Living with a Hernia: When Surgery is Necessary

When Surgery Is Necessary To Repair Your Hernia

Maybe you have been living with a hernia that is slowly getting bigger, and now you are seeking answers about hernia treatment/surgical repair.

Dr. Chris Finley is a leader in bariatric and hernia repair surgery. With an office in Port Charlotte, FL, he serves the areas of Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral, FL. 

What is a Hernia? 

A weakness in a muscle or tissue covering an organ is usually the cause of this disorder. You can have these weak areas anywhere on the body, but the most common are: 

• Inguinal—This area is over the inner thigh, either on the left or right side. It is the most common area for men and is part of the bowel pushed out through a weak spot.
• Hiatal—This is another type of common hernia. A weakness in the diaphragm allows the stomach to move up the esophagus through the hole.
• Incisional—This can happen with abdominal surgery, where weakening the stitches can cause a breakthrough in the muscle layers.

Several other types of hernia are less common. Most weakened areas start small and can grow bigger over time. Except for an Umbilical hernia seen in babies, which can close over time, other weaknesses will usually not go away without surgery. 

Diagnosis And Treatment of Hernias

Our doctor can make a simple diagnosis by examining the area. Sometimes, further imaging is required, such as a CT scan.  Due to the nature of hernias, most of the time, it will be a waiting process. If your area of weakness is small, our doctor may just have you wait before any corrective surgery is needed. 

Though most hernias will not repair themselves unless they are umbilical hernias from birth, it is also up to you and our doctor to determine if and when your hernia will need repair.

The repair can be done traditionally with open surgery and a larger incision, laparoscopically with small incisions in the skin, or robotically, where the doctor controls a robot arm to perform the repair. The repair area is reinforced with stitches or mesh to ensure a closed site.

Hernia Repair in Florida

Call Dr. Finley at 941-235-9361. We serve patients in Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Fort Myers, & Cape Coral, FL. Our doctor and esteemed surgeon can help you decide when your hernia needs repair and answer all questions.