Hernia Surgery in Rockville, MD

Expert robotic and minimally invasive hernia repair. Same-day discharge, opioid-free recovery, and hernia recurrence rates under 1%.

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Illustration depicting a man before and after robotic hernia surgery
A complex abdominal wall hernia

Advanced Hernia Repair With Less Downtime and Less Pain

A hernia is a weakness in the abdominal wall or groin that lets internal tissue push through. It shows up as a bulge, it tends to get bigger over time, and it will not go away on its own. Most people put up with it longer than they should because they assume surgery means weeks on the couch. It does not have to.

Most of our hernia patients go home the same day. Pain is managed without opioids. And full activity, including exercise and physical work, is typically back on the table within four to six weeks.

Types of Hernias We Treat

We treat the full range of hernia conditions. Here is an overview of each type and how we handle them.

Patient with a ventral hernia

Ventral Hernia

Ventral hernias come through weak points in the abdominal wall. Weight fluctuations and chronic physical strain are common contributors to this type of hernia. We repair most of these with robotic-assisted techniques and mesh reinforcement to restore abdominal wall strength.

Patient with an inguinal hernia

Inguinal Hernia

The most common hernia, and the one we see most often. An inguinal hernia develops when abdominal contents push through a weak spot in the groin. It happens more frequently in men and usually results from a natural weakness present from birth combined with gradual wear on the tissue over time. We usually repair these robotically, restoring normal anatomy and reinforcing the area with mesh for long-term durability.

Patient with an umbilical hernia

Umbilical Hernia

This is the most common type of ventral hernia. It occurs at or near the belly button and can be present from birth or develop later as the abdominal wall weakens. We repair the weakness in the abdominal wall robotically and reinforce with mesh when needed to reduce the chance of it coming back.

Patient with an incisional hernia

Incisional Hernia

These develop at the site of a prior surgical incision and tend to be more complex than other hernias. The abdominal wall has already been compromised by the original surgery, and a simple closure is often not enough. Many incisional hernias require robotic-assisted abdominal wall reconstruction with mesh reinforcement to rebuild the wall and hold up over time.

Patient with a hiatal hernia

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia happens when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest. It often shows up as reflux, chest discomfort, or difficulty swallowing. Our approach is minimally invasive and focused on restoring normal diaphragm function. Unlike most abdominal wall hernias, hiatal repairs do not routinely involve mesh. We rely on precise surgical technique instead, which avoids the risk of mesh eroding into the esophagus.

Our Approach to Hernia Repair

We tailor the surgical approach, materials, and recovery plan for hernia repairs to each patient rather than running everyone through the same procedure.

The Right Technique for the Right Patient

We do not pick one technique and apply it across the board. The decision between robotic, laparoscopic, and open repair is made individually for every patient based on the hernia’s anatomy, any prior surgical history, and the overall complexity of the case. Our surgeons are trained and experienced in all three, so the approach fits the patient rather than the other way around.

Robotic

The robotic platform gives the surgeon enhanced 3D visualization, greater precision, and more control in tight spaces, all of which matter when the goal is a durable repair with minimal tissue disruption.

Laparoscopic

A good fit for straightforward hernias with favorable anatomy, particularly first-time repairs where a minimally invasive approach can get the job done efficiently.

Open

Still the right call for very large or contaminated hernias, significant scar tissue from prior surgeries, or cases where direct access to the abdominal wall gives the best shot at a lasting result.

What You Should Know About Mesh

This comes up in nearly every consultation, so we address it directly.

Mesh is a well-established part of modern hernia surgery. It reinforces the repair and significantly reduces the chance of the hernia returning. The mesh we use is made from permanent, medical-grade synthetic materials that are thin, flexible, and porous. Over time, your own tissue grows into and around the mesh, incorporating it into the abdominal wall. In cases where mesh sits near internal organs, a protective barrier layer is added to prevent internal scar tissue from forming between the mesh and surrounding structures.

We have used Medtronic mesh products for the past decade across thousands of patients: Parietene mesh for ventral hernias and ProGrip self-fixating mesh for inguinal repairs. Both have extensive clinical track records.

The concerns people read about online are usually not about the mesh itself. They are about surgical judgment: choosing the right mesh, putting it in the right location (in planes like the preperitoneal or retrorectus space), and securing it properly. When those decisions are made well, mesh is one of the most reliable tools in hernia surgery.

Infographic illustrating different kinds of mesh

Bilateral and Multi-Site Hernias

If you have hernias in more than one location, we almost always repair all of them in a single operation. One of the more common situations we see is bilateral inguinal hernias combined with an umbilical hernia, all fixed in the same session through a few small incisions using the robotic platform.

One surgery means one round of anesthesia, one recovery, and one healing process instead of spacing multiple operations over weeks or months.

Patient with multiple hernias

What Your Hernia Repair Looks Like With EliteCare Surgical Specialists

Every step of the process is planned and coordinated. Here is what to expect from consultation through recovery.

