For hernias that form at a prior incision, including complex repairs that rebuild the abdominal wall.
A hernia in the muscles of your abdominal wall happens when tissue from inside the abdomen pushes through a weak spot in the muscle layer, creating a visible bulge that can cause discomfort, pain, or limit your activity. It can start as a hernia that simply enlarges over time, or it can develop at a prior surgical incision, or both.
About 2 out of every 10 people who have had a midline abdominal incision later develop a hernia there. Your risk is higher if you have diabetes, smoke, are overweight, needed emergency surgery, or had a wound infection after a prior abdominal operation.
Repair is recommended once a hernia causes symptoms, keeps enlarging, or interferes with daily activities. The goal is to restore strength to the abdominal wall and lower your risk of future complications.
Larger hernias and hernias at a prior incision often require a true abdominal wall reconstruction, not just a patch. This means rebuilding the muscle layers and reinforcing them with mesh. Dr. Rodriguez performs this either robotically (eTEP) or through an open approach, depending on the hernia's size, complexity, and your surgical history. Choose a guide below for the full details on each.
A minimally invasive technique that rebuilds the abdominal wall from behind the muscles, without entering the main abdominal cavity.
Read more →Direct, hands-on access through a single incision. Often the right choice for very large, complex, or contaminated repairs.
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