There are two types of hernia surgery-

Herniorrhaphy (Tissue Repair)

It is the standard procedure carried out to repair the inguinal hernia by returning the displaced organ to its original location. The hernia sac is removed and the sides of the muscle opening are stitched together to close the hole.

Hernioplasty (Mesh Repair)

In this type of hernia repair, the surgeon uses a mesh to close the muscle opening in the wall. In most cases, a synthetic mesh is used to cover the hole and act as reinforcement to strengthen the muscle wall.

The surgeon makes small cuts around the hole in the shape of the mesh and stitches the patch properly with the healthy tissues.

The preparation for inguinal hernia repair involves the following steps-

• You have to avoid eating or drinking anything at least 6-8 hours before the surgery.
• Give the list of medications that you take on a regular basis to the doctor so that he/she can adjust the medications accordingly. Some medicines can react with anesthetic agents and may cause reactions in the body. Thus, it is important that the medicines are checked and adjusted before the surgery if required.
• Avoid taking aspirin, blood thinners, or anti-inflammatory medications at least a week before the surgery.
• Get evaluated properly to eliminate the chances of any underlying medical condition that can impact the outcome of the surgery.
• Take a shower on the day of surgery and wear loose and comfortable clothes that don’t restrict your movement or rub against the body.
• Ask a friend or family member to accompany you on the day of surgery.

The steps involved in the surgery are explained below-

• An anesthetist will give you anesthesia (local, regional, or general depending on the technique used for the surgery). As the anesthesia takes effect, you won’t be able to feel any kind of pain or discomfort.
• Incisions will be made across the abdomen. If the open technique is being used, then a large incision will be made in the abdomen. If the laparoscopic technique is being used, then the surgeon will make 2-3 keyhole-sized incisions across the abdomen to insert the surgical equipment.
• The herniated organ or tissue is pushed back in the original location and the hole is closed with or without the help of the hernia mesh.
• Once the muscle wall is repaired, the stitches are closed with the help of stitches, staples, or surgical glue.
• You will be transferred to an observation room until the anesthesia wears off and then moved back to your ward where you’ll rest for the day.

Immediately after the inguinal hernia surgery, you will feel numb and have little or no sensation in the surgical site. IV fluids and pain medications will be given to you to manage the pain when the anesthesia wears off.

In many cases, when hernia surgery is done electively without any complication, the patient is discharged on the same day. However, in complex cases, the doctor may suggest hospitalization for more than 24 hours to ensure that there are no post-surgery complications.

During discharge, the doctor will also give you a recovery guide that will help you get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Once the surgical repair is complete, you will get relief from the symptoms, including the bulge, pain, nausea, etc. The after-effects of hernia repair surgery will also resolve after some time and there won’t be any lingering symptoms of inguinal hernia.

The cost of inguinal hernia repair varies across India based on the factors below-

• The choice of hospital
• Doctor’s fee
• The city you live in
• Risks and complications
• Diagnostic tests
• The technique used for treatment (open or laparoscopic)
• Type of mesh used (if any)
• Hospitalization expense
• Pre and post-surgery medications
• Follow-up consultations

Based on these factors, inguinal hernia surgery can cost you around Rs. 65,000 to Rs. 2,50,000 approximately. The exact cost will vary for each patient. So, it is important that you get an estimate for the treatment and also discuss the payment options.