How Long Does It Take to Recover From an Inguinal Hernia Repair?
It takes between 1 and 2 weeks to recover from a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the most common type of surgical hernia repair. The less common open inguinal hernia repair takes around 3 weeks to recover from.
Thanks to the minimally invasive nature of this surgery, it is most often performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home on the same day. According to WebMD patients can return to light activity after 1 or 2 weeks, but strenuous activity is best avoided until at least a month after the surgery.
Open inguinal hernia repairs are less common nowadays according to Hernia Solutions, in part because they are more invasive and take longer to recover from. It takes about 3 weeks to recover from an open repair, and strenuous activity should be avoided for at least a month and a half. WebMD advises that postsurgery restrictions are also more strict with an open repair, precluding activities such as driving for about 2 weeks.
