If you’re wondering Why Is My Stomach Bigger After Hernia Surgery? It’s because You had a hernia repaired. Well! The body’s natural response to surgery is the most prevalent cause of edema.

Hernias frequently appear as a bulge or swelling beneath the skin. Hernias come in several different forms and they rarely heal on their own. They tend to grow in size. They can cause life-threatening complications in rare cases. That is why doctors frequently recommend surgery. Even if the hernia does not cause complications on its own, hernia repair surgery may cause complications. However, surgical complications are more likely if a hernia requires immediate repair. Swelling after inguinal or umbilical hernia surgery is wholly natural and does not indicate a concern. 

What Is A Hernia?

When an internal organ pushes through a weakness in the muscle and body wall, it causes a lump to develop that increases when you cough and vanishes when you lie down. Hernias are typically harmless. But, in rare situations, they can become strangulated, causing discomfort and additional problems, needing emergency surgery. As a result, most hernias get surgically corrected to prevent further issues.

Causes of Hernia

A hernia is a weakness in a wall that allows tissue or organs to protrude. Hernias can get caused by a variety of physiological stresses, including the following:

• Obesity Or Rapid Weight Gain
• Obesity Or Rapid Weight Gain
• Constipation Or Diarrhea
• Frequent Coughing Or Sneeze
• Pregnancy

These forms of strain are unlikely to cause a hernia on their own. However, when they combine with a weak muscle, a hernia is more likely to develop.

All About Hernia Surgery

A portion of the intestine may get stuck in the hernia and repaired right away if you have significant discomfort that does not go away. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or problems making a bowel movement. If this occurs, you must get the hernia repaired as soon as possible since it is a medical emergency. The entrapped intestine will perish owing to a lack of blood flow if these hernias are not corrected. The following are the three fundamental approaches to hernia surgery:

Laparoscopic surgery

During laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon will make a few tiny incisions in your belly. The air in your abdomen will get expanded, allowing the surgeon to see your organs. Through the incision, your surgeon will insert a thin, lighted scope known as a laparoscope. Through the other incisions, they’ll insert tools to repair the hernia.

Open Surgery

A hernia can get treated using an “open” technique, which involves making a single incision around the length of the hernia. It might range from two to the total size of the abdomen.

Robotic Surgery

Robot-assisted surgery is among the most cutting-edge surgical techniques yet devised. Similar to laparoscopic surgery, many tiny incisions got created. Nonetheless, robotic arms are attached to the surgical instruments. The physician controls the robot from a console rather than using the surgical equipment by hand.

Why Is My Stomach Bigger After Hernia Surgery?

Now you know about hernia and its surgery now your concern is, why is my stomach bigger after hernia surgery? During the early stages of recovery, the body creates an excess fluid that aids healing. This fluid, which appears as swelling at the site of tissue injury, carries nutrients and cells that can help in tissue regeneration.

When a swelling stays in one place for a few days, it often solidifies and becomes a firm lump. Swelling might vary a lot depending on the hernia and the approach utilized to treat it.

 It might be another reason that the repair is still intact and that the bulging of the mesh is causing the edema. A gradual bulge might be the consequence of mesh implant failure owing to elongation.

The issue is more common after significant defect correction, primarily when the mesh gets utilized to bridge the flaws. It is more common after laparoscopic surgery. When selecting a viable and appropriate mesh for abdominal wall reconstruction, mesh properties should get examined.

Lastly, the surgery swelling at surgical sites is very common, and it typically feels like a hard ridge. Bloating in the abdomen is frequent. Bruising and unusual hues are typical and will disappear within a week.

How Long Does It Take For Swelling To Go Down After Hernia Surgery?

From the information provided above, you now know the answer to your main question: Why Is My Stomach Bigger After Hernia Surgery? Swelling is a typical component of the recovery process after hernia surgery.

Swelling in patients with large inguinal hernias that extend down to the scrotum can continue up to six months. However, it would be best if you were not concerned about how long it will persist. If the swelling is not significant after the procedure, it may take three to six months for the body to recover.

How Can You Tell If Your Hernia Mesh Has Failed?

Now you might be wondering how to know when your hernia mesh got failed? Following are some of the indicators:

• Bulging in the device region is frequently a symptom of mesh dislodging or mesh migration, resulting in inflammation.
• Burning
• Constipation
• Impotence
• Nausea
• Lethargy
• Pain

Final thought

A hernia occurs when an internal organ pushes through a muscle and body wall weakness, resulting in a bulge. While most swelling after hernia surgery is benign, it might occasionally signal a concern, such as infection or hernia recurrence. Swelling after hernia surgery is rarely a sign of infection. Pain and swelling accompanied by red skin staining and discomfort or swelling that intensifies after hernia surgery are signs of infection. The surgical team should handle them.

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