What is an incisional hernia?
An incisional hernia occurs when organs or fatty tissues push through the abdominal wall where the incision for surgery was previously made. As many as 30% of patients who have had abdominal surgery will develop a hernia at the surgery site. Incisional hernias, while treatable, can have many detrimental symptoms.
What are the symptoms of an incisional hernia?
Unfortunately, incisional hernias can cause negative symptoms weeks, months, or even years after the initial surgery. These symptoms can both alter the appearance of your abdomen and impact your day-to-day activities.
Symptoms include:
- Bulging tissue in the area of the scar
- Bulging that increases with straining
- Midline abdominal pain
- Pain that worsens while lifting objects
- Nausea or vomiting
What are the risk factors for developing an incisional hernia?
While incisional hernias can occur in any individual following abdominal surgery, there are certain risk factors that make them more likely to occur. Anything that negatively impacts your body’s ability to heal properly or anything that increases the pressure in the abdomen can favor the development of an incisional hernia, including:
- Being too active immediately following surgery
- Coughing, sneezing or straining frequently
- Getting pregnant before the wound has time to heal completely
- Infection of the wound
In addition, certain lifestyle factors increase your chances of developing an incisional hernia, including:
- Being obese
- Smoking
- Taking certain medications such as immunosuppressants or steroids
While hernias can be painful and debilitating, treatment is available to most people experiencing this condition.
How are incisional hernias treated?
If you’re seeking relief from an incisional hernia, Dr. Farrow and his team can help. If the hernia is small enough, it may not require surgery at this time. However, if it’s growing or is causing pain, incisional hernia repair may be necessary.
This process involves reducing the protruding organs or tissue back into your abdominal cavity and then properly closing the hole through which they protruded. This can be performed both with open surgery or with minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery, depending on the situation. Dr. Farrow has performed over 2,700 hernia repairs and has extensive experience in properly addressing all sizes and types of hernias. He will develop a treatment plan that uniquely fits the type of hernia you have and your lifestyle. Dr. Farrow knows how to get you back to being you as quickly as possible!
If you have an incisional hernia, don’t wait until it gets worse when treatment and recovery become more complicated. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Farrow online or by phone today.
