Hernia surgery at Spire Bushey Hospital

Spire Bushey is one of north London and Hertfordshire’s leading private hospitals and we take pride in delivering high-quality care.

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.

Your consultant will recommend a treatment based on the location, size and type of hernia you have and your general health. We have a range of treatments available. All have their own potential benefits and risks which your consultant will discuss with 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.

Totally extra-peritoneal laparoscopy (TEP)

A newer keyhole procedure where your surgeon repairs your hernia without needing to cut into the lining covering your abdominal organs. Mesh is used to repair the weakness in your abdominal wall. 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, spinal or general anaesthesia. If you have local or spinal anaesthesia, 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 Bushey Hospital and Spire Bushey Diagnostic Centre are situated within easy access to the M1/M25 motorways, underground and overground train stations. We have free parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

Your initial consultation will take place at Spire Bushey Diagnostic Centre located in Elstree, less than two miles from the main site, which offers the latest facilities and diagnostics. 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 visit

You can usually leave hospital on the same day as your surgery. You may need to stay overnight if you have other medical conditions or live alone. If so, you’ll have one of our private rooms.

If you’re able to go home on the same day, you can relax in a private room until you’re ready to go home – usually for up to six hours, once you've fully recovered from the surgery and anaesthesia.

The operation

During the operation, you’ll have either:

• A general anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be asleep – usually required for keyhole (laparoscopic) procedures and open hernia repairs
• A spinal or local anaesthetic, meaning you’ll be awake but unable to feel anything in the region being operated on – this is usually used for open hernia repair surgery

Hernia repair surgery usually takes less than one hour.

After surgery

It’s normal to feel some pain or discomfort after hernia surgery, so to make your recovery easier, our nurses will give you medication to help you manage pain.

Going home

Your consultant will be able to advise you on your expected recovery time, based on the surgery you had and your overall health. For most people, you should be back to your usual activities in around six weeks. You’ll return for a check-up appointment with your consultant around four to six weeks after your operation.

Although everyone’s different and your consultant will be able to give you advice specific to you, here’s a typical recovery timeline: