Hernia

What causes a hernia?

Hernias develop when tissues or organs inside your abdomen protrude through a weak or torn muscle. While babies can have a congenital hernia at birth, adults develop hernias over the course of years, due to pressure placed on their abdominal muscles.

Many activities can increase abdominal pressure and increase your risk of a hernia, from frequent coughing and lifting heavy objects to being overweight and straining during bowel movements. 

Age-related muscle degeneration and an earlier wound or a healed surgical incision also create weak areas in the muscle that are susceptible to a hernia.

What types of hernias do surgeons repair?

The surgeons at South Florida Surgical Group repair several types of hernias, including:

• Inguinal hernia (occurs in the inner groin area)
• Umbilical hernia (occurs at your belly button)
• Abdominal or ventral hernia (occurs in the abdominal wall)
• Femoral hernia (occurs in the outer groin area)

Another type of hernia, called a hiatal hernia, forms inside your abdomen when the upper part of your stomach pushes through a natural opening in your diaphragm.

What symptoms might I develop due to a hernia?

Most hernias cause a noticeable lump where they bulge through the muscle, but they don’t cause pain until they get large. Hiatal hernias cause different symptoms. Instead of developing a lump, you’ll experience indigestion, heartburn, and pain in your upper chest.

All types of hernias can get twisted or trapped in the muscle, potentially becoming strangulated. A strangulated hernia cuts off blood flow, which is a medical emergency that causes sudden, severe pain.

How do surgeons repair hernias?

Hernias never heal on their own; they just get larger over time. If your hernia is small and you don’t have pain, your physician may recommend monitoring the hernia and having it repaired after it causes symptoms. The only treatment for a hernia is surgery to put the abdominal contents back in place and repair the muscle.

The South Florida Surgical Group repairs hernias using different surgical approaches. They have years of experience performing laparoscopic, robotic-assisted, and open surgery. They also repair hernias with and without mesh.

The surgeons at South Florida Surgical Group have the expertise to tailor the approach to meet your specific needs. Choosing the technique that best for each patient produces excellent results, whether they repair an inguinal, abdominal (ventral), or umbilical hernia.

If you need exceptional surgical repair of a hernia, call South Florida Surgical Group or schedule an appointment online today.