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Hernia Specialist

General & Minimally Invasive Surgery

Bariatric & General Surgery located in Tomball, TX

Hernias are painful lumps that form when tissue protrudes into the wrong part of your body. If you have a hernia, Harvinderpal Singh, MD, FACS, and Viet Phuong, MD, FACS, of General & Minimally Invasive Surgery in Tomball, Texas, can help. They offer advanced, minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic hernia repair for abdominal and hiatal hernias. For prompt and effective repair of your hernia, call the General & Minimally Invasive Surgery office or book an appointment online today.

Hernia Q & A

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What is a hernia?

A hernia is a part of your body (typically soft tissues like organs and intestines) that protrudes through a gap or weak place into another area, creating a tender lump. There are several different kinds of hernia, including:

Inguinal hernias

The inguinal canal is an opening under the layers of abdominal muscle in your groin. Part of your intestine may squeeze through the opening, causing an inguinal hernia.

Ventral hernias

A ventral hernia is one where tissue, such as your intestine, pushes through a vulnerable spot in your abdomen’s muscular wall.

Incisional hernias

Incisional hernias are a form of ventral hernia that occur when a section of intestine protrudes through your surgical scar.

Femoral hernias

The femoral canal is just below the inguinal ligament. Femoral hernias are lumps in the low groin or upper thigh.

Umbilical hernias

Umbilical hernias are bulging sections of intestine or fatty tissue that poke out of a defect in or near your belly button.

You could also get a hiatal hernia, which is where the top of your stomach protrudes through a gap in your diaphragm. It often causes digestive problems like acid reflux.

Would I need surgery to repair my hernia?

You might need to undergo elective (scheduled) surgical hernia repair if your hernia is painful or interfering with your daily life. Elective surgery can also prevent strangulation, where the hernia causes a blockage or the blood supply gets cut off.

Strangulation can result in severe and potentially life-threatening problems like infection and tissue death, as well as extreme pain. If you have a strangulated hernia, you might need emergency surgery.

What does hernia surgery involve?

General & Minimally Invasive Surgery typically performs hernia repair using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. In many cases, they can carry out your hernia surgery using advanced robotic-assisted technology that offers the ultimate in precision.

Repairing an abdominal hernia involves returning the protruding tissue to its proper place and stitching the weak spot or gap. Special surgical mesh offers extra support to the weakened area and helps prevent new hernias from forming.

This method can also work for small hiatal hernias. If you have a large hiatal hernia, you might need Nissen fundoplication surgery. This involves your surgeon at General & Minimally Invasive Surgery wrapping the top of your stomach around the bottom of your esophagus to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent acid reflux.

To get a prompt hernia diagnosis and expert treatment, call General & Minimally Invasive Surgery or book an appointment online today.