Bilateral Hernia Repair
If you’ve been diagnosed with bilateral groin hernias, you may have a few questions – Are bilateral hernias more complicated to repair than a single hernia? Will I need more time to recover? Our friendly team is here to support you, put you at ease and arrange an appointment for you with our highly experienced Consultant Surgeon, usually within one week of contacting us!
Our Consultant Surgeon has over 25 years of experience and has performed around 2,000 hernia repairs, including bilateral hernia repairs. At Hernia Clinic Hampshire, we have the expertise to discuss the different approaches to double inguinal hernia repair, to help you understand your hernias and to determine which approach best suites your particular needs and reactivates your life!
Our Approaches to Bilateral Hernia Repair
Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Bilateral Hernia Repair
Bilateral groin hernia surgery is an instance of when a laparoscopic approach, for you, might be better than an open repair. Using this approach, we can repair both of your hernias at the same time. However, this surgery can only be done under general anaesthetic and has a higher risk of more complications.
The recovery period is much slower than a one-sided repair, but can be quicker than an open repair of both hernias on the same day.
Read more about when we might recommend a laparoscopic approach
Open Bilateral Hernia Repair (Staged Approach)
Many patients, particularly those who are older, frailer or have certain health problems, can benefit from a staged approach where we repair one side first and the other side around 2 weeks later. This way, we can utilise our pioneering local anaesthetic and sedation technique, which is much easier on the body than general anaesthetic and has been perfected over the years by our Consultant Surgeon.
Read more about the benefits of local anaesthesia for hernia repair
What If Only One Hernia Is Uncomfortable?
If you have been diagnosed with double inguinal hernias, there’s a good chance that only one of them may be symptomatic. In fact, in most patients with bilateral hernias one is much more symptomatic than the other.
Even if only one hernia is symptomatic, the chances of a non-symptomatic side becoming symptomatic and in need of repair is about 80% over 12-18 months. You may decide to repair both hernias, even if one causes no discomfort. This is one of the many factors you will discuss during your consultation.
How Long Will It Take to Recover From a Bilateral Hernia Repair?
Recovery after bilateral hernia surgery can vary from patient to patient, and depending on the approach used. For example, a younger and fitter patient might recover quicker from laparoscopic bilateral hernia surgery, whereas the overall recovery period for other types of patients might be the same for both a laparoscopic approach and a staged open surgery approach.
Choosing the right bilateral hernia repair approach for you can be complex. During your consultation, our expert Consultant Surgeon will help you make an informed decision.
Read our post surgery advice on recovery and returning to activity
You Deserve Excellent Care
The Hernia Clinic Hampshire team consistently delivers high quality patient focused care. Check out what some previous patients with bilateral groin hernias have said about their experiences:
I was a little trepidatious about being awake, (local anaesthetic and sedation) for my operations (I had 2 different hernias repaired 2 weeks apart) but I can absolutely say this is the only way to go! 20 minutes after theatre I was sitting in bed with a cup of tea and a sandwich asking myself what all the fuss was about?
All I used was a few paracetamols for the first couple of days. Obviously, no-one wants to be going into hospital, but I cannot stress highly enough how well Hernia Clinic Hampshire treated me. From start to finish everything was professional and the staff were superb and friendly in setting me at ease. I could not have had a better experience.
I’d lived with my hernias for over 30 years, so to finally have the courage to get them fixed it had to be somewhere that I felt comfortable. The reviews on the website put my mind at ease.
Once I started the ball rolling and got my consultation, the rest was very easy. I enjoyed going private, I loved the speed that everything was handled at, I loved the more intimate environment of the clinic and the one-to-one consultations.
Even though I waited 30 years to get my hernias looked at, in the end it was one of the most stress free things I’ve ever done. That was down to Mr James Kirkby-Bott and all of the wonderful staff.”