A hernia occurs when there is a weakness or hole in the abdominal muscular wall that usually keeps your organs in place. Hernia leads the organ and tissues to protrude or herniate, which in turn produces a localized bulge in the abdomen or groin area.
Hernia repair surgery can correct this problem and relieve your pain but what does it cost and what is involved?
The most common types of hernia are listed in the table below.
| Types of Hernia | Bulge Location | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|
| In an Inguinal Hernia, the bladder or intestine bulges through the abdominal wall or in the groin and may reach the scrotum. About 75% of all hernias are inguinal. | Inner groin | Men due to natural weakness in the groin area. |
| In Femoral Hernia, the tissues bulge through a weak area in the outer groin or inner thigh. | Outer groin or inner thigh | Women, especially those who are obese or pregnant. |
| In an Incisional Hernia, the tissues or organ protrudes through the abdominal wall at the site of the post-surgical scar. | Post abdominal surgical scar | Overweight or elderly people who are inactive after abdominal surgery or if their surgical wound doesn’t heal completely. |
| In an Umbilical Hernia, the tissues or organ protrudes through the abdominal wall near the navel. | Belly button |
|
| In Hiatal Hernia, the stomach bulge through a weak point in the diaphragm. | The upper part of the stomach |
|
During the hernia repair surgery, the displaced tissues or organs are placed back into the body and the weak spot/hole is stitched or patched up.
Your doctor may not recommend the surgery if you’re suffering from a reducible hernia.
- Reducible Hernia: This type of hernia protrudes with pressure and might happen when you’re lifting something heavy or straining to have a bowel movement (during chronic constipation). When the pressure is gone, this type of hernia returns back into your body. You can also push them back with mild pressure from outside. These hernias are not considered serious.
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Incarcerated Hernia: Incarcerated hernias can’t be pushed back to your body and remain protruding. This kind of hernia is considered severe and serious and may require emergency surgery.
Some other symptoms that may specify the need for hernia repair surgery are:
- Hernia that becomes strangulated. It means the protruded tissue loses blood flow. This condition can be life-threatening and requires emergency surgery.
- Hernia that is growing larger and you’re unable to push the bulge back into your abdomen as you previously could.
- Hernia that turns dark, red, or purple
- Intestine that becomes twisted or trapped. If this happens you may have a fever, sudden pain that gets worse, nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate.
How Does Hernia Repair Surgery Work?
The Procedure
Prior to Procedure: Before surgery, you may undergo certain tests to ensure that you’re healthy enough for the surgery. These may include:
- Certain blood tests
- Electrocardiogram & Chest X-ray (to make sure that your heart is in good health)
- A review of your medical history
- A full physical exam
Your doctor may instruct you to stop taking over-the-counter medication (such as ibuprofen & aspirin) a week or 10 days before hernia surgery.
During the Procedure: Your surgeon will perform the hernia repair surgery by using the either open or laparoscopic surgery method.
- Open Hernia Repair Surgery: In the open surgery method, an incision of 3cm to 6cm is made in the abdomen. After that, your surgeon will place the bulge tissues or loop of the bowel back into your abdomen. At the weak spot area of your abdominal wall, a mesh is placed to strengthen it. The mesh is made up of flexible material that promotes the growth of new tissues to strengthen the weak area of your abdominal wall. When the repair is complete, the incision will be sealed with stitches. Open hernia repair surgery is ideally suited for those with large or multiple hernias.
- Laparoscopic (keyhole) Hernia Repair Surgery: During this procedure, 3-4 small incisions are made instead of one large incision. A thin tube containing a light source and camera is inserted through one of the incisions so that your surgeon can visualize inside your abdomen and perform the procedure. Surgical instruments are inserted through other incisions to pull back the hernia to its original place. After that, a piece of mesh is placed to strengthen the weak area of your abdominal wall.
Results
Summary of the Treatment
| Procedure time | 1 Hour | ||||
| Back to home from the hospital |
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| Full recovery |
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| Risk & Complications | Bleeding, Infection, Blood clots, Nerve or tissue damage, Pain, Hernia recurrence |
Statistics of Hernia Repair Surgery in the UK
Compare the Cost of Hernia Repair Surgery in the UK
At private hospitals and clinics in the UK, hernia repair surgery typically costs between £2,390 & £4,406 (excluding initial consultation and prior diagnostic tests fees).
How much does private hernia surgery cost in your area?
The cost varies in different parts of the UK as described in the table below:
| City/Region | Highest Price | Lowest Price | Details of Surveyed Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £3,870 Cromwell Hospital | £2,617 Highgate Private Hospital | |
| Manchester | £3,390 Oaklands Hospital | £2,534 The Alexandra Hospital | |
| Leeds | £3,425 Yorkshire Clinic | £2,390 Mr Jeremy Hayden | |
| Scotland | £3,590 Spire Edinburgh Hospitals & Murrayfield and Shawfair Park | £2,998 Ross Hall Hospital | |
| Southampton | £3,813 Spire Southampton Hospital | £2,550 Practice Plus Hospital Southampton | |
| Wales | £3,500 Spire Yale Hospital | £2,900 Spire Cardiff Hospital | |
| Bristol | £3,305 Nuffield Bristol Hospital | £2,550 Practice Plus Hospital | |
| Birmingham | £4,406 Spire Parkway Hospital | £2,564 Rowley Hall Hospital | |
| Norwich | £3,415 Oaks Hospital | £3,233 Spire Norwich Hospital |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Causes A Hernia?
Hernias are caused by a combination of pressure, weakness, or a hole in the muscles or connective tissue of your abdominal wall. The causes that increase pressure are obesity, chronic constipation, lifting heavy things (without stabilizing the abdominal muscles), or persistent heavy coughing. Moreover, poor nutrition, smoking, and overexertion can also weaken the muscles and in turn, increase the likelihood of a hernia.
2. Can Hernia Recur After Surgery?
Hernia indicates the weakness of the abdominal wall. In some cases repairing the hernia at one site could increase intra-abdominal pressure at another weak spot. This in turn can exacerbate another hernia. With the latest mesh repair technique, the recurrence of the original hernia is unusual. However, there are chances of recurrence in 1-5% of hernia repairs.
3. Can A Hernia Go Away On Its Own?
Generally, a hernia doesn’t go away on its own. Especially in adults, there is no way for a hernia to heal itself. Instead, it’ll usually get bigger and causes more symptoms. Hernia strangulation is a major risk and for this reason, it’s recommended to repair it soon rather than later.
4. Why Are Men More Susceptible To Hernias?
This is because men have a weak spot (a hole or gaps) in their groin muscles so that blood vessels can pass through their testicles. Excessive coughing and lifting heavy things may stretch this natural gap enough to develop a hernia.
