Hernia Surgery Specialist
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M. Shane Dawson, MD, FACS
General Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery & Robotic Surgery located in Upper East Side, New York, NY
If you need hernia surgery, you might feel a degree of anxiety, which is perfectly normal. Through his practice in New York’s Upper East Side, M. Shane Dawson, MD, FACS, routinely performs hernia surgery and can help you understand what to expect from the procedure and the recovery process. Hernia surgery can improve your quality of life and prevent worsening symptoms, so don’t delay. Request a consultation at the New York City office today online or over the phone.
Hernia Surgery Q & A
What is a hernia?
Simply put, a hernia is a structural defect which causes your organs or a section of fatty tissue to protrude from the muscles and connective tissues that normally hold it in place. There are multiple types of hernias.
Inguinal hernias
These hernias occur when your intestine or bladder pushes partially through your abdominal wall or intrudes into the inguinal canal in your groin.
Incisional or ventral hernias
An incisional hernia happens when your intestine protrudes through your abdominal wall at the site of previous surgery.
Femoral hernias
A femoral hernia develops when part of your intestine bulges into the canal that houses your femoral artery and vein in the upper portion of your thigh.
Umbilical hernias
An umbilical hernia occurs when part of your small intestine squeezes through your abdominal wall.
What causes hernias?
All hernias are brought on by a combination of pressure and an area of weakened or breached fascia or muscle tissue. In some cases, a congenital issue leads to muscle weakness, and a hernia is highly likely.
In other instances, a hernia occurs when you create undue pressure in your abdomen. Examples include
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Persistent sneezing or coughing
- Lifting a heavy object with improper technique or inadequate strength
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Poor nutrition
As you can see, there are some cases in which you can prevent a hernia and others where a hernia is outside of your control.
How is a hernia repaired?
Small hernias that aren’t causing significant symptoms may not need immediate treatment. A hernia cannot resolve on its own, however, and will worsen over time. Before symptoms become troublesome, it’s time to schedule an appointment at the office of M. Shane Dawson, MD, FACS, to discuss options for surgical repair.
When possible, Dr. Dawson prefers to perform hernia repair laparoscopically or robotically instead of through a traditional open surgical approach. This approach requires only a few small incisions to gain access to the surgical site. A thin tube equipped with a light and camera provides real-time imaging to guide the procedure.
Dr. Dawson is able to “see” the hernia and surrounding tissues. He carefully returns the displaced organ to its proper position and then repairs the weakened muscle or connective tissues.
Some hernia repairs can benefit from robotic surgery, a technique that allows Dr. Dawson to achieve more precision and flexibility than could ever be possible with the human hand alone. While he remains in control of the surgical system at all times, a robotic arm actually performs the surgery.
To explore hernia repair surgery in more detail, request a consultation at the office of M. Shane Dawson, MD, FACS, today. You can do so online, or call to speak with a member of the administrative staff.
