Yes, Hernias Can Come Back After Surgery—Here’s Why
Yes, Hernias Can Come Back After Surgery—Here’s Why
A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in the muscle or surrounding area. While some people are born with hernias, they can also be caused by injury or appear after a surgery.
When a hernia affects quality of life, hernia repair surgery may be recommended. Hernia repair is one of the most common procedures in the United States, with more than one million performed each year, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Still, hernias can come back, even after being surgically repaired.
Why Hernias Return After Surgery
When a hernia reappears at or near the same site that was previously repaired, it’s called a recurrent hernia. The risk of reoccurrence varies and depends on the type, how it was initially repaired, and the patient’s overall health.
Ventral (abdominal), parastomal, and incisional hernias have the highest recurrence rates, while inguinal (groin) hernias have a lower risk of return.
“There’s a growing push to start treating hernias as if they are more of a chronic disease,” says Joanna Grudziak, MD, an abdominal wall, trauma, and emergency general surgeon at University of Utah Health. “Each time you repair a recurrent hernia, there’s a higher risk of it coming back.”
A hernia can return in months—or even years—after surgery.
Common reasons include:
- Technical complications during the repair
- The surgical wound becoming infected or not healing properly
- Being overweight
- Factors that affect wound healing, such as smoking and diabetes
- A large initial hernia
Recurrent hernias often have similar symptoms as the original hernia. Contact a health care provider if you notice:
- A bulge or lump at or near the same location as your previous hernia
- Pain, pressure, or discomfort near the area
Seek immediate care if your pain is severe and accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
Deciding on Surgery
Not all recurrent hernias need surgery. If the hernia is not bothersome, it can be regularly monitored.
However, surgery may be recommended if:
- The hernia causes significant pain or bowel blockages
- A large amount of tissue or intestine is in the hernia
- The hernia is in a location that would be difficult to surgically reach in an emergency
Research shows that about 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. have hernia repair surgery within 10 years of their original operation.
“When I see patients who have had multiple hernia repairs, we focus on whether the impact on quality of life outweighs the risk of another operation,” Grudziak says. “It’s important to not feel like the hernia coming back is a failure—on the patient or surgeon—but it’s also important to have realistic expectations that it may happen.”
Caring for a Recurrent Hernia
Repairing a recurrent hernia can be more complicated than a first-time hernia. Treatment depends on the hernia type and your personal health.
At University of Utah Health, a care team will create a treatment plan tailored to the patient so that they have the best chance of repairing the hernia for good.
Minimally invasive options include:
- Laparoscopic surgery: A camera is inserted through small incisions that allow the closure of the hole through which the hernia tissues bulges, before being reinforced with a synthetic mesh.
- Robotic surgery: Similar to laparoscopic repair, but a surgeon operates a robotic system to help reach smaller spaces that may be in anatomically difficult-to-reach areas.
In some cases, minimally invasive surgery may not be the right choice for a recurrent hernia—especially if the original repair was done using the same approach. Choosing the right option starts with a detailed conversation between the patient and surgeon.
A Team-Based Approach to Hernia Care
U of U Health offers a multidisciplinary approach to hernia care to reduce complications and recurrence.
Patients may receive support with:
- Smoking cessation
- Nutrition
- Pain management
- Physical therapy to build core strength and heal without stressing the repair
“The more you’re cared for by people who are really familiar with these hernias, the less likely it is that you’ll get a complication that may make the hernia come back again,” Grudziak says. “From the surgeons who are familiar with the operative physiology to nurses and therapists who help with pain management and recovery, we are able to successfully manage complex patients.”
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