Discover the technology and skill that makes hernia repair surgery at OSF HealthCare so effective. With minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery options from experienced surgeons, you can trust you’re receiving the best possible hernia care.
A hernia happens when part of an internal organ pushes through a hole or weakness in your muscle tissue. It usually looks like a small bulge under your skin.
Hernias in different parts of your body have different names and symptoms. Some hernias are very common, and others are less likely to happen.
Different kinds of hernias have different symptoms. Some aren’t visible at all. However, many hernias cause a lump under your skin that is only visible during certain positions or activities, including:
When the lump is visible, you may feel:
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Your doctor will recommend a procedure based on the type of hernia you have and your overall health. OSF HealthCare surgeons choose minimally invasive treatment options whenever possible. Some treatment options include:
Your doctor makes a small incision to reach your hernia. Then, they push the organ back into place and repair the hernia opening so the organ can’t come back through.
Your doctor uses a long, thin tube with a light and a camera on the end called a laparoscope to see your hernia. The laparoscope and surgical tools go through two tiny openings in your skin. Your surgeon uses the laparoscope and surgical tools to push the bulging organ back in place and repair the hole it pushed through. This surgery is minimally invasive, which means it uses only very small incisions and leads to less pain, bleeding and recovery time than traditional surgery.
Your doctor will perform the same procedure as a laparoscopic hernia repair, but with robotic arms that hold the surgical tools. This allows even more control and precision during the procedure. Robot-assisted hernia repair is minimally invasive.
Your surgeon might close the opening your organs have pushed through by stitching it closed. But if your muscle or tissue is too weak and may rip open after surgery, your surgeon may recommend using surgical mesh to prevent your hernia from coming back.
In the past, surgical mesh caused health problems over time. Modern surgical mesh is very safe with little risk. It’s lightweight, soft and flexible, just like your body’s tissue. It may be biologic, which means it comes from human or animal tissue, and your body absorbs it over time. Our surgeons use an additional barrier between the mesh and your tissue when possible, which makes it even safer.