Incisional Hernia (Open)
Incisional Hernia
An Incisional Hernia happens when a weakness in the muscle of the abdomen allows the tissues of the abdomen to protrude through the muscle. The weakness in the muscle is caused by the incision made in a prior abdominal surgery. The hernia appears as a bulge under the skin and can be painful or tender to the touch. An Incisional Hernia is typically small enough that only the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, pushes through. If left untreated, Incisional Hernias can grow over time.
FAQS
Frequently asked questions about surgical procedures
Can I use my insurance and get these prices?
Payment is due 14 calendar days prior to your surgery date. If, after the cutoff, your account is not settled, your case must be postponed.
How quickly can I have surgery?
How will I meet my surgeon?
If I had a car or work accident, would you work with my employer or attorney for payment?
What if I get sick right before my surgery?
You could develop a respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, COVID, or some other condition that may necessitate postponement. There is no penalty when this happens.
What’s Included:
- Facility fee
- Graft and hardware costs (if needed)
- Surgeon and assistant surgeon fees
- Anesthesiologist
- Time in the recovery unit (at no additional charge)
- Initial consultation visit
- One post-operative visit
*Please note: If you choose not to proceed with surgery after the initial consultation, or if you delay your procedure for more than 6 weeks, you will need to update your consultation at a cost of $375.
What’s not included:
- Lab testing before and after the surgery, as needed
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), depending on age. If you had one elsewhere in the past 6 months and it read “normal”, we can forego this expense.
- Imaging costs. X-rays and MRIs can be obtained anywhere.
- Physical therapy services
- Medications you’ll need (oral or IV antibiotic infusions if an infection arises)
- Wound care
- Bracing supplies
- Additional doctor visits (a pre-operative visit with the surgeon, in person, and any required post-op follow-ups after the suture removal to monitor your progress
- Additional surgical intervention if a complication arises
- Additional imaging or hospital care if a blood clot develops
Preparation for Incisional Hernia Surgery
There should be some preparation before the Incisional Hernia surgery. The major points are as follows.
- The patient may be asked to lose weight to improve the results after the surgery.
- Control of diabetes is also necessary for surgery.
- Routine blood and urine tests are to be conducted before surgery.
- ECG and chest X-ray to be taken before the operation.
- Medications like aspirin should be discontinued.
- The patient should not drink or eat anything after midnight the night before surgery.
Procedure for Incisional Hernia Surgery
Depending on the location of the Incisional Hernia, the patient will have to lie flat on their back or sidewise. A general anesthesia will be given after that. In some cases, a local anesthesia will do. To decompress the urinary bladder, a catheter will be inserted into the bladder. If the hernia is near the stomach, the stomach will also be decompressed using a gastric tube. An incision that is done to remove fat and scar tissue from the abdominal wall is the practice in an open procedure. The outside extra tissue from the abdominal wall is usually removed. Mesh will be applied and overlapped the weakened area in all directions. The suturing is done after that. They are tied down and knotted. In a laparoscopic procedure, two to three small incisions will be made. One is used to insert the laparoscope and the other to insert the surgical instruments. In this type of surgery, less abdominal wall tissue is removed.
What to expect after your surgery
Recovering from Incisional Hernia Surgery
Most hernia patients are able to return to their normal activity within two to four weeks. The belly will be tender, especially in the first week. During this time, the incision should be protected during activity that increases abdominal pressure by applying firm but gentle pressure on the incision line. This is especially important for Incisional Hernia patients, as they are predisposed to an Incisional Hernia and can be at risk for another one at the new incision sites.
Activities during which the incision should be protected include:
- Rising from a seated position.
- Sneezing or coughing
- Bearing down during a bowel movement. Contact your surgeon if you are
- Constipated after surgery, a stool softener may be prescribed.
- Vomiting
- Lifting a heavy object
Incisional Hernia Risk Factors
People who have had abdominal surgery are at risk for developing Incisional Hernias. They are especially susceptible three to six months following the procedure, when the tissues are still healing from the incision. Participating in strenuous activities, gaining a substantial amount of weight, or becoming pregnant can cause excessive stress on the healing abdominal tissue and should be avoided during this healing window in order to prevent Incisional Hernias and other post-surgical complications.
Can I Travel to St George for Surgery?
Yes, and we’ll help you make all your arrangements.
- We have arrangements to try to obtain free flights through a non-profit volunteer pilot organization. We can do this with 10 days’ advance notice in most cases.
- We have discount codes for the Holiday Inn in town. This hotel is 1.5 miles from the surgery center and 2 miles from our clinic.
- We’ll arrange to send your after-surgery medications to your hometown pharmacy for pickup before you leave.
What if I would rather drive to St George?
No problem, we can help with those plans as well. When you have surgery with us, we’ll need to make sure you’re safe and comfortable after surgery. We’ll arrange cold compression therapy that requires an AC/DC adaptor/transformer and frequent stops to stretch and refill the ice reservoir on the road.
We’ll ask about the vehicle you’ll travel in to ensure you have a way to elevate and stretch out in the vehicle on the road while someone else does the driving.
How are follow-up and initial consultations handled?
In-person and telehealth consultations are possible with the surgeon to whom your case is assigned. The initial visit is included in the surgical package and is valued at $375.
We can also obtain the flights from the volunteer pilot nonprofit if you’d like to come for initial and follow-up visits in person. One follow-up visit is included in the surgical package at a value of $175. Any additional visits are charged at the time of service to your credit or debit card.
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