Hernia Specialist
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Michael Sutker, MD
Bariatric, General & Laparoscopic Surgeon located in Dallas, TX & McKinney, TX
When you frequently lift heavy objects or strain when using the bathroom, your risk for developing a painful hernia increases. At his offices in Dallas and McKinney, Texas, Michael Sutker, MD, offers comprehensive surgical care for a variety of hernia types, including inguinal hernias, umbilical hernias, and incisional hernias. Dr. Sutker uses the da Vinci® robotic surgery technology to repair weak spots in your muscles and reduce your risk for additional hernias. Call the office of Michael Sutker, MD, PA, nearest you or request a hernia evaluation through the online booking system today.
Hernia Q&A
What is a hernia?
A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in your muscles or soft tissues. Weak spots in your muscles or tissue can develop from:
- Obesity
- Constipation
- Chronic cough
- Heavy lifting
You can also develop a hernia following an injury or a surgical procedure.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Symptoms of a hernia depend on where the hernia occurs. While a hernia can develop anywhere in your body, the abdomen is the most common location for a hernia.
This type of hernia is known as an umbilical hernia and occurs when a part of your intestine or intra abdominal fat pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. This can cause a noticeable bulge near your belly button.
If the tissue herniates, its blood supply is cut off (strangulation) and the tissue can die off. This can lead to severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Other types of hernias include:
Inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernias occur when part of your intestines push through your abdominal muscles, creating a visible bulge in your groin.
Ventral or incisional hernia
Ventral or incisional hernias can develop following a surgery. This type of hernia occurs in the center of your abdomen near the incision and can cause persistent pain. If not treated, incisional hernias can cause complications, including an intestinal obstruction.
While hernias are generally harmless, strangulation and intestinal obstruction can be a serious complication. You may also find it difficult to stay physically active because of the bulge and persistent pain of a hernia.
How is a hernia treated?
Hernias won’t go away on their own. When your hernia symptoms begin to interfere with your quality of life, Dr. Sutker can perform minimally invasive surgery to repair it.
Umbilical hernia surgery
Surgery to repair umbilical hernias involves da Vinci robot-assisted surgery or open surgical techniques. Dr. Sutker makes an incision near your belly button to reposition your organs and close the opening in your abdomen.
If you have a large hernia, he may use mesh to repair the hole and reduce your risk for an additional hernia.
Inguinal hernia surgery
To repair an inguinal hernia, Dr. Sutker uses laparoscopic techniques and the assistance of the da Vinci robotic surgery system. He makes a small incision to access the hernia and move your intestines back into position. He repairs the hole in your abdominal wall with plastic or mesh.
Ventral or incisional hernia surgery
Dr. Sutker uses open or laparoscopic surgical techniques to repair the hernia and reduce your risk for further hernias and other complications.
Following hernia repair surgery, you can expect to resume some of your usual activities within two weeks. Dr. Sutker continues to monitor your healing progress and can determine when it’s safe for you to exercise and engage in other strenuous activities without increasing your risk for another hernia.
To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for a painful hernia, call the office of Michael Sutker, MD, PA, nearest you or book an appointment online today.
4 Important Facts About Hernias
Hernia Repair in Dallas, TX
When an organ breaks through an opening in your muscle or tissue, it’s known as a hernia. Most hernias result from muscle weakness and strain due to injury, surgery, and chronic cough. Hernias are typically the result of increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. Risk factors include obesity, chronic cough, constipation, straining to urinate, and repetitive heavy lifting. Hernias can occur in many areas of the body, including the upper thigh and groin, but are most commonly found in the abdominal area. Though rarely life-threatening on their own, hernias will not go away on their own and can continue to grow and cause pain, putting you at risk for further complications. Dr. Sutker is dedicated to providing patients like you with the relief you deserve through careful, comprehensive hernia repair, allowing you to get back to living life to the fullest.
Umbilical Hernia Repair
An umbilical hernia happens when abdominal cavity tissue, such as a section of intestine or omentum (intra-abdominal fat), penetrates a weak spot in your abdominal wall near your belly button. This breach produces a pouch or bulge in the abdomen. Adults who are overweight and recently pregnant women are commonly susceptible to umbilical hernias. A dangerous risk with this hernia is strangulation, in which the herniated tissue’s blood flow is cut off. Strangulation includes symptoms like severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. Herniated tissue can die if it’s strangulated, and you should call us for medical attention if you suspect it’s occurring.
Surgical Repair for an Umbilical Hernia
Surgical repair fixes umbilical hernias by putting the patient under general anesthesia and performing either open hernia repair or robotic-assisted laparoscopic hernia repair. In an open repair, the doctor makes an incision close to your belly button for access to the hernia over the bulge or pouch. In laparoscopic repair, the doctor makes several much smaller incisions and uses a long, thin tube with a camera and light to perform the surgery. Larger hernias require placement of mesh to buttress the repair and decrease the chance of recurrence. Both types of surgery have the same goal: to gently move the herniated tissue back into place and sew the hole closed in the abdominal wall.
Inguinal Hernia Surgery
Surgery is performed laparoscopically with the da Vinci robot via three small incisions using a camera and small instruments. The contents of the hernia and the hernia sac are reduced back into the abdominal cavity and put in their correct position. The hole in the tissue is repaired with a piece of mesh or plastic. Your body will incorporate and scar the mesh into place. It is almost always permanent.
Recovery from Hernia Surgery
Recovery from hernia surgery is typically very rapid. Most patients are 80% recovered within 2 weeks. It may take 4-8 weeks for you to return to normal- pain and soreness to completely resolve, appetite to return to normal, and to feel energetic. Patients typically stay off of work 3-10 days. You will return to a normal life after you have recovered from surgery. You will return to eating a normal diet and engaging in your usual activities. Patients are encouraged to avoid strenuous activities for about 2 weeks after surgery until their post-operative appointments to prevent a recurrence of the hernia. The goal of surgery is to allow you to resume your activities without restrictions.
Ventral or Incisional Hernia Repair in Dallas, TX
Ventral or incisional hernias tend to develop in the center of the abdominal area following a prior surgical incision. They typically present as a bulge near the incision site that can vary from small to very large and cause sharp pain and discomfort during physical activity. Some ventral hernias can lead to intestinal obstruction if left unchecked. Like most hernia repair procedures, your surgeon may recommend either open or laparoscopic surgery to repair a ventral or incisional hernia depending on your unique circumstances. Laparoscopic procedures generally entail shorter recovery times but are not recommended in cases where the hernia is exceptionally large or is surrounded by excessive prior scar tissue. Dr. Sutker specializes in repair of complex and recurrent hernias with both open and robotic-assisted laparoscopic techniques.
