Hernia Repair Cost and Procedure Guide

A hernia occurs when a part of the intestine or a portion of fat pushes through the abdominal wall, creating a bulge in the skin. In the United States, about 25% of men and 2% of women develop at least one hernia in their life.¹ Surgery is the only way to repair a hernia. About 1.5 million hernia repair surgeries take place in the U.S each year.² This article will do a deep dive into the cost of hernia repair surgery, common causes and symptoms, as well as provide information about post-surgery recovery.

What Causes a Hernia

Both weak abdominal muscles and weak connective tissue are the main causes of the development of hernias. There are a number of factors that can play a part in the weakening of the abdominal wall, creating the environment for a hernia to develop. These factors include:

• Being overweight
• Chronic coughing that puts pressure on the abdominal wall
• Constipation or straining while passing a bowel movement
• Genetic connective tissue disorders
• Previous abdominal surgeries
• Infection after abdominal surgery
• Lifting heavy objects
• Natural aging of connective tissue
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
• Sports-related injury

How to Treat a Hernia

Surgery is the only way to repair a hernia. Some doctors may hold off if the hernia is not causing any pain or discomfort. However, about 70% of men with an inguinal hernia who delay surgery will develop worsening symptoms and need surgery within five years.³ The majority of hernia surgeries performed in the U.S. repair inguinal hernias, which mostly affect people aged 75 to 80, but can affect people at any age.³

How Much Does Hernia Repair Surgery Cost?

The national average cost** of hernia repair surgery can range from $3,057 to $14,304, depending on the type of surgery and anesthesia used, surgeon’s experience and location.⁴ Below is an average cost** breakdown of hernia repair surgery by type and what the typical person might pay without insurance, considering copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.⁴

Average cost of hernia repair surgery by state/district

The average cost** of an open hernia repair surgery by all states/districts is listed in the table below ⁴

How Can You Pay for Hernia Repair Surgery?

There are several ways to pay for a hernia repair procedure, depending on what your provider offers and your budget: some pay upfront with cash, check or a credit/debit card. Others may choose a payment plan offered through the practice.

If you’d prefer to pay over time, the CareCredit credit card is another option many patients use for out-of-pocket health and wellness services. If approved, you can make monthly payments (including promotional financing options where available); terms, approval and minimum monthly payments vary, so review the details and ask the office whether they accept CareCredit before deciding.

Is Hernia Repair Surgery Covered by Insurance?

Hernia repair surgery is typically covered by most health insurance provided the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Insurance typically covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia and facility charges. Even if the surgery is covered, you will still be responsible for deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.

What Is a Hernia?

A hernia is the result of a weakness in the abdominal wall, allowing parts of the bowel, fat or soft tissue to push through the defect or hole and abut the skin, creating a bulge or protrusion. Repairing a hernia is done surgically by either open surgery or minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) surgery, depending on the type of hernia you have.

The different types of hernias include:

• Incisional hernia. Caused by previous surgical incisions resulting in weakening of that portion of the abdominal wall
• Inguinal hernia. Located in the groin area, the most common type of hernia
• Umbilical hernia. Located at the site of the belly button. These can also be described as an “outie” belly button.
• Epigastric hernia. Located between the belly button and the breast bone
• Femoral hernia. Located in the upper thigh (more common in women)

Hernia Symptoms

Hernias are typically visible and can be felt as an obvious bulge at the site. But not all hernias cause symptoms, and sometimes symptoms only occur when you cough, lift heavier objects, bend over or sit. The most common symptoms associated with hernias include:

• Bulging
• Burning sensation
• Discomfort when sitting
• Feeling of pressure
• Intermittent or constant pain
• Pulling sensation during physical strain
• Trouble with digestion, if part of the intestine is involved

Sudden pain, vomiting and redness can be signs that the hernia has become strangulated, when the hernia contents get stuck in the defect or hole, compromising the blood supply to the contents of the hernia (either intestine or fat). This is a medical emergency.

How Does Hernia Repair Surgery Work?

