Recovery After Hernia Surgery
After Hernia Surgery
Recovery after Hernia surgery is uneventful. Following a Laparoscopic procedure, you can expect to be up and about from day 2. However, after open surgery, the period of return to normal activity may extend up to 2 weeks.
Recovery after Hernia Surgery
- Following the operation, you will be transferred to the recovery room where you will be monitored for 1-2 hours until you are fully awake.
- You are advised to stay overnight in the Hospital (For pain management) and will be seen by your Surgeon the day after for review and will be discharged afterwards.
- With any hernia operation, you may expect some soreness during the first 24 to 48 hours.
- You are encouraged to be up and about the day after surgery.
- You are advised to avoid any type of activities that involve heavy lifting or straining for at least 2 weeks after Laparoscopic surgery, and up to 4-6 weeks after Open surgery.
- Keep the wound(s) dry until the stitches/clips have been removed, usually 8-10 days post-operatively.
- Some types of stitches will dissolve within 2-3 weeks and will not require removal.
- As soon as you are comfortable, you can begin easy activities such as walking, Avoid strenuous exercise for 2 weeks post-Laparoscopic Surgery, and 4-6 weeks if you have had Open surgery.
- You can start driving again once you are free of pain and can use the controls of your care normally.
Other Possibles Events After Surgery
- Some of the potential adverse scenarios following Hernia surgeries include:
- Bleeding – this is very uncommon with laparoscopic surgery.
- Infection – you may get an infection in the wound caused by the mesh or sutures/staples. This is a very rare complication.
- Slight risk of injury to the bladder, intestines, blood vessels, nerves or the sperm tube going to the testicles.
- Difficulty urinating after surgery is not unusual and may require a temporary tube into the bladder.
- Following Laparoscopic Hernia repair, the chance of recurrence is less than 0.3%.
