Open hernia surgery is the standard of care in hernia repair. In open surgery, the skin and fat over a hernia are opened, the hernia is located, and a small mesh is placed under the hole in the muscle. The skin is then closed over the hernia repair site. Open surgery can be used for all hernias including inguinal, umbilical, incisional, ventral, sports, and femoral.

Open Hernia Surgery – Inguinal

Inguinal hernias are caused by a hole in the muscle of the groin. This hole can either be lateral to the blood vessels (indirect inguinal hernia), or towards the middle from the blood vessels (direct inguinal hernia). Regardless, in open surgery, the muscle layers over the weakened muscle are opened. The hole (or holes) in the muscle are found.

The defect (or hole) in the muscle is often closed with sutures. This provides one layer of protection against the hernia coming back. A mesh is usually used to reinforce the area of the hernia defect and the muscle around the hole. The mesh reinforces the weakened muscle layer again providing help to prevent a recurrent hernia.

Open Hernia Surgery Video – Inguinal

In the video below, Dr. Harris narrates an open inguinal hernia repair done at California Hernia Specialists’ hernia center.

Open Hernia Surgery – Umbilical

Umbilical hernia repairs are almost always best done open. During open surgery, a small incision is made in the crease under the belly button. The belly button is lifted off of the underlying muscle and fat. The hole in the muscle is exposed and a mesh is placed through the hole.

The mesh is then sutures (sewn) to the surrounding healthy muscle in several locations. Once the mesh is securely fastened to the muscle, the belly button is replaced down to the muscle or fat and the skin is sewn closed.

Open Hernia Surgery Video – Umbilical

In the video below, Dr. Harris narrates an open umbilical hernia repair done at California Hernia Specialists’ hernia center.

Tension Free Hernia Repair

The term ‘tension free’ hernia repair is commonly used to describe hernia surgery. Hernias are caused by a weakening of the abdominal muscles. Some surgeons choose to sew the muscles back together, thus causing ‘tension’ on the muscles around the hernia. However, the muscles around a hernia are already weak, and over time those muscles tend to pull apart and the hernia can recur, or come back.

Therefore, most hernia specialists today utilize a mesh to help strengthen the muscles. When using a mesh, the muscles themselves are not sewn together (see below). Instead, a mesh is placed over or under the hole in the muscle to prevent anything from pushing through the abdominal wall.

Patients can read more on our ‘Truths About Hernia Mesh‘ page.

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.