Compare Open & Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

The two techniques which can be used for hernia repair are the traditional open surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. Both techniques offer excellent outcomes and only differ based on a few subtle areas. Below is a brief overview of the pros and cons of each type of hernia repair. Patients can review the follow chart to Compare Open & Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery. Patients can visit the individual pages for open hernia surgery and laparoscopic hernia surgery to watch videos of each type of surgery, review pictures and diagrams, and learn more details about that type of repair.

Compare Open & Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery Chart

Open Hernia Repair	Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
Most common technique used for hernia repair. Techniques vary widely from surgeon to surgeon.	Less common approach for hernia repair. Requires advanced training.
Can be done under local anesthesia with sedation.	Requires complete general anesthesia.
Hernia is fixed on the outside by opening the muscles over the weakness.	Hernia is fixed from the inside, behind the muscles where the weakness is located.
Requires standard surgical equipment.	Requires advanced laparoscopic equipment.
Recurrence rates of 1-2% and infection rates of <1%.	Recurrence rates of 1-2% and infection rates of <1%.
Basic preoperative workup is required.	Occasionally requires more preoperative workup since general anesthesia is used.
4-5 cm incision in the groin or bikini area.	1-2 cm incision next to the belly button, and 2 small punctures below the belly button.
Mesh is placed above the muscle, and is secured in place with absorbable sutures.	Mesh is placed behind the muscle, and is secured in place with absorbable sutures.
On average, 50% of patients have little to no pain after surgery. 50% use 1-5 opioids.	On average, 70% of patients have little to no pain after surgery. 30% use 1-5 opioids.
All patients will return to normal activities within 2-3 weeks.	All patients will return to normal activities within 2-3 weeks.
Most cost effective option for cash patients.	Higher costs for cash patients due to the additional laparoscopic equipment needed.
Surgery is usually about 30-45 minutes in length.	Surgery is about 30-40 minutes in length.
Even the largest, most complex hernias can be repaired.	Some large, chronic, long standing hernias can be difficult to repair.

The two major types of hernia surgery are traditional open surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. No one approach is suitable for every patient. Patients with certain types of hernias may benefit from open hernia surgery while another similar patient may need laparoscopic hernia repair. The size of the hernia, the location, and whether it is unilateral or bilateral influences the best approach. To compare open & laparoscopic hernia surgery, patients can read our individual pages:

‘Open Surgery‘ page
‘Laparoscopic Surgery‘ page

Hear From Our Past Patients

Listen to our past patients discuss their experiences with choosing hernia surgery and how they compare open & laparoscopic hernia surgery.

What treatment did you choose for your hernia repair?

Past patients of Dr. Harris discuss what type of surgery they ultimately chose for their hernia repair and what helped them make that decision.

Our Approach

Dr. Harris specializes in surgical repair for all hernia types. For patients who require a laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Harris commonly performs these procedures. When performing a tension free mesh hernia repair, Dr. Harris uses the latest and most advanced lightweight mesh available which significantly reduces pain and discomfort after the surgery. Many surgeons still use mesh which was invented 10 years ago which can increase the chances of postoperative mesh pain. Today’s advanced mesh reduces those risks to almost zero. Although open surgical hernia repair is still an important option for many patients, every patient should consider being seen by a surgeon who can perform advanced laparoscopic hernia surgery and who uses the newest lightweight mesh. Only a small handful of the hundreds of general surgeons in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego have the experience to perform hernia surgeries using laparoscopic techniques and use cutting edge lightweight mesh.

Important Points To Consider When Choosing Your Hernia Surgeon:

Be sure to find a surgeon who focus’ on hernias, makes them a priority in their practice, tracks their patient outcomes and publishes that data for future patients to review. This will help you choose a quality surgeon for your care.
Ensure your surgeon performs a high volume of hernia surgeries. No one in any field can be proficient if they are only doing something a couple of times a month.
Being treated at a specialized hernia center with an in-house accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) provides the highest quality care before, during, and after your hernia surgery and allows for more successful outcomes.

Patients should be seen by a surgeon who can offer all forms of hernia surgery, including open lightweight mesh techniques, as well as advanced laparoscopic techniques. This ensures your surgeon can offer the best technique tailored for your case.
Most laparoscopic patients experience less pain postoperatively and often can return to normal activities sooner. Laparoscopic hernia surgery can result in better patient experiences for some patients.
The newest, advanced lightweight mesh reduces not only the recurrence rate for your hernia, but also the chance of postoperative mesh pain.

Why Dr. Harris For Your Hernia Care?

One of the only surgeons in the country to publish his Nationally Recognized Patient Outcome Data – for future patients to review
An active participant in ongoing hernia research projects across the country
Awarded the prestigious Orange County Medical Association Physician of Excellence Award for the past 10 years

The highest rated hernia surgeon in the country on HealthGrades, Google, and Yelp
Serves as a trainer for surgeons across the country who are interested in learning or improving their hernia repair skills
Invited guest speaker for the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative Improvement Summit as an expert in hernia repair

Dr. Harris is the Medical Director of California Hernia Specialists and coordinates all clinical functions of the office and surgical center for hernia patients. He is dedicated to the diagnosis of, treatment for, and recovery from, all hernia types. Dr. Harris’ focus on hernia patients places a priority on getting them back to their full work and athletic life and is reflected in his published patient outcome data.