Hernia repair

Hernia Repair in Western Australia

A practical, plain-English overview of hernia repair — the principles, the surgical options, recovery, and the realistic risks. Detailed information on each specific hernia type is linked below.

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What is a hernia and why does it need repair?

A hernia is a weakness in the muscle wall of the abdomen — or, in the case of a hiatus hernia, in the diaphragm — through which fat or, less commonly, a loop of bowel pushes outward. Hernias appear in places where the abdominal wall is naturally weaker: the groin (inguinal and femoral), the belly button (umbilical), the diaphragm (hiatus), and along previous surgical scars (incisional).

You may notice a hernia as a soft lump that comes and goes, a dull ache or burning that worsens with activity, or — in the case of hiatus hernia — symptoms of reflux and regurgitation. Many hernias cause only mild symptoms; others produce significant pain and functional limitation.

Hernias do not heal by themselves. The weakness in the muscle wall does not close back up, and over months and years the opening usually enlarges and the contents passing through grow. Repair is generally recommended both to relieve symptoms and to reduce the ongoing risk of bowel becoming trapped (incarcerated) or losing its blood supply (strangulated) — complications that can become surgical emergencies.

Open versus laparoscopic repair

Most hernia repairs today are performed in one of two ways: open surgery, through a single incision over the hernia, or laparoscopic ("keyhole") surgery, through three small incisions some distance away. Both have a strong evidence base and both are commonly performed in Australia. Neither is universally better — the right choice depends on the size and complexity of your hernia, your previous abdominal surgery, your work and lifestyle, and your overall health.

Laparoscopic repair typically involves less wound discomfort, a faster return to desk-based work, and the ability to repair both sides in a single operation when relevant. It requires general anaesthesia and access to the inside of the abdomen, which can be a limitation in patients with significant prior surgery.

Open repair is a well-established technique that can be performed under regional or local anaesthesia in patients who would not tolerate general anaesthesia well, and is often the better option for very large hernias, recurrent hernias, and in certain incisional hernias where the abdominal anatomy is complex.

When mesh is used, and when it isn't

Most adult hernia repairs use a synthetic mesh to reinforce the muscle wall, because mesh-based repair has consistently lower recurrence rates than non-mesh repair for most hernia types. Mesh is a permanent implant; it integrates with the body's own tissue over months and is generally well tolerated.

There are situations where mesh is not used — for example, in very small umbilical hernias where simple suture repair is durable, in certain paediatric repairs, and in some patients with mesh contraindications. Dr Watson will discuss whether mesh is appropriate in your case and, if so, what type and how it will be placed, before you consent to surgery.

Recovery — in general terms

Recovery from hernia repair depends on the type of hernia, the surgical approach, and the physical demands of your work. As a general guide for uncomplicated repairs:

  • Office / desk work: most patients return within 1–2 weeks
  • Light manual work: typically 3–4 weeks
  • Heavy manual work, FIFO, mining: typically around 6 weeks before unrestricted lifting

These are general guidelines, not guarantees. Hiatus hernia repair has its own recovery pattern — see the hiatus hernia page. Recovery from large incisional hernia repair is usually considerably longer than the figures above.

Risks of hernia repair

All surgery carries risks. Hernia repair is one of the most common operations performed in Australia and the vast majority of patients recover without significant complication, but it is important to understand what can go wrong.

General risks of any surgery include bleeding, infection, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and the risks of general anaesthesia. Risks specific to hernia repair include fluid collection (seroma) or blood (haematoma) at the operation site, injury to nerves causing numbness or chronic pain, mesh-related complications, injury to nearby structures, and recurrence of the hernia. Recurrence rates are low for first-time mesh-based repair but are not zero, and are higher for larger, recurrent, and incisional hernias.

Each procedure page below discusses the risks specific to that type of hernia repair in more detail. Dr Watson will discuss the risks relevant to your case as part of obtaining informed consent.

Important: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Detailed information by hernia type

Ready to talk to Dr Watson?

Most patients are offered a consultation within one week — in South Perth, at a regional WA visit, or by telehealth from anywhere in the state.

Request a consultation Phone (08) 6311 7578