| 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 advanced workup because 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 behind the muscle and above the muscle. The mesh is sutured in place. | Mesh is placed only behind the muscle, and is secured in place with absorbable sutures. |
| On average, 1/3 of patients have little to no pain after surgery. 2/3 have moderate pain post op. | On average, 2/3 of patients have little to no pain after surgery. 1/3 have moderate pain post op. |
| All patients will return to normal activities within 1-3 weeks. | All patients will return to normal activities within 1-2 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 45-60 minutes in length. |
| Even the largest, most complex hernias can be repaired. | Some large, chronic, long standing hernias can be difficult to repair. |
Comparing Open and Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery: Which should I choose?
Over the years, we have so many patients ask “should I have open or laparoscopic hernia repair?”. It’s such a great question, and like so many other things in life, there unfortunately isn’t one correct answer. I put together some of the more common characteristics of each surgery below as well as recording a short video explaining some of the differences.
The most important thing to remember, there is no wrong answer. When done correctly, both open and laparoscopic surgery are very low impact, with low pain and a low complication rate.
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