Do small inguinal hernias require surgery?

Not all inguinal hernias need to be repaired, but all hernia repairs require surgery. Small hernias that are not strangulated—blocking blood supply to the intestine—and are causing bowel obstruction or significant pain do not necessarily require surgery or emergency surgical repair.

Can you live with a small inguinal hernia?

Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia. If the hernia is small and you don’t have any symptoms, or if the symptoms don’t bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to watch for symptoms to occur.

Can a small hernia be left untreated?

“Hernias cannot heal on their own — if left untreated, they usually get bigger and more painful, and can cause serious health risks in some cases.” If the wall through which the intestine is protruding closes shut, it can cause a strangulated hernia, which cuts off blood flow to the bowel.

How can I manage my inguinal hernia without surgery?

A hernia usually does not go away without surgery. Non-surgical approaches such as wearing a corset, binder, or truss may exert gentle pressure on the hernia and keep it in place. These methods may ease the pain or discomfort and may be used if you are not fit for the surgery or awaiting surgery.

Does a small hernia need surgery?

If your hernia does not bother you, most likely you can wait to have surgery. Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through. In some cases small, painless hernias never need repair.

How small can a hernia be?

The area of weakness in the abdominal wall can be very small (less than half an inch) or it can be as large as 2 to 3 inches. Umbilical hernias are common in newborns but may disappear gradually over time.

How much does it cost to repair an inguinal hernia?

An inguinal hernia can be repaired through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, according to the National Guideline Clearinghouse . A recent study of more than 1.5 million hernia operations found that the average cost for an open hernia surgery ranged between $4,200 and $6,200.

How long does it take to heal after inguinal hernia?

It takes between 1 and 2 weeks to recover from a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the most common type of surgical hernia repair. The less common open inguinal hernia repair takes around 3 weeks to recover from.

Can an inguinal hernia be healed without surgery?

A femoral hernia will not heal by itself and does require surgery to be repaired. Initially, the hernia may only be a small lump in the groin but can grow much larger over time. It may also appear to grow and shrink with different activities.

What doctor should you see for inguinal hernia?

A hernia doctor is called a general surgeon or a urologist depending on the type of hernia. Although general surgeons repair most types of hernias, urologists repair femoral and inguinal hernias.