Apr 2025
Advice for Anyone Considering Inguinal Hernia Surgery
If you're thinking about undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, I’d strongly recommend considering the following:
Don’t rush into surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary.
I had surgery when my hernia wasn’t painful—just a feeling of pressure. I believed that treating it early would result in a better outcome. In hindsight, that assumption was wrong. I now hold the surgeon responsible for the damage caused during the procedure. A more experienced doctor may have taken a very different approach. While it’s true that hernias don’t heal on their own, it can sometimes be safer and more manageable to live with a small hernia rather than opting for surgery too soon.
Choose laparoscopic surgery if you have the option.
My surgeon told me there was little difference between laparoscopic and open (traditional) surgery. That simply wasn’t true. There are significant differences, and the open method carries more risks. Every other surgeon I’ve spoken to since said they would have performed a laparoscopic repair—it’s now the standard for most patients. I regret not knowing this before the operation.
Always get a second opinion.
I went with the first surgeon I consulted and placed my trust in him. If I had taken the time to speak with another specialist, I would have received more balanced advice and possibly made a very different decision. The perspective of just one doctor is not enough for a life-impacting procedure like this.
Do your own research.
Learn about the risks and types of hernia surgery on your own. Don’t rely solely on your surgeon to inform you. I intentionally avoided researching the full details beforehand, thinking it might make me too anxious to go through with it. I had heard troubling stories about mesh complications, which led me to request a non-mesh procedure—though, in the end, that wasn’t what was actually done.
Check all documentation carefully.
If you request a specific method, such as non-mesh repair, make sure it’s clearly written down. In my case, the documentation only vaguely stated that the hernia would be repaired, with no mention of whether the procedure would be laparoscopic or open, or whether mesh would be used. This lack of clarity has caused ongoing issues.
Don’t rush into surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary.
I had surgery when my hernia wasn’t painful—just a feeling of pressure. I believed that treating it early would result in a better outcome. In hindsight, that assumption was wrong. I now hold the surgeon responsible for the damage caused during the procedure. A more experienced doctor may have taken a very different approach. While it’s true that hernias don’t heal on their own, it can sometimes be safer and more manageable to live with a small hernia rather than opting for surgery too soon.
Choose laparoscopic surgery if you have the option.
My surgeon told me there was little difference between laparoscopic and open (traditional) surgery. That simply wasn’t true. There are significant differences, and the open method carries more risks. Every other surgeon I’ve spoken to since said they would have performed a laparoscopic repair—it’s now the standard for most patients. I regret not knowing this before the operation.
Always get a second opinion.
I went with the first surgeon I consulted and placed my trust in him. If I had taken the time to speak with another specialist, I would have received more balanced advice and possibly made a very different decision. The perspective of just one doctor is not enough for a life-impacting procedure like this.
Do your own research.
Learn about the risks and types of hernia surgery on your own. Don’t rely solely on your surgeon to inform you. I intentionally avoided researching the full details beforehand, thinking it might make me too anxious to go through with it. I had heard troubling stories about mesh complications, which led me to request a non-mesh procedure—though, in the end, that wasn’t what was actually done.
Check all documentation carefully.
If you request a specific method, such as non-mesh repair, make sure it’s clearly written down. In my case, the documentation only vaguely stated that the hernia would be repaired, with no mention of whether the procedure would be laparoscopic or open, or whether mesh would be used. This lack of clarity has caused ongoing issues.
Timeline
