Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery

A Pioneering Approach

What is Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery? 

Using local anaesthesia for hernia surgery is our pioneering approach, as devised by our exceptional Consultant Surgeon over many years. In fact, we are one of the only experts in the area using this approach, having perfected the surgery during Covid-19 when there was a higher risk from surgery under general anaesthetic.

This operation takes no more than an hour. The use of local anaesthetic blocks feeling in the area of the hernia and minimises pain, stiffness and generally feeling unwell after surgery.

Open hernia surgery is straight forward and can make hernia surgery accessible for adults of all ages and of all health conditions, especially if you are more frail and, therefore, at a higher risk under general anaesthetic.

Why We Recommend Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery 

When best and safe for the patient, we recommend hernia surgery under a local anaesthetic as opposed to general anaesthetic. This approach helps you get back on your feet as quickly as possible and with as little discomfort as possible.

Local anaesthetic and sedation is more gentle on the body than general anaesthetic. There is less risk of complications with urination and the incidence of chronic discomfort is reduced. Local anaesthetic can only be used with an open repair and cannot be used for laparoscopic surgery.

Our unique approach to your personalised care means that we typically expect you to walk out of the hospital a couple of hours after your operation.

This approach also means that your recovery can start quicker. In fact many of our patients are able to start our specialised rehabilitation programme by day three after their surgery. This programme is designed by our expert medical team to speed up your recovery.

Check out our Post Hernia Surgery Rehabilitation Exercise Program here

Our pioneering approach to hernia treatment, our patient-focused care and the excellence of our highly experienced medical team come together to help you to get back to life quicker and achieve the best possible results.

Our patients often have questions about surgery. Here, specialists from our hernia treatment team answer some frequently asked questions: 

Is Local Anaesthesia Hernia Surgery Painful? 

When using local anaesthesia for hernia surgery, you will have no feeling of pain and surgery will be comfortable. To help you relax, we use sedation.

This approach also helps to minimise your discomfort post surgery and get you active sooner.

Check out our post hernia surgery recovery advice here

Will I Be Awake During Surgery? 

With sedation, some patients stay awake and chat with the team, others nod off and many do a combination of both – asleep at times, awake, relaxed and chatty at other times.

We are even able to test your repair during the operation!

See what previous patients have to say about their experience with Local Anaesthesia for Hernia Surgery:

I was very nervous about having an open surgery hernia repair under local anaesthetic, but Mr Kirkby-Bott assured me I would be very relaxed and not feel a thing and that is exactly how it went.

I’m now 5 weeks post-surgery and feeling great, I have to stop myself from over doing things sometimes as I forget I’ve had the surgery done. Can’t thank Mr Kirkby-Bott enough, he is outstanding in his field of surgery.

Nervous about local anaesthesia for hernia surgery? So was this patient!

We address any concerns and put you at ease just as we did with him.

Surgery under local anaesthetic was, as promised, completely pain and anxiety free. The bonus was that I could go home a couple of hours after leaving theatre.

Mr Kirkby Bott was very considerate, informative, efficient and professional throughout – as indeed were the whole team.

Our 79-year-old inguinal hernia patient was very worried about his hernia.

We are happy to have eased his worries and repair his hernia.

Contact our friendly team today and arrange an appointment with our Consultant Surgeon to discuss your options and decide if local anaesthesia for hernia surgery is suitable for you.