Trust Northern Colorado’s most experienced hernia surgery experts

Whether you need to be at your child’s graduation or back out on the trail, our team works to provide minimally invasive surgical options in Boulder, CO, to get you back on your feet quickly.

What is a Hernia?

A hernia is a bulge or protrusion of any bodily organ through an area where it doesn’t belong. Hernias are most often found in the abdominal wall. They can, however, occur anywhere in the body. Hernias are usually characterized by a visible bulge, as well as discomfort or pressure, pain when lifting, coughing or exercising, or burning/aching sensations. However, hernias can be hidden, causing symptoms such as heartburn or reflux instead of a bulge.

Hernia repair surgery is one of the most common surgical conditions treated by a general surgeon. Alpine Surgical has expertise in the treatment of all types of hernias, having performed thousands of hernia repair surgeries, including minimally invasive complex abdominal wall reconstructions.

The common types of hernias include:

Inguinal hernia – occurs in the groin where ovarian and testicular ligaments, as well as other internal structures, pass through the abdominal wall. These may be acquired (wear and tear) or congenital (remnants left over from birth).

Umbilical hernia – occurs near the belly button where the umbilical cord once passed through the abdominal wall.

Epigastric hernia – similar to an umbilical hernia, these occur higher up on the abdomen between the navel and the chest. Incisional hernia – develops at the site of a previous surgical incision.

Ventral hernia – these hernias can occur anywhere in the abdominal wall.

Femoral Hernia – occurs just below the groin and may appear similar to an inguinal hernia. It occurs where blood vessels and nerves pass through the groin into the leg.

Hiatal hernia – occurs when part of the stomach moves into the chest through the diaphragm. Patients may not see or feel a bulge because the hernia is inside the abdominal or chest cavity. These hernias are commonly associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and intestinal blockages.

Less common or special types of hernias include:

• Spigelian hernia – these occur in the abdominal wall just outside the border of the rectus or “six-pack” muscles.
• Pediatric hernia – caused by an abdominal wall defect that fails to close after birth. These are repaired by traditional means without mesh. Children generally recover quickly from their surgery.
• Sports hernia – a unique type of hernia where a visible bulge or a tear in the abdominal wall is not present. It can be caused by sudden movements common during sports that require twisting, rapid changes of direction or high-speed kicking. When conservative measures fail to improve symptoms, surgery can sometimes be beneficial. Sports hernias are approached similarly to the repair of a traditional groin hernia.

What causes a hernia?

A hernia is typically caused by a combination of underlying muscle weakness and a contributing strain such as heavy lifting. Strains can also include coughing, obesity, pregnancy, certain types of sports, genetics (family history), difficult bowel movements and prior abdominal surgery.

What happens if I don’t treat a hernia?

An untreated hernia will not heal on their own and will likely enlarge over time, increasing the risk of complications. Untreated hernias can cause worsening pain/discomfort and begin to limit daily activities or exercise. A hernia can become incarcerated (tissue becomes trapped and cannot be pushed back into place) or strangulated (where blood supply to the trapped tissue is cut off) if it is not treated in a timely fashion.

Hernia repair surgery: A safe and effective solution

Surgery remains the only definitive treatment for most hernias. The modern surgical techniques used by the doctors at Alpine Surgical allow for minimally invasive approaches or robotic techniques that offer many benefits. Such advantages include:

• Smaller incisions – result in less visible scarring and less tissue trauma
• Less pain during recovery –patients experience less postoperative discomfort
• Faster recovery – A quicker return to normal activities and exercise
• Outpatient procedure – Patients can usually return home the same day

Hernia surgery is performed under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the size and location. Traditional repairs are completed by creating an incision over the hernia. The muscle tissue surrounding the weak area is sutured together, thus repairing the defect.

In some cases, mesh will be used to reinforce the weak area in the abdominal wall. These days, there are a multitude of mesh options. Some are made of strong, flexible plastic (polypropylene), polyester, Gore-Tex, or cadaver tissue. Some are permanent, and others are temporary. The incision(s) are closed with either dissolvable sutures or skin staples.

