Unfortunately, it is not uncommon around the world for hernia patients to be rejected for surgery for various reasons, including their age, breathing or heart problems, or sometimes because of the complexity of the hernia itself.
In our experience at the British Hernia Centre, it is very rare indeed for us to have such difficulties. Of the many tens of thousands of cases we have seen so far, we have been able to treat almost every single patient, including several who had been turned down as unsuitable by others.
Almost all hernia cases are suitable for our methods of repair and old age is not a barrier. In fact, older patients enjoy two additional benefits in that:
- The avoidance of general anaesthesia wherever possible is preferable in older patients
- The dramatically reduced loss of fitness afforded by the faster recovery time is of great value
The less invasive nature of these techniques and consequent reduction in tissue trauma means that we can repair hernias in patients with other complications that often preclude their surgery elsewhere.
What about Manual Jobs?
Heavy manual labour has always been a problem after hernia surgery. The reason is that the stresses put on the tissue by heavy work used to pull the repair apart. The repair techniques we favour remain intact regardless of the normal routine of the patient.
It matters not if the patient is involved with sport, heavy manual work, farming or whatever – our repairs remain intact. No more reliable repair has been published anywhere in the world. Also, whilst it used to be months (or more) before being able to return to heavy work after a hernia repair, it is now possible to get back to manual work within a few weeks, without pain or risk.
(See also Sports and Hernia)
Is treatment expensive?
Total costs, including all consultations, examinations, the procedure and all aftercare can be far less expensive than is often the case for less acceptable techniques elsewhere.
The much earlier return to work achieved by this technique is also a factor, in that a protracted period of recuperation is greatly reduced. Similarly, the avoidance of recurrences represents an even greater potential saving of both time and money.
By adopting a sensible pricing policy and by using the latest day-case treatment techniques, (requiring no overnight hospital stays) we can offer first-class, expert private surgical care at prices far lower than otherwise available. For patients without private health insurance, this brings quality private treatment well within reach and without long waiting lists.
Academic Reference:
Next: Recovery after our technique
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