Everything You Need to Know About Surgery for an Inguinal Hernia: Kinds, Risks, and Moresubmitted on 15 April 2020
Hernias are more common than many of us think, and there are actually different kinds of hernias as well. But one of the most common types of hernias, more frequently experienced by men, is the inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia can occur when a part of the body located internally pushes through a muscle weakness in the groin, and you may notice it as a lump or swelling in the area. It can also appear as a scrotum that looks enlarged, and sometimes, the swelling can be quite painful. If you have been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, you may be recommended for treatment to push the bulge or lump back into its place as well as strengthen the weak place in your abdominal wall. More often than not, the best treatment for a painful inguinal hernia is surgery. If you are thinking of surgery for your inguinal hernia, here’s everything you need to know about it: kinds, risks, and more.
The two kinds of surgery for an inguinal hernia
If you have developed complications from your inguinal hernia or are in constant pain because of it, your best recourse is to have surgery. But there are two kinds of surgery for the condition, namely open surgery and laparoscopic or keyhole surgery.
With open surgery, surgeons will make a cut or incision in your abdomen so they can manually push back the lump into your abdomen. With laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, the process is less invasive as only several small cuts are required, and this allows the surgeon to make use of special tools or instruments in order to repair your inguinal hernia.
Both methods will have benefits and disadvantages, but the type of surgery you have, as hernia repair London specialists agree, will depend on your specific requirements and condition as well as the kind of skill your surgeon has. The good news is that you should well be able to return home either on the day of the surgery itself or the day after, although you should make sure to take proper care of yourself as well.
In order to take care of yourself, you need to follow a good diet so you avoid becoming constipated, and you should also take ample rest and not strain yourself right after your surgery. Most individuals should be able to recover from surgery in about six weeks, and many can go back to work, drive, or perform light tasks in as little as two weeks.
The risks of surgery
Of course, as with any medical procedure, inguinal hernia surgery London may come with its own set of risks, although they are mild. One potential risk is that fluid or blood can build up in the area where the hernia used to be (this would usually get better even without any treatment), whilst another risk would be swelling as well as bruising, specifically at the penis’ base or the testicles if the person with the hernia is a man. An individual may also experience numbness and pain in the groin if a nerve is trapped or damaged during the surgery. Complications are not common, however, and may be more likely to occur if someone smokes, is above 50 years of age, or if they have another medical condition such as breathing or respiratory issues or heart disease.
Article kindly provided by the hernia surgery London experts, londonsurgicalgroup.co.uk.
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