What Do You Treat a Hernia?
Your doctor will work with you on a hernia treatment plant. They'll take the time to explain your treatment options in detail.
And they'll ask you about any concerns and what option or options you prefer.
If your hernia causes symptoms or poses a risk, the most common treatment is surgery.
Watchful waiting
If your hernia isn't causing symptoms, doctors may suggest watching it to make sure it doesn't get worse.
A hernia can weaken the wall of the abdomen and other tissues as it gets bigger over time. So often, doctors suggest surgery when the hernia is small and not painful.
Doctors may also watch a hernia if they want you to make changes to improve your health before surgery. Factors such as losing weight loss and stopping smoking can help with the surgery's success.
Open hernia surgery
During open surgery, the surgeon makes a single cut and pushes the hernia back into place. Then, they close the tissue or muscle with stitches.
They may also use surgical mesh to repair a hernia. This mesh can be synthetic (medical-grade plastic) or biologic (derived from animal or donated human tissue).
Mesh reduces the risk of hernias coming back in most people.
Minimally invasive hernia repair
In minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon makes smaller cuts and pilots tools through a tube. The tube has a light and a video camera so they can see what they're doing.
The surgeon pushes in the herniated tissue and uses surgical mesh to strengthen the muscle or fascia.
Contact the UPMC Division of General Surgery
To learn more about hernia treatment or make an appointment with one of our experts, call 1-866-629-8077.