Battle of the Bulge: Do I Need Hernia Surgery?
August 05, 2025
Ever since you noticed a bulge in your lower abdomen, you may have wondered: Do I have a hernia, and can I avoid surgery?
Men, who get the most hernias, tend to postpone the inevitable.
“And they pay a price,” says Sarah S. Wong, M.D., general and bariatric surgeon at Advanced Laparoscopic Associates in Paramus, NJ. “The bigger your hernia, the more difficult the surgery and recovery may become.”
She offers a primer on how to handle a battle with a bulge:
Ask a Doctor: Questions & Answers About Hernias
What is a hernia?
Most hernias are fatty tissue or intestines that push through a tear in your abdominal wall, Dr. Wong says. They may sprout anywhere from your belly button to your groin.
Others you can’t see. These masses occur in the diaphragm, a muscle below the lungs that helps you breathe. The first signs may be acid reflux, nausea or indigestion.
Anything that causes you to strain could be the culprit:
- Lifting heavy weights at work or at the gym
- Constipation
- Coughing or sneezing.
- Pregnancy
- Obesity
“Men tend to develop groin hernias and women umbilical hernias, the latter during pregnancy,” Dr. Wong says.
How are hernias diagnosed?
“See your primary care doctor as soon as conveniently possible,” she says.
Your primary care doctor can detect a hernia by a physical exam and may add a CT-scan or X-ray. They may refer you to a surgeon or gastroenterologist.
If you’re in severe pain, are vomiting, have extreme nausea or are struggling to breathe, head to the nearest emergency room right away.
Who is a good candidate for hernia surgery?
Patients who are young, healthy and fit are ideal candidates, Dr. Wong says.
“If you’re morbidly obese, your doctor may recommend you lose some weight, to prevent complications and risk of heart attack or stroke.”
Are there multiple hernia surgery options?
“Yes,” Dr. Wong says. “But the longer you wait, the more limited your options are.”
Smaller hernias can be repaired via tiny cuts and using a few stitches to close the gap. That’s called keyhole surgery, or minimally invasive laparoscopy.
Larger hernias may need mesh to cover and hold in the bulge. “This can require open surgery, with larger cuts and longer recuperation,” she says.
Should your small intestine become trapped in the hernia, it can be life-threatening.
The surgery itself is common and you’re likely to return home the same day, Dr. Wong says.
What is hernia surgery recovery like?
“You can walk around beginning right after surgery,” she says. “You can probably go back to work within a week. Take it easy, and lift no more than 10 to 15 pounds for the first month. You can build up from there.”
How to avoid another hernia
- Avoid gaining too much weight.
- If you’re morbidly obese, lose weight. How? Lead a healthy lifestyle by eating a diet rich in fruit and veggies and low in fat and processed foods.
- Exercise, but seek the advice of a doctor or personal trainer on what to do and how fast to progress.
But your first action?
“Get your hernia fixed,” urges Dr. Wong. “You’ll find it easier and healthier to be active.”
