More than one million Americans have hernia repairs each year, making it a very common procedure. If you have any type of hernia, you may need surgery.
You can feel confident with board-certified and highly experienced surgeon, Jamshid Nazarian, MD, FACS, FAMBS. He and our team provide expert hernia surgery to repair your injury and help you get back to your normal, daily routine.
Here’s what you can expect:
Before your surgery
Before your hernia repair surgery, Dr. Nazarian meets with you for a comprehensive consultation that includes a physical exam. Additional testing might be necessary, which may include X-rays or other imaging tests.
He also finds out what medications and/or supplements you take, if any. He may advise that you stop some of those before surgery.
One week before your procedure, you should avoid taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, warfarin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Inform Dr. Nazarian if you have any bleeding disorders, as well.
After midnight the night before your surgery, don’t eat or drink. And for a quicker recovery, avoid smoking.
Surgery day
Depending on your type of hernia and the surgery required, you may receive general anesthesia during your procedure.
Dr. Nazarian then uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to reduce blood loss and pain when compared with open surgery. Other benefits include less scarring and a much faster recovery.
To perform your surgery, he makes very small incisions and inserts small medical tools, reaching the hernia site. One of the tools has a camera on the end, allowing impeccable visualization.
He then places a surgical mesh over your hernia and staples it on the site. If you have a hiatal hernia, instead of using a mesh, he wraps your stomach tissue to strengthen the weak area.
After your surgery
In most cases, you’re discharged from the hospital the same day as your surgery. If you have an abdominal wall hernia that needs repair, then you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days.
You typically experience pain for 2-3 days after your surgery, which you can typically manage with over-the-counter pain medication. We can also prescribe a stronger pain medication, if desired.
During your recovery time, you should only perform necessary daily functions that require very light activity. It can take 4-6 weeks before you gain a full recovery, depending on your type of hernia repair. You can function normally once you’re completely healed.
Dr. Nazarian gives you instructions on what you can and can’t do during your healing process to help you achieve a successful outcome.
If you have a hernia that needs to be repaired, contact our friendly office at 310-854-1174 or book your appointment online today.