Hernia Center
What is a hernia?
Hernias are common. Muscle weakness and straining with heavy lifting can make this more likely. They can happen in men, women, and children. A hernia is when part of an internal organ or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in the abdomen (belly), creating a bulge. The bulge may get bigger when you stand up. It may go away when you lie down. You may feel some pressure or discomfort when lifting, coughing, peeing, or doing other activities.
A hernia doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying the healthy, active life you deserve. The physicians and staff at Lakeland Surgical Clinic Hernia Center provide world class, innovative, minimally invasive treatment of all types of hernias. Partnering with you and your primary care physician to provide customized treatment solutions, we’ll get you back to the life you love as quickly, simply, and safely as possible.
Clinical Expertise
Our team is board certified with 30 years of experience taking care of patients whose hernia repair requires additional expertise.
Collaborative Approach
Working as One team, our surgeons collaborate with your primary care physician to develop a customized Value in Preparation (VIP) program designed to help improve your health in the weeks prior to surgery. This unique preoperative healthy lifestyle program, which may include smoking cessation and weight or diabetes management, dramatically reduces postoperative complications.
There are many types of hernias 
- Inguinal- in the groin or lower part of the abdomen (belly)
- Femoral- below the groin Ventral- in the abdomen (belly)
- Umbilical- around the belly button
- Incisional- through a scar from an old surgery
- Hiatal or epigastric– a small opening in the diaphragm lets the upper part of the stomach move up into the chest. The diaphragm is a thin muscle that is between the chest and abdomen (belly)
Untreated hernias will not heal on their own. Surgery may be needed to fix the weak spot. However, not all hernias need to be repaired. Your surgeon will discuss this with you.
Before surgery, call your surgeon right away if you have changes with your hernia. This could be swelling around your hernia that becomes larger, firmer, or more painful. The part of your body pushing through the weak spot may become trapped. This is called an incarcerated hernia. This may be serious, and medical treatment may be needed right away.
What will happen during my hernia surgery?
There are many ways to fix or repair a hernia. Which way depends on the problem and what must be done. My surgeon will help me to choose which surgery is best for me. My weight and other surgeries to my abdomen (belly) may affect this choice.
- An open surgery means a larger incision (cut) is made, and the abdomen (belly) is opened. The incision (cut) is closed with stitches or staples and a dressing. This surgery leaves a longer scar.
- Minimally invasive surgery includes laparoscopic or robotic surgery. This means several small incisions (cuts) are made into the skin. The surgery is done through the incisions (cuts). My abdomen (belly) is filled with carbon dioxide. This gas makes enough space for the surgeon to see inside the abdomen (belly). This type of surgery leaves smaller scars
- My surgeon may use mesh to add support to my abdomen (belly) and repair my hernia.
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| Open surgery means an incision (cut) on the abdomen. (Longer) | Laparoscopic or Robotic surgery means little incisions (cuts) on the skin. Very small scars |