to meet your specific goals and expectations. Please read the following resources for a comprehensive overview of the most common types of hernias, which also include surgery preparation and recovery after hernia repair.
Inguinal Hernia Repair, Groin Hernia, Femoral Hernia- Patient Education
Ventral Hernia Repair- Patient Education
Umbilical (belly button) Hernia Repair- Patient Education
There are many types of hernias and many types of hernia repair operations. We perform them all, but the right operation for you will depend on many factors. All operations should be individualised to meet your specific goals and expectations. Please read the following resources for a comprehensive overview of the most common types of hernias, which also include surgery preparation and recovery after hernia repair.
Inguinal Hernia Repair, Groin Hernia, Femoral Hernia- Patient Education
Ventral Hernia Repair- Patient Education
Umbilical (belly button) Hernia Repair- Patient Education
