Groin Hernia Mesh Repair Surgery
What Is Groin Hernia Mesh Repair Surgery and Why Is It Needed?
A hernia occurs when an internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. In groin hernias, this typically involves abdominal tissue bulging through the lower abdominal wall, especially in the inguinal or femoral regions.
Groin hernia surgery aims to return the protruding tissue to its proper place and strengthen the weakened area, usually with the help of a surgical mesh. Hernias do not heal on their own and may become larger or more painful over time, increasing the risk of complications such as incarceration or strangulation
The surgery can be performed for different types of hernias. This includes inguinal hernias, which often appear as groin bulges in men, and femoral hernias, which often protrude just below the groin into the upper thigh, more frequently seen in older women.
About 20 million hernia repairs are done worldwide each year. Less than 20% of patients need another surgery for the same hernia over the years following the procedure.
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Mesh Hernia Repair
Mesh hernia repair is the most common and preferred method for treating groin hernias. It involves placing a synthetic mesh over or under the weakened area of the abdominal wall. The synthetic mesh acts as a scaffold to support tissue healing and prevent the hernia from recurring.
Tissue Repair
Tissue repair (or non-mesh repair) is used to treat hernias in select cases. In this approach, the surgeon stitches the patient’s own tissue together to close the hernia defect without the use of synthetic materials.
Laparoscopic vs. Open Surgery
Both groin hernia treatment options can be performed laparoscopically or through open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive and has a shorter recovery time. Open surgery involves making a larger incision in the affected area.
When to Consider Groin Hernia Repair
You may want to consider groin hernia surgery if your hernia is starting cause discomfort or interfere with daily activities.
Your doctor will need to assess your condition to recommend the right groin hernia treatment. In most cases, surgery is often the most effective treatment for the condition since hernias cannot heal by themselves, and often grow larger or become painful over time.
Some signs it may be time to consider surgery include:
- Persistent or worsening pain in the groin, especially when standing or lifting
- A visible or enlarging bulge that doesn’t go away when lying down
- Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or fever, which could indicate a complication like strangulation
- Difficulty with movement or daily activities due to discomfort
Early treatment is generally recommended, as delaying surgery could increase your risk of complications and result in a more complex repair later on.
Discuss Treatment Options with a Specialist
If you suspect you have a groin hernia, book an appointment with us. We can assess you to determine the best path for treatment.
What to Expect with Groin Hernia Mesh Repair
Before the Surgery
During the pre-operation consultation, our doctor will examine you to confirm the diagnosis and explain the recommended treatment. This will include explanations of the procedure, goals, risks, and prep and aftercare instructions.
At this stage, we encourage patients to ask questions or raise their concerns – our doctor will answer all of your queries and provide whatever information he can supply for your case. Our team will also run through all of the pre-surgery and post-surgery instructions with you.
During the Surgery
Depending on the complexity of your case, a groin hernia repair typically takes around an hour and is often an outpatient surgery. It may also be performed under general or local anaesthesia, depending on your circumstances.
These are the main steps:
- Creating the incision
- Pushing back the herniated tissue into its proper place
- Repair of the weak spot where herniated tissue “poked” out”
- Placement of a mesh patch over the weak spot
- Securing the mesh patch to the surrounding muscles
- Closure, stitching, or stapling of the incision
- Application of dressings to protect the surgical area as it heals
After the Surgery
Lower groin hernia repair is typically performed as a day procedure, allowing most patients to be discharged the same day. Your doctor will advise you on post-operative care, with follow-up scheduled to monitor your recovery.
If you experience any of the following, however, you should reach out to your doctor immediately.
- Abnormally fast heart rate
- Blood seeping through your bandage
- Chills
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Pain, redness, warmth or swelling at the incision
- Pain in your leg (including your calf, behind your knee and thigh) or groin
- Pus draining from the incision
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden swelling, warmth or redness in your leg or groin
- Warm or clammy/sweaty skin
Recovery and Prognosis for Groin Hernia Mesh Repair
Since this procedure is generally outpatient, patients can generally go home on the same day for recovery. You can typically return to light activities within 1 to 2 weeks, but full recovery and heavy activities may require up to 6 weeks of healing first.
Patients can usually shower after a few days if using a waterproof dressing. Otherwise, it is recommended that patients wait around 2 weeks for the wound to heal first.
As for the prognosis, groin hernia mesh repair is considered durable. About 80-90% of patients remain hernia-free after it, including those who receive inguinal hernia repair with mesh.
Risks and Side Effects of Groin Hernia Mesh Repair
While groin hernia mesh repair is a common procedure for hernia treatment, it has its risks and possible side effects, like all other surgeries:
- Bleeding or fluid collection (seroma/hematoma)
- Bruising in the area
- Chronic groin pain
- Infection after surgery, the risk of which can be brought down with antibiotics
- Temporary difficulty urinating
- Pain in the testicles
- In rare cases, recurrence of the hernia despite surgery
- In rare cases, early breakdown or erosion of synthetic mesh
- In rare cases, testicular complications, which only occurs in 0.3% to 7.2% of patients
Surgery Fees and Insurance Coverage
For a detailed fee breakdown or to check your eligibility for insurance or Medisave claims, please get in touch with us.
Procedures and Surgeries
See a Specialist on Groin Hernia Repair
If you’ve been diagnosed with a groin hernia or are experiencing ongoing discomfort in that area, speak with our specialist to find out if this surgery is right for you.