Benefits of umbilical hernia surgery

• After umbilical hernia repair surgery, patients return to normal daily activities after 2-4 weeks.
• One of the main advantages of undergoing surgery is that the chances of recurrence are practically impossible and complications are totally avoidable.
• Surgical treatment is the only solution that definitively ensures the disappearance of the umbilical hernia.

An umbilical hernia occurs due to a defect in the abdominal wall through which the small intestine or the layers surrounding it bulge outwards, usually in the form of a bulge in or around the umbilicus (navel).

The characteristic symptoms of an umbilical hernia are pain and discomfort, although this may not become apparent until the hernia becomes complicated or increases in size.

There is the possibility of conservative treatment consisting of the use of a girdle or simply waiting to see how it evolves, but the only definitive treatment, since hernias do not resolve themselves in any case, is repair surgery with surgical mesh. This intervention can be carried out using two approach techniques, open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. 

Below we will explain in more detail what they consist of and the health benefits of the procedure.

The most obvious benefit of umbilical hernia repair is to reposition the intestine to its original location, that is, to correct the defect, so that even patients with serious pain and discomfort caused by the problem can return to normal daily life and regain their quality of life.

After surgery, some of the most important aspects that stand out for the patient's health are:

• Elimination of possible complications: By correcting the umbilical hernia, the risk of complications associated with it disappears, thus avoiding the appearance of other pathologies such as strangulated hernia, which consists of the blood supply to part of the tissue that makes up the hernia sac being interrupted, causing necrosis; or incarcerated hernia, which is when it is not possible for the bulge to return to the cavity manually.
• Avoid complications in infant cases: Although specialists recommend waiting for the hernia to close on its own (at the age of 4 or 5 years), in some cases surgical intervention is indicated, even when performed at an early age, to avoid an intestinal loop becoming trapped in the hernia, which would endanger the child's life.
• Return to normal activities: After the operation and the recovery period, patients can return to activities such as weight-bearing, high-performance exercise or driving, among others, without worrying that the hernia will continue to grow or cause more serious problems as a result of movements during these actions.
• Aesthetic improvements: With surgical treatment, the bulge above the navel, or inside it, disappears, since, as mentioned above, the specialist puts the tissue back in place and closes the gap through which it was protruding. So the abdomen looks completely normal again, without any kind of bulge in the area.

We should also highlight the positive effects of the techniques that can be used during the procedure. We will discuss these advantages and how they affect the patients undergoing the procedure in more detail below.

As mentioned above, the most effective solution to repair an umbilical hernia, eliminating the symptoms, is through surgical treatment, but the use of one technique or another has different and particular positive effects.

There are two types of procedures:

• Conventional or open technique: The surgery consists of making an incision below or above the navel until the hernia is reached. Once the hernia has been located, the specialist places the tissue back inside the abdomen. A surgical mesh is then placed to prevent the hernia from moving outwards again. The operation is completed by suturing the area layer by layer and placing compression bandages over the area.
• Laparoscopic umbilical hernia surgery: This is a minimally invasive procedure. During this type of procedure, small incisions are made in the abdominal area, through which surgical instruments are inserted to repair the umbilical hernia. With the help of a laparoscope, the surgeon observes the inside of the patient and intervenes on the hernia, places a surgical mesh and finishes by suturing the incisions and covering the area with bandages.

The main advantage of the repair procedure is that both surgeries have a high success rate, improving the patients' quality of life. After the surgical treatment, whichever it is, the patient no longer suffers any discomfort or pain, as the defect is completely eliminated.

On the other hand, as with any type of surgery, there are risks, although these are very unlikely in umbilical hernia surgery. So patients can be safe and enjoy the benefits of the procedure.

As for the particular advantages of each surgical procedure, we highlight the following.

Benefits of open surgery

Open surgery is the conventional treatment for umbilical hernia repair, and one of its benefits is that it is a much quicker procedure compared to laparoscopic treatment. It is a surgical procedure that takes only 30 to 40 minutes.

Through this treatment, it is guaranteed that the patient will not suffer a recurrence of umbilical hernia, mainly due to the placement of the mesh that reinforces the abdominal wall and the sutures in the layers present in the area.

By performing this technique, it is very unlikely to damage organs close to the hernia, as the surgeon makes the incision right in the affected area. The chances of such complications are higher with the laparoscopic technique.

Advantages of the laparoscopic technique

It is a minimally invasive treatment, the incisions made during the surgery are very small, therefore, hardly any stitches are applied and allow rapid healing without scarring.

Thanks to the small incisions made during the procedure, the risk of abnormal bleeding is minimal, and the chances of wound infection are also lower than after open surgery.

Although the postoperative period for umbilical hernia is not tedious, this method allows for a shorter recovery period compared to the conventional procedure.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits of the surgery itself, when contracting an open umbilical hernia surgery through Operarme, there are a series of advantages that the patient should be aware of. 

First of all, our price is fixed and all-inclusive, with no last-minute surprises, and you can also request an immediate and free surgical consultation to meet the specialist who will perform surgery.

More benefits offered by Operarme are the following:

Top hospitals and doctors

We have private hospitals in the main cities of Spain and our own portfolio of doctors with extensive experience and warmth in the treatment of patients, as expressed in the reviews of our patients.

Personalised attention

As a patient of Operarme, you have a personal advisor available at any time to help you and solve any doubts you may have during the process, allowing you to worry about what really matters, your health.

First free surgical assessment consultation

In order to meet our specialist in general surgery, we provide you with an immediate and free consultation so that you can bring any tests and medical reports you may have, and assess with the surgeon whether the intervention is necessary in your case.

No prior fees

At Operarme, you don’t pay anything until you, along with the specialist, decide to go ahead with the intervention: paying only for what you need when you need it.

Transfer Service

On the day of admission to hospital, we will send you a taxi at the company's expense to take you to the hospital, and also we offer another ride back home on the day of discharge.

An umbilical hernia surgery is a very common surgery, therefore the results are generally positive and very good. 

At Operarme, we differentiate ourselves by having doctors with extensive experience in the public and private sector, providing a contract for the provision of medical services that guarantees the quality of the process and giving each and every one of our patients a personalised and close attention thanks to the work of our patient service department.

If you are thinking of having umbilical hernia surgery, remember that you can request a free surgical consultation with one of our specialists in general surgery so you can assess your case first, and along with the doctor, decide on the best treatment for your problem.