It’s disheartening for any patient to know that their abdominal wall gave way spontaneously or after a surgery. A second surgery with the possibility of a failure looms large on the patient’s mind. Many however realise they have no other option but to get operated once again and they do so. Some stay in fear postponing their surgery waiting for compelling reasons.
The right approach is to overcome the fear, gain knowledge and choose correctly.
So what must a patient with hernia know to decide for himself or herself?
1. 
Most hernias can be managed laparoscopically. That means 3-4 tiny holes are sufficient to perform surgery. This also translates into faster recovery and better cosmesis.
2. If you are obese especially at the trunk, go for weight loss first. Failures are more commonly seen in obese patients undergoing hernia surgery. Experts suggest even taking a bariatric surgery before the hernia repair to improve the success rate!
3. Choosing the right technique is vital. It could be laparoscopy, open or even a new method reserved for complex cases that goes by the name of component separation. Some patients may have a huge hernia whereby the entire abdomen may have lost its normal anatomy. There the usual open or laparoscopic techniques may not be successful. Hence a hernia surgeon needs to know all the techniques to produce good results.
4. Choosing the right mesh and fixation is important! Being economical is fine as long it doesn’t interfere with the quality of the mesh. Patients should be aware that the mesh- an artificial sheet that covers the defect similar to biological tissue- is going to stay in their body for life. The quality of the mesh is responsible to a certain extent for success. Hence choosing well is vital! Discuss the options with your surgeon. The cost may vary from Rs.1000 to 60000 depending on the type and size. It’s not always necessary to choose the most expensive mesh but knowing them and discussion with your surgeon helps.
Your body is precious! Decide wisely and hand it a surgeon who thinks so too.
Watch this video on Hernia Surgery on YouTube.