Recovering from abdominal hernia repair varies based on the size of the hernia, the complexity of the surgery, and your overall health. Some patients heal quickly, while others take longer to regain strength.
Board-certified general and plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Dumanian, a world-renowned expert in abdominal wall reconstruction, frequently performs complex abdominal hernia repairs, including cases where prior surgeries have failed. Here’s what you can expect after surgery.
Initial Recovery After Hernia Repair
With many types of abdominal hernias and surgical approaches, each abdominal hernia repair is unique to the patient. Smaller hernias may only require one or two days in the hospital. Then, recovery at home usually spans two weeks to one month.
Larger or more complicated hernias may require up to a week in the hospital. After that, recovery at home may take around six to eight weeks at home.
Common Experiences After Abdominal Hernia Repair
In the early stages of recovery, it’s normal to experience discomfort, but Dr. Dumanian prescribes medication to help you stay comfortable so you can focus on resting and healing. You may experience:
- Abdominal tightness: Particularly common if the hernia is large.
- Difficulty breathing deeply: A temporary issue due to increased abdominal pressure.
- Reduced appetite: You may feel full after a few bites in the early part of recovery.
These symptoms subside as your body adjusts to the changes from surgery over the first few weeks.
Resuming Physical Activity After Abdominal Hernia Repair
While Dr. Dumanian encourages light movement, such as walking and swimming, immediately after surgery, you must follow a carefully calibrated schedule to resume full activity.
After a few weeks, Dr. Dumanian usually approves light lifting (a few pounds), but within a few months, you can lift more.
There’s no weightlifting allowed for at least several months, and you can’t resume high-impact exercise like jogging for as long as a year. You must avoid ab-specific exercises, like crunches, for at least a year.
Dr. Dumanian provides customized return-to-activity guidance based on your recovery progress.
Support Garments
Wearing compression garments after abdominal hernia repair can help reduce swelling and improve your comfort. Dr. Dumanian recommends specific compression garments according to your type of hernia, its location, and the surgical correction.
You’ll generally wear compression garments for the first couple of weeks.
Abdominal Hernia Repair in Chicago
Trust your abdominal hernia repair to world-renowned expert Dr. Gregory Dumanian in Chicago for the most comfortable and complete recovery. Call 312-695-6022 to book a consultation.