01

Consultation

The first visit is about understanding your situation. Your surgeon examines you, reviews any imaging, and maps the anatomy of the hernia. By the end of that appointment, you have a clear picture of what is going on, what we recommend, and what the process will look like from that point forward.

02

Getting Ready for Surgery

Once surgery is on the calendar, we focus on getting you into the best possible shape for it. Depending on your situation, that might include guidance on nutrition to support healing, help with blood sugar management if you are diabetic or prediabetic, smoking cessation support, or conditioning recommendations to improve your recovery readiness. You also get detailed instructions on medications, fasting, and day-of logistics.

This is where our Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway starts. The goal is to set recovery in motion before you even reach the operating room.

03

Day of Surgery

You meet your surgical and anesthesia teams, review the plan one more time, and then we get to work. The repair is performed using minimally invasive robotic techniques when the clinical situation calls for it, with the focus on precision, minimal tissue disruption, and a repair that holds up long term.

For pain control, we use local and regional numbing techniques during the procedure, then acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and an abdominal binder for support afterward. That combination keeps most patients comfortable without the nausea, constipation, grogginess, and other side effects that come with opioids.

Most hernia repairs at EliteCare are outpatient. You go home the same day.

04

Recovery

  • Same day to 24 hours: Up and walking within hours. Home the same day in most cases.
  • Days 2 through 5: Back to basic daily activities.
  • Weeks 1 to 2: Many patients return to desk work.
  • Weeks 2 to 4: Gradual return to more physical work, depending on what your job requires.
  • Weeks 4 to 6: Most patients resume full activity, including exercise.

An abdominal wall binder is provided for support and comfort throughout the healing process. Follow-up is scheduled at 4 weeks, with an additional check at 6 months if needed.

Numbers We Stand Behind

Hernia Recurrence Rate
Complication Rate
Same-Day or Next-Day Discharge
Opioid-Free Recovery

When a Hernia Becomes Something More

Not every hernia is a routine fix. Some cases involve large defects, prior repairs that did not hold, mesh complications, or multiple hernias that point to a broader structural problem with the abdominal wall. When that happens, the goal shifts from repairing a single weak spot to rebuilding the abdominal wall as a whole.

That is abdominal wall reconstruction, and it is a different kind of surgery. If you are dealing with a recurrent hernia or have been told your case is too complex for a standard repair, our Abdominal Wall Reconstruction page explains how we handle those situations.

Learn About Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
  • Front view of a patient in need of a complex abdominal wall reconstruction
  • Side view of a patient in need of a complex abdominal wall reconstruction

Frequently Asked Questions About Hernia Repair Surgery

A hernia is a weakness that develops into a hole in the abdominal wall or groin that lets tissue push through. It usually shows up as a bulge that grows over time. Hernias do not heal on their own; surgical repair is the only definitive treatment.

Not immediately, no. A small hernia with minimal symptoms can sometimes be monitored. But hernias tend to get bigger and more symptomatic over time, so surgery is usually a question of when rather than if.

There are three main approaches: open, laparoscopic, and robotic. Each has advantages depending on the type and complexity of the hernia, your surgical history, and your anatomy. We are trained in all three and choose the one that fits your case.

For most groin and abdominal wall hernias, yes. Mesh reinforces the repair and brings down recurrence rates significantly. We individualize the type and placement for each patient. Some hernias, particularly hiatal hernias, do not routinely require mesh.

We use local and regional numbing techniques during surgery, then acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and an abdominal binder afterward. 90% of our patients recover without any opioid medication. That means less nausea, less fatigue, and a clearer head during recovery.

Hernia surgery is generally low risk. Our complication rates are 1% or less. As with any surgery, risks can include bleeding, infection, fluid collection, recurrence, or discomfort. The specifics depend on the hernia, the patient, and the technique.

In our practice, hernia recurrence rates are under 1%. Recurrence can happen and is usually related to a combination of factors: hernia size, tissue quality, prior repairs, and how the body heals. Modern techniques and mesh have made recurrence far less common than it used to be.

Most patients are up and moving the day of surgery and back to light activity within days. Desk work is usually possible within one to two weeks. Full activity, including exercise and lifting, typically resumes at four to six weeks.

Experience and range. Hernia outcomes are tied to how many repairs a surgeon has done, how many different techniques they can draw from, and whether they have the training to handle complex cases that go beyond a standard repair. Our surgeons are trained in robotic, laparoscopic, and open approaches and have backgrounds in abdominal wall reconstruction, which means they can match the repair to the problem rather than using the same technique for every patient.

Yes. We accept most major plans, including Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield/CareFirst, Cigna, Medicare, TriCare, UnitedHealthcare, MedStar Family Choice, and Maryland Medicaid programs. Cash payment options are also available. For a full list, visit our Contact page or call (301) 215-0127.

Same-day and next-day appointments are available, and we welcome walk-ins. Most patients are seen within 24 hours of reaching out.