Recovery Time for Recurrent Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Healing from inguinal surgery may take anywhere from one week to several weeks, depending on what type of surgery the patient undergoes and other factors affecting the patient’s ability to heal.

Inguinal Hernia

• An inguinal hernia occurs when a weakness of the lower abdominal muscles near the groin allows a portion of the small intestine to protrude into the area. Frequent recurrences may call for surgical correction.

Herniorrhaphy

• Recovery from a standard “open” hernia repair, called herniorrhaphy, may take several weeks, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Laparoscopy

• Recovery from laparoscopy, in which the surgeon makes tiny incisions and views his work through a tiny camera, requires less time than recovery from herniorrhaphy. Patients may return to their normal lives within one week.

Factors

• Various factors other than the type of surgery used can affect a patient’s recovery time from inguinal hernia surgery. These factors include the patient’s age and overall physical health, as well as the size or severity of the hernia.

Behaviors

• To avoid undoing the surgeon’s work and causing a recurrence of the hernia, the patient must avoid heavy lifting or other demanding physical activities during the recovery period.