What to Expect Before and After Hernia Surgery

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Being treated for a hernia can be an intimidating ordeal for a patient with little to no knowledge going in to it. Education is always one of the best ways to properly prepare a person for an operation, and hernia surgery is definitely no exception. As the only specialist in abdominal hernia surgery in the Western US, Shirin Towfigh M.D., F.A.C.S., of the Beverly Hills Hernia Center  is committed to making sure her patients know what to expect and how best to recover throughout the treatment process.

Before Surgery

Before an operation, patients are advised to create a shopping list in preparation for hernia surgery. During recovery, a hernia patient's activities will be very limited, so taking care of any necessary purchases beforehand is highly preferable to trying to navigate it during post-op.

Shopping list items may often include:

• Moldable, soft ice packs, or a pack of frozen peas
• Compressive undergarments that reduce pain and swelling, like cycling shorts or legged girdles
• Body shapers, long bras, or a binder depending on the hernia type
• Pain medication prescriptions that are already filled and ready as well as over the counter pain relievers.

During Surgery

As a preeminent  surgeon, Dr. Towfigh provides the highest level of top quality care. Prior to any treatment, patients experiencing hernia symptoms will be fully diagnosed to find the root cause of their symptoms. Because hernia symptoms vary from patient to patient due to a variety of factors, including gender or the type of hernia, careful expertise is needed to prevent misdiagnosis. Strangulated hernia symptoms for example, are crucial to detect because they require immediate treatment. Symptoms might include: vomiting, fever, sudden and intensifying pain, and a red or purple hernia bulge. Milder, more typical hernias, however, could be less obvious, and involve little to no pain.

Once the hernia is discovered, Dr. Towfigh first explores the possibility of recovery through conservative approaches, such as exercise or lifestyle changes. If that is not sufficient, she will perform any necessary surgery while utilizing the most advanced methods and the most advanced technology. A leader in the development of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, Dr. Towfigh is able to provide consistently outstanding results that hasten recovery times, and reduce the chances of complications.

After Surgery   

Dr. Towfigh provides her patients with detailed instructions after hernia surgery to make sure their recovery will go as smoothly as possible and patients know what to expect.  Sometimes patients may initially experience swelling or bruising at the site of the incision, or the location of the hernia, which could begin 1-4 days after the operation. These symptoms normally subside within two weeks, and can be reduced with regular icing. Men may experience a sensation of their scrotum feeling heavy or full of fluid, which is the result of body fluid filling the site where the hernia used to be. This should dissipate within two weeks.  Women may notice reddish-purple bruises around the groin or labia caused by body fluid pulled toward these organs by gravity. This will also typically subside within two weeks. Groin hernia repair with an incision will result in a "healing ridge" in the form of a line of firm scar tissue that takes 6 weeks to soften and return to normal.

It's important that a hernia patient keeps their dressing and wound dry for the first 48 hours before normal showering can resume. A diet high in fiber and liquids is important for reducing the chances of constipation or straining. If any difficulties or discomfort occurs, Dr. Towfigh and her team will be standing by to address any and all issues. For more information on hernias or similar abdominal concerns, please contact Dr. Towfigh at 310-358-5020, or learn more at www.BeverlyHillsHerniaCenter.com.

PR Submitted by Cyberset.com

SOURCE Beverly Hills Hernia Center

Related Links

http://www.BeverlyHillsHerniaCenter.com