How can I book a hernia repair, and what are the costs and timing?

No GP referral is needed. Consultation slots are readily available, and surgery can be scheduled within a month. The total cost is £2500 with no hidden extras.

Hernia Repair Surgery

Open Hernia Repair

Our surgeons have performed thousands of hernia repair procedures.
We specialise in open hernia repair surgery under local anaesthetic, set in modern community healthcare facilities.

Total cost £2500 with no hidden extras

Consultation slots are readily available

Surgery within a month

No GP referral needed

Hernia Repairs

What is a hernia?

Hernias are typically harmless, however they will not go away on their own and surgery is the only permanent cure.

A hernia is a bulge or abnormal protrusion of the abdominal wall. They develop at a point of weakness in the wall, or where there is a defect in the muscle. As the hernia enlarges a bulge appears which is most easily seen when standing or coughing. Lying down allows the tissue to return to its proper position, and the bulge may disappear temporarily.

Hernias typically contain abdominal fatty tissue or bowel, enclosed within a thin membrane or sac called the peritoneum. This normally lines the inside of the abdominal cavity.

The most common areas to develop a visible hernia are the lower abdomen (inguinal) and groin (femoral), which may give rise to a painful lump under the skin.

What are the symptoms of a hernia?

A hernia will typically appear as a bulge around your abdominal or groin area.

They do not usually cause significant pain, however it can feel tender when you strain your abdominal muscles. Sometimes, you may experience a slight burning sensation or a feeling of heaviness in the bulge.

You may have a reducing hernia if the bulge can be pushed back in or if it disappears when you lie down. Conversely, if the bulge stays out then it is considered irreducible.

It is important to note that if you feel any pain is worsening, you must contact your GP immediately. This could mean the hernia is ‘stuck’ (strangulated), which can damage tissue and require urgent treatment.

Why do hernias develop?

There are many things that can cause a weakness in the abdominal wall including:

Increase in abdominal pressure from coughing, straining or lifting

Pregnancy

Muscle tears or injuries

Congenital or birth weakness

Excessive weight

Previous surgery

Age

What types of hernia can we treat?

There are many different types of hernia. The type is defined by where the hernia occurs on the body, with the majority occurring in the abdominal wall.

We are able to help with the majority of cases here at Cumbria Surgical Services, including – Inguinal, Femoral, Umbilical, Epigastric and Spigelian hernias.

All our hernia repair procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic. A handful of cases are not suitable for repair in this way and require laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery under general anaesthetic. Such types of hernia include incisional hernias (those that occur in a scar from a previous operation), sports hernias (not strictly a hernia but chronic groin pain usually associated with exercise), and recurrent hernias. If this is the case for you then we can offer a follow on referral to an alternative surgeon to further advise on your treatment options.

Inguinal Hernia

The most common hernia

This type of hernia appears in the groin and is the most common type of hernia. There are 2 types, direct and indirect, and they may come and go.

More than 100,000 hernia repairs are performed in the United Kingdom each year and inguinal hernias account for around 80% of them. They are more common in men, where the protrusion may descend into the scrotum.

Femoral Hernia

More common in women than men

This hernia appears as a bulge below the groin and are less common than inguinal hernias.

The femoral canal is a path where the femoral artery, vein, and nerve leave the abdominal cavity to enter the thigh. Sometimes the canal becomes large enough to allow abdominal contents in too. Femoral hernias are particularly at risk of becoming irreducible and strangulated.

Umbilical Hernia

The belly-button hernia

Often noted at birth as a protrusion of the bellybutton, they are caused by the abdominal wall not fully closing before birth. Normally they are not reducible.

Umbilical hernias usually close by themselves by the age of 2 if small, but can appear later in life because of a weak spot in the abdominal wall. They often appear later in elderly people and middle-aged women who have had children.

Epigastric Hernia

The ‘six pack’ hernia

These arise through a small hole between the recti muscles and appear as a small lump just below the breast bone. They often contain fat rather than bowel and does not normally disappear when you lie down.

Patients often have them for some time without feeling any symptoms.

Spigelian Hernia

The lower abdomen hernia

A spigelian hernia is a protrusion through a weakness between the muscle fibres of the abdominal wall. They often go undiagnosed for some time due to lack of a visible protrusion.

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