Incisional Hernia Operation in Gopalganj (Hernia at an Old Scar)

The deep muscle layer under an old cut is weaker than normal muscle. If the wound got infected, or if there was later weight gain, another pregnancy, smoking, diabetes, a long cough or constipation, this layer can open slowly and a hernia forms. It is not caused by anything you did wrong. It can appear many months or years after the first operation.

After tests and preparation, you are given general or spinal anaesthesia. Our surgeon opens the old scar, or makes a few small keyhole cuts for laparoscopic repair, returns the intestine and fat to the abdomen, closes the gap and fixes a mesh to strengthen the wall. A drain may be placed. The operation usually takes 1 to 3 hours, and most patients stay with us for 2 to 4 days.

These three factors strongly affect wound healing. High sugar and smoking raise the risk of infection, and extra weight puts pressure on the repair. Improving them before a planned operation lowers the chance of complications and of the hernia coming back. Our surgeon will tell you how long to prepare, balancing this against the risk of waiting.

Most large hernias can be repaired, but they need more planning. Our surgeon checks the size of the gap, the condition of the skin, and your breathing and heart fitness. Sometimes we advise weight loss or other preparation first. In a few complex cases, we may discuss a staged plan or referral to a higher centre if that is safer for you.

Walking starts within a day. Most patients go home in 2 to 4 days, and later after a very large repair. Stitches usually come out in 10 to 14 days. Light work can usually resume in 2 to 3 weeks, but avoid heavy lifting for about 6 to 8 weeks. You may need an abdominal belt for some weeks. Healing is slower with diabetes, obesity or smoking.

Start with liquids and light food, then eat home food with plenty of vegetables, fruit, dal and water to avoid constipation, because straining pushes on the repair. Enough protein, such as dal, milk, eggs or paneer, helps healing unless your doctor advises otherwise. Avoid oily food and alcohol, stop smoking and gutkha, and keep your sugar controlled. Do not start a crash diet without advice.

Mesh repair lowers the chance of recurrence, but no hernia repair removes it completely. The risk is higher with large hernias, obesity, smoking, diabetes, wound infection and heavy lifting too soon. Following our advice on weight, sugar, the abdominal belt and avoiding heavy work for some weeks helps protect the repair.

An abdominal belt can support the bulge and ease discomfort for a while, but it cannot close the gap in the muscle, and medicines or exercises cannot close it either. Most incisional hernias slowly grow. For a person who is very unfit for surgery, our surgeon may advise a belt and careful watching. For most people, a planned repair is safer than waiting until the intestine gets trapped.

There is no single fixed price. The cost depends on the size and number of gaps, open or laparoscopic repair, the size of the mesh, tests such as ultrasound or a CT scan, the days in hospital, the room, any ICU care and medicines. We give you a clear written estimate after the examination. For Ayushman card holders, our help desk confirms the package under our general surgery empanelment.

Incisional hernia repair falls under our Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY empanelment for general surgery, for eligible card holders. Our Ayushman help desk confirms the exact package and your eligibility, so please do not assume coverage before this check. Bring your Ayushman card and a photo ID such as Aadhaar, and our help desk team will explain the process before admission.

Yes. We regularly treat patients from Motihari, Bettiah, Siwan, Chhapra, Kushinagar and Deoria. Please send your ultrasound report and any old operation papers on WhatsApp to +91 72739 94786 first. Because this repair often needs some preparation, we use the first OPD visit for tests and a plan. Bring your medicine list, sugar reports, a photo ID and your Ayushman card if you have one.

We suggest looking for a surgeon with long experience in both open and laparoscopic hernia repair. Dr. Rajnish Kumar Thakur, our founder and chief surgeon, has 16+ years of experience and more than 10,000 surgeries, with work at IGIMS Patna and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, and service as Specialist Medical Officer (General Surgery and Laparoscopy) under the Government of Bihar. He plans each repair for the patient's own hernia. You can read our patients' reviews on Google and on our website.