Complex abdominal wall reconstruction is often required for large ventral or incisional hernias where stomas may be involved. This may be performed through a minimally invasive technique such as with laparoscopy or robotics versus a traditional (open) technique. Alternatively, this may require an abdominal component separation to bridge the hole.

After the procedure is complete, you will be taken to the recovery room for a few hours to wake up from the anesthesia. You will be allowed to have something to eat. You will also be asked to get up and walk to aid in the recovery process. Most patients with small hernia repairs will be discharged quickly. If you have a large or complex hernia repair, you may be admitted to the hospital to recover.

Experience Matters

All board-certified general surgeons are skilled and capable of performing hernia surgery. However, surgeons who perform a higher volume of hernia operations typically have better outcomes than surgeons who only perform them occasionally. Studies have found that higher-volume hernia surgeons have lower rates of complications, infections, recurrence and more. At Alpine Surgical, our surgeons have performed thousands of hernia operations on patients of all ages (including minimally invasive complex abdominal wall reconstructions), making them among the most experienced hernia surgeons in the region.

How do I know if I’m a candidate?

During a consultation with one of our surgeons, we will share with you all your options to help you make an informed decision. If you decide on surgery, we will provide you with instructions to be followed prior to and after surgery, what to expect on the day of your procedure and the anticipated time frame for resuming normal activities.

To schedule a consultation, or if you have questions about hernia symptoms, treatment options or recovery, please call us at (303) 449-3642.

Getting back to normal

• Following your surgery, you may experience constipation while taking the pain medications. This is normal and should resolve itself. To aid in this process, we recommend that you use over-the-counter stool softeners and a fiber supplement. You may eat as tolerated.
• Bruising and swelling are especially common after inguinal hernia surgery. Although swelling and discoloration can be alarming, the body will return to normal within a few weeks.
• Post-surgery pain is common. Be sure to utilize the pain medication prescribed to you by your physician.
• You will be allowed to shower the day after your surgery.
• You should avoid soaking in a bath or hot tub until after your follow-up visit.
• Lifting and driving restrictions are specified on your postoperative instruction sheet.
• You can keep your regular daily activity and eat balanced, healthy meals.

Please schedule your follow-up appointment approximately 10-14 days after your surgery. Please call 303‑449‑3642 to schedule your appointment today. Alpine Surgical offers hernia surgery in Boulder, CO. Our award-winning surgeons are here to help. We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans.

Abdominal Core Health

Your abdominal core refers to the essential muscular envelope that maintains your internal organs in place. Furthermore, it controls the vital function of supporting and regulating your diaphragm, pelvic floor and flank/back musculature.

A healthy abdominal core allows you to perform your everyday tasks, maintain posture, avoid organ injury, and support your ever vital skeletal system. Without a healthy core, your body cannot function to its ideal extent.

The benefits of a health abdominal core include:

• Injury prevention – A healthy core better absorbs impact to the body and can reduce the risk of spine injury
• Organ protection – By safely holding internal organs in place, a strong abdominal wall protects vital organs
• Functional mobility – Improves your ability to walk, lift, bend and more

At Alpine Surgical, our approach to abdominal core health utilizes both surgical and nonsurgical means to best reintegrate functional mobility into your daily routine:

• Advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic as well as open surgical abdominal wall reconstructive techniques to allow you the quickest recovery possible.
• Optimizing pre-habilitation as well as post-rehabilitation services including care coordination with surgery, physical therapy, pain management and maximizing nutrition.

Abdominal Conditions We Treat

Abdominal wall defects:

• Umbilical and ventral hernias
• Incisional hernias
• Inguinal and femoral hernias

Diaphragm/Esophageal hiatus problems:

• Hiatal hernia
• Paraesophageal hernia

Other abdominal wall conditions:

• Diastasis recti Athletic pubalgia