Groin (inguinal)
Occurs in the groin and is one of the most common hernias in adults. Repair may use one larger incision or several small incisions, with or without robotic assistance, depending on the circumstances.
HERNIA SURGERY · LOS ANGELES
Hernia surgery in Los Angeles, tailored to the hernia and the patient.
Dr. Michael A. Zadeh evaluates and treats groin (inguinal), belly-button (umbilical), abdominal-wall (ventral), prior-incision, and recurrent hernias. The goal is to choose the repair that makes sense for the location and size of your hernia, your symptoms, activity level, and prior surgical history.
START WITH THE DIAGNOSIS
A hernia is a mechanical problem, but not every hernia is the same.
The location, size, symptoms, prior operations, and quality of the surrounding tissue all influence how a hernia should be approached.
Belly button (umbilical)
Develops at or near the belly button. Size, symptoms, tissue strength, and the chance of the hernia returning help determine whether stitches or mesh are appropriate.
Abdominal wall / prior incision
Occurs through the abdominal wall, sometimes at the site of a previous operation. These repairs can range from straightforward to complex.
Returned after repair (recurrent)
A hernia that returns after a prior repair deserves a fresh assessment of its location and size, the previous technique, any mesh already present, and why the hernia may have returned.
DOES EVERY HERNIA NEED SURGERY?
Not necessarily. The decision should be based on more than the presence of a bulge.
Some hernias that cause few symptoms can be watched. Others become increasingly uncomfortable, interfere with activity, enlarge over time, or have features that make repair more appropriate.
The consultation balances symptoms, the location and size of the hernia, surgical risk, lifestyle, and the possible consequences of waiting. A recommendation for surgery should have a clear reason behind it.
Seek urgent medical evaluation for sudden severe or increasing pain, a firm or tender bulge that cannot be gently pushed back, vomiting, a swollen abdomen, fever, or discoloration of the skin over a hernia.
CHOOSING A REPAIR
Open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery are tools. The operation matters more than the label.
No single technique is automatically best for every patient. The appropriate approach depends on the hernia and the person who has it.
01
Open Repair
An incision is made directly over or near the hernia. Open repair remains an excellent option for selected hernias and clinical situations.
02
Laparoscopic Repair
Small incisions and a camera are used to approach the hernia from inside the abdominal wall. This can be particularly useful for selected groin hernias on both sides or hernias that have returned.
03
Robotic Repair
Robotic assistance can give the surgeon a magnified view and instruments that bend at the tip for certain repairs. It is a surgical tool, not a substitute for judgment or technique.
“The goal is not to use the newest tool. It is to choose the operation that gives a particular patient the most sensible repair.”Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS
HERNIA MESH
Mesh is not one product, one technique, or one decision.
Mesh is commonly used to strengthen many adult hernia repairs because it can reduce tension on the patient’s own tissue and lower the chance that the hernia returns in appropriate situations. But whether mesh is needed, the type of mesh, where it is placed, and how it is secured are separate decisions.
Patients often arrive with understandable concerns after reading conflicting information online. Those questions deserve a specific discussion based on the actual hernia rather than a blanket answer.
- Whether mesh is recommended for your specific hernia
- Where the mesh would be placed
- Alternatives when a repair without mesh is reasonable
- Risks of the hernia returning, long-term discomfort, infection, and other complications
AFTER SURGERY
Recovery is planned around the repair, not a generic calendar.
Most patients are walking the day of surgery, but pain, activity restrictions, lifting, driving, exercise, and return to work depend on the type of hernia, the repair performed, and the demands of daily life.
FIRST DAYS
Move, hydrate, and control discomfort.
Early walking is generally encouraged. Patients receive procedure-specific instructions for wound care, medications, diet, and warning signs.
RETURN TO ROUTINE
Activity advances in stages.
Desk work may be possible relatively soon for some patients, while strenuous jobs and heavy lifting require a more individualized timeline.
FOLLOW-UP
The recovery plan evolves with you.
Follow-up is used to assess healing, answer questions, and guide a safe return to unrestricted activity.
WHY DR. ZADEH
A focused consultation before a focused operation.
Hernia repair is common surgery, but it should never feel like assembly-line surgery.
Board-certified surgical judgment
The decision begins with whether surgery is actually needed and which repair is appropriate.
Open, laparoscopic & robotic options
Multiple approaches allow the operation to be selected around the patient rather than forcing every patient into one technique.
Continuity of care
Clear expectations before surgery and direct follow-up afterward are part of the treatment, not an afterthought.
HERNIA SURGEON IN SHERMAN OAKS
Hernia care for patients across Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
Dr. Michael A. Zadeh evaluates groin, belly-button, abdominal-wall, prior-incision, and recurrent hernias at Zadeh Surgical in Sherman Oaks. The visit focuses on whether surgery is needed and which open, laparoscopic, or robotic repair best fits the patient.
Convenient for patients in: Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Tarzana, Van Nuys, and surrounding Los Angeles communities
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Common questions about hernia surgery.
Can a hernia heal on its own?
In adults, an established abdominal-wall hernia generally does not close by itself. Symptoms can fluctuate, and not every hernia requires immediate repair, which is why observation can be reasonable in selected patients.
Is robotic hernia surgery better than laparoscopic or open surgery?
Not automatically. Robotic, laparoscopic, and open approaches each have advantages in selected situations. The most useful question is which approach is most appropriate for the specific hernia and patient.
Will I need mesh?
Many adult hernia repairs use mesh, particularly when reinforcement can reduce tension and recurrence. Some hernias can reasonably be repaired without mesh. The recommendation depends on hernia type, size, tissue quality, prior repairs, and other individual factors.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery varies. Walking usually begins immediately, while return to work, lifting, exercise, and unrestricted activity depend on the operation and the patient’s occupation and baseline activity.
What causes a hernia to come back?
The chance of recurrence—a hernia returning—can be influenced by the original hernia, repair technique, tissue strength, wound problems, smoking, obesity, long-term coughing or straining, and other factors. A hernia that returns should be evaluated with the prior operation in mind.
HERNIA CONSULTATION · SHERMAN OAKS
If a hernia is changing what you can comfortably do, it is worth understanding your options.
14658 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 · (818) 789-1111