Hernia surgery at Spire Norwich Hospital

Spire Norwich Hospital is a well-established private hospital serving patients across Norfolk and East Anglia.

Our consultants have wide experience in performing hernia repair surgery. They’ll offer you a treatment and recovery plan that’s tailored to you. With fast access to tests, scans and treatments, we can help relieve your symptoms and get you back to your everyday activities.

We offer a variety of techniques for inguinal hernia surgery. The treatments available to you will depend on the type, size and location of your hernia and your general health. Your consultant will discuss which option is best for you.

Trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal laparoscopy (TAPP)

A keyhole procedure where your surgeon inserts the surgical instruments through your abdomen and the lining covering your abdominal organs. The weakened area of your abdomen is strengthened using a mesh insert which is glued or stapled in place. This procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep.

Lichtenstein tension-free mesh repair

An open surgery technique typically performed with either local or spinal anaesthetic which means you’ll be awake but unable to feel pain in the area being operated on. Your abdominal wall is repaired using mesh.

Finding us

Spire Norwich Hospital is close to the University of East Anglia and just three miles from the city centre. We're approximately three miles from Norwich train station. We have free parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

Your initial consultation will be in one of our 12 private consultation rooms. During your appointment, your consultant will discuss:

• Your symptoms and check your abdomen and suspected hernia
• Your health and medical history
• What you’d like to achieve through treatment
• Which surgical method is best for you and what it involves
• The anaesthetic you’ll need – either a general anaesthetic (where you’ll be asleep) or a local or spinal anaesthetic (where you’ll be awake but unable to feel pain in the area being operated on)

Your consultant will also explain if you need to have further tests and scans to diagnose your hernia and decide which surgical technique they recommend for you. Before proceeding, you may also need to have a pre-operative assessment. This is to make sure the surgery is right for you, particularly if you’re having a general anaesthetic.

They’ll then outline a treatment and recovery plan that’s tailored to you.

Your stay

For inguinal hernia repair surgery, you'll likely need to stay overnight. If so, you’ll have one of our private, en-suite rooms, all of which have:

• TV
• Window
• Armchair

Anaesthetic

For keyhole (laparoscopic) procedures, you’ll need a general anaesthetic, where you’ll be completely asleep. For open surgery, you can usually have a local or spinal anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be awake but unable to feel pain where you’re being operated on.

Procedure duration

Inguinal hernia repair surgery usually takes under one hour.

Pain after hernia surgery

You’re likely to feel some soreness and discomfort once your anaesthetic wears off. Everyone experiences pain differently, and our nurses will be able to give you painkillers to help you manage it.

Recovery time

You should be back to your normal activities in around six weeks. You’ll have a follow-up appointment with your consultant around two weeks after your surgery.

Your consultant will be able to advise you on your expected recovery time, but as a guide, here’s a typical recovery timeline: