A hernia is a defect in one or more layers of the abdominal wall which allows fat, intestines or both to protrude. Some areas of the abdominal wall are more prone than others to developing a hernia defect. The most common sites of hernia development include the groin area, also known as inguinal (pronounced een-gwyn-al) hernias. Also, the belly button or umbilical hernia is quite common. Areas of previous surgery are also more likely to develop a hernia defect. These are known as incisional hernias.

As stated above, hernias are abnormal defects in the abdominal wall and will not get better by themselves. Most patients that visit the surgeon have some symptoms associated with their hernia such as pain, bulging, interference with exercise, and in severe cases, entrapment (also known as incarceration). When symptoms are present, it is advisable to have the hernia repaired.

Incarceration means that the hernia contents are stuck in the out position and can’t be reduced or pushed back in. Strangulation always includes incarceration, but now, the contents of the hernia are not receiving adequate blood supply and this is a true surgical emergency.

Hernia repair has been around for many, many years dating back to the time of the Romans. Modern hernia repair, however, takes a different approach, using new and improved techniques than hernia repairs done as recently as 10 years ago. Today’s hernia repair places emphasis on being minimally invasive, tension free and using the highest quality bio-synthetic materials.

Open or traditional hernia repair uses an incision to get to and directly repair the hernia. It is a time proven approach that is still the most commonly used way of having a hernia repaired. It is used in all types of hernia repair, including inguinal, umbilical and incisional. The key in achieving the best results for patients undergoing open hernia repair is choosing an experienced surgeon with a reputation for having excellent surgical skill and one who is willing to explain details of the planned procedure so that there are no unanswered questions prior to surgery.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that has recently (over the past 10 years) been perfected and dramatically changed the approach to many types of hernia repairs. Laparoscopy, however, is not the answer to all types of hernias and its application must be chosen wisely. Our surgeons can determine is laparoscopic hernia repair is right for you.

Ventral, incisional and umbilical hernias are defects in the abdominal wall that result in a bulge or what is technically referred to as a protrusion. Laparoscopic abdominal wall hernia repair replaces old fashioned procedures that would otherwise require a large incision or multiple operations to repair completely. Because our surgeons use very small port sites to perform surgery, there is no large incision to heal. This approach reduces the risks of complications and recovery is much faster.

Inguinal Hernias or sports hernias occur in the groin and are the most common type of hernia in men. Over the past 10 years, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has been perfected and is the absolute best way to treat most inguinal hernias. The approach is minimally invasive, has the lowest rates of recurrence and has the quickest rate of recovery. Most men are back to regular activity within 10 days, including exercise and sex. At Winter Park Surgical Associates in association with the Winter Park Hernia Center, our surgeons set the standard and provide the highest quality hernia repair surgery in all of Central Florida.