Preparation

Your doctor may have you do a series of tasks before coming in for surgery, depending on your age and any underlying medical conditions. These may include:

• Bowel prep to clean out your bowels before surgery
• Getting blood work, EKG of the heart or other tests done
• Planning for someone to take you home
• Not eating or drinking after midnight before surgery
• Quitting smoking
• Stopping certain medications (blood thinners, anti-inflammatories)
• Taking a shower the night before surgery with special soap

Procedure

There are two main types of surgery used to repair hernias: open surgery and minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) surgery. Depending on the size and location of the hernia, open and minimally invasive surgery are typically done as an outpatient surgery, meaning you can go home the same day. And both require either local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. The type of sedation will depend on the surgery type and what is safest for the patient.

Open surgery

Here are the typical steps involved with open surgery for an inguinal hernia:

• A surgeon makes one incision in the groin area to gain access to the hernia.
• Once the hernia is repaired, a mesh may be placed to reinforce the abdominal wall and to help prevent a recurrence of the hernia.
• Open surgery is the most common type of surgery used to treat a hernia.

Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic or robotic)

Here’s what you can expect with laparoscopic/robotic surgery for an inguinal hernia:

• During laparoscopic surgery, three small incisions are made on the abdomen at a site distant from the hernia, where a camera and small tools are inserted to repair the hernia. Some surgeons may use robotic arms to complete this surgery.
• A mesh patch is also used during laparoscopic/robotic surgery to help prevent a recurrence.
• Compared to open surgery, minimally invasive surgery allows for a quicker recovery time and a faster return to normal activities.

Recovery

After hernia surgery, you will likely be a little sore, and there may be some bruising and swelling around your incision site and around the site of the hernia. Recovery from hernia surgery usually includes the following:

• It’s recommended to wait until about 24 hours after surgery before removing bandages and showering.
• It’s generally advised to avoid bathing or swimming for about two weeks after surgery to prevent infection.
• It’s recommended to hold a pillow over the incision site when coughing or sneezing to limit pain felt when performing these actions.
• It’s typically advised that it may take a few days to have a bowel movement, and constipation is normal.
• It’s uncommon to have activity restrictions placed on your daily living, although lifting weight limits may be provided.
• While diet restrictions are not commonly required, it may take 24 hours to get your appetite back.
• It’s generally advised to use ice or a frozen bag of peas to help reduce swelling.
• It’s generally acceptable to drive as long as you are not taking prescription pain medication and you feel you could react quickly with minimal pain in case of an emergency.

Potential Complications of Hernia Repair Surgery

While hernia repair surgery is typically safe, about 10% of people develop complications after elective surgery.⁵ The complications most commonly reported include:

• Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin that is self-limited)
• Seroma (collection of sterile fluid under the skin)
• Surgical site infection
• Urinary retention

A more serious complication of inguinal hernia repair that can occur is chronic pain due to nerve injury during surgery. A hernia recurrence is another complication, which happens in about 3% to 5% of cases when a mesh is used.⁵

The Bottom Line on Hernias

While hernias can be painful and won’t go away on their own, surgery to repair them is commonly outpatient and covered by most insurance plans. Consult with your provider if you have signs of hernia to determine the best course of action and treatment for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hernia Repair

Do you still have questions about hernias? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about treating them.

Managing Health and Wellness Costs With the CareCredit Credit Card

If you are looking for an option to help manage your health and wellness costs, consider financing with the CareCredit credit card. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for the care you want and need and make payments easy to manage.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a provider near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos. Your CareCredit credit card can be used in so many ways within the CareCredit network including vision, dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases and spa treatments. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Expert Reviewer

Jennifer Schwartz, M.D.

Jennifer Schwartz, M.D., is board-certified in general surgery with a subspecialty certification in bariatric surgery. She serves as Section Chief of General Surgery at VA Connecticut Healthcare system and is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Schwartz is very active in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), where she has given multiple presentations and serves on national committees. In addition to her clinical practice, she is very involved in medical student and resident education.

Author Bio

Amy Isler, M.S.N., R.N., has more than a decade of nursing expertise. She combines her nursing experience and journalism background to create engaging and educational healthcare content for leading brands and publications, including GoodRx, Verywell Health, Vision Center and more. Her mission in writing is to provide positive, accurate and informative articles for consumers.