Hernia Surgery Specialist
For patients who experience a hernia as a result of a bariatric procedure, seeking treatment is often a priority. Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki has the skill and experience necessary to perform hernia surgery to correct the issue, which is why so many Los Angeles residents, including those from Glendale and Encino, turn to Healthy Life Bariatrics for all of their weight loss needs.
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Abdominal wall hernia repair is a very common surgery. More than one million hernia repairs are performed each year in the United States with twenty million occurring annually all over the world.
What Is a Hernia?
A hernia is where an organ or fat protrudes through the weakened spot within the structure of the abdominal wall. The most common type of abdominal hernia is the inguinal hernia that affects mostly men. The risk increases with age with the most common sufferers being 75 to 80.
What Is an Inguinal Hernia?
The inner groin area has two passages in the lower abdomen called inguinal canals. An inguinal hernia occurs when the intestine protrudes through either of these two passageways. Experts believe 27% of men and 3% of women will develop this condition at some point in their lives.
What Are Other Hernia Types?
Femoral Hernia
This hernia occurs in the upper thigh or outer groin area and the deeper passages known as the femoral canals. These types of hernias are less common than inguinal hernias and tend to be more common in men. There is a substantial risk of complications if you don’t repair the femoral hernia.
Ventral Hernia
These hernias happen when there is an opening in the abdominal muscles. The three types of ventral hernia include the epigastric hernia, which occurs above the belly button; incisional hernia, which is caused by a weakening of the abdominal muscle resulting from previous abdominal surgery; and umbilical hernia, which occurs near the belly button and is most common in premature newborns.
Hiatal Hernia
This hernia occurs when the upper portion of the stomach bulges through a small opening in the diaphragm.
What Are The Symptoms of a Hernia?
Many people with hernias experience an obvious bulge or lump, but not always. There may also be discomfort or pain. The symptoms may worsen when lifting heavy objects, standing, or straining. Most hernias are diagnosed following a physical test while others are identified with advanced imaging tools.
Internal hernias are harder to diagnose, as there is no visible evidence that something is amiss. Patients with internal hernias often experience abdominal pain. That pain can be located anywhere in the abdomen but is most often focused in the middle part of the abdominal cavity. The pain might also feel like a burning sensation or a tearing or sharp pain. Left untreated, the discomfort is likely to increase as the hernia grows in size. Patients who are concerned about abdominal pain after a bariatric procedure should contact their surgeon.
How Do They Perform Hernia Surgery?
Hernia surgery used to involve open surgery, where the surgeon made an incision near the groin. This long cut allowed the surgeon to view and repair the hernia. The surgeon sometimes closed the abdominal wall using stitches and others by using stitches along with a piece of mesh. The mesh was specially designed to strengthen weakened abdominal wall muscles to prevent future hernias.
Today, the surgeons perform hernia surgeries laparoscopically. The surgeon makes three or four small incisions along the lower abdomen. Tools are inserted into the cuts, which allow the surgeon to work on your abdominal wall remotely. The surgeon may also use a piece of medical mesh to close and strengthen the abdominal wall. Some surgeons use robotic repair, which has them controlling robotic arms which will go on to perform the surgery.
What Are The Risks of an Untreated Incisional Stomach Hernia?
An incisional hernia occurs when a surgical incision does not heal properly. Therefore, it allows a sac to develop that pushes out of the incision. The sac might also contain fecal matter or other types of waste products, and infection becomes a risk. In many cases, the hernia first begins to protrude from the incision site after a period of exertion, such as lifting, coughing, or otherwise straining the abdominal area. This type of hernia can grow larger if left untreated for a while and can also be very painful.
Want to Learn More About Hernia Surgery?
Not all hernias cause pain but having a hernia could lead to complications later. Get an official hernia diagnosis and a recommendation for hernia surgery by scheduling a consultation at Healthy Life Bariatrics. Call us throughout Los Angeles, Encino, or Glendale, California, to meet privately with world-class hernia surgeon Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki – (310)881-8260.