Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 10/22/2007

Question
QUESTION: hi,
i am 17 years old and i have just been told i need a operation for a hernia just above my belly button. i cant even feel a lump nor does it cause any pain. i am very worried about my operation as i want to be a fitness instructor, will this stop me from being able to do that job? also will i get a scar? :(
yours Rebecca chamberlain

ANSWER: What you have is an umbilical hernia. Not getting it fixed might affect your job as an instructor becuase doing any heavy lifting might make the hernia come out. The operation is a very simple one (and considering the fact that you don't feel it, even easier). They generally make the incision right around the umbilicus the the scar will not be very noticable (to others).

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thankyou for your reply. the main reason i am woried is because it causes me no problem not, i dont even feel it. i am afraid that if i have the operation the tissue will be weaker and will cause me more problems to my job later on. especially as an operation itself can be a cause of a hernia.

ANSWER: A hernia is a weakness in the fascia of the abdominal wall. If it is not repaired, it can only get worse. Repairing a hernia either connects the good fascia that is laready there or a synthetic mesh is placed (for very large hernias). Generally hernias do not recur where a previous repair took place. It is true that if you have another operation a hernia can form but not in this case.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thankyou for such a quick responce.
after my operation does the weakness go away. will i be able to do situps for example with not worry of tearing where my hernia was? also how big is the cut they make to do th op and what will it look like?

Answer
After your surgeon says it's OK to do strenuous work you will be able to do situps without worrying. The cut is usually just around the inside (or outside) of the navel, so it is a small incision. It looks like a semicircle.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston