HERniaHernia and abdominal wall care for women · Melbourne

HERnia / Hernias after surgery

After surgery

Hernias after a caesarean or other abdominal surgery

Every cut through the abdominal wall heals with a scar, and a scar is never quite as strong as the tissue it replaces. Sometimes it gives way, months or years later. This is an incisional hernia.

Where they occur in women

Women carry a particular set of abdominal scars. The commonest are:

  • Caesarean section scars, usually a low horizontal incision just above the pubic bone. Hernias here are uncommon, but they do occur, often at one end of the scar.
  • Laparoscopy (keyhole) port sites, most often at the navel, after gynaecological procedures, gallbladder removal and others. A small hernia at the navel after keyhole surgery is one of the commonest incisional hernias of all.
  • Midline incisions, the vertical scar used for hysterectomy, ovarian surgery and bowel surgery. These carry the highest risk of hernia of any abdominal incision.

How they show themselves

Usually as a bulge in or near the scar, more obvious when you stand, cough or strain, and smaller or gone when you lie down. There may be an ache, a dragging feeling, or nothing at all. A hernia after a low caesarean incision can be hidden by overlying skin and fat, and is sometimes found only on a scan done for groin or pelvic pain.

Repair

Incisional hernias vary enormously, from a fingertip defect at the navel to a large hernia across several old scars. Small ones are usually straightforward to repair with mesh. Larger or recurrent ones may need a planned reconstruction of the abdominal wall. The choice between open, keyhole and robotic approaches depends on the size and position of the hernia, the previous operations, and your own health. My practice site explains ventral and incisional hernias and, for the larger ones, abdominal wall reconstruction.

A few things improve the chance of a lasting repair whatever the operation: not smoking, good control of diabetes, and, where weight is an issue, reaching a stable weight beforehand. I will talk with you about any of these that apply to you, and about how much difference they are likely to make.

When there is also loose skin

After pregnancies and significant weight loss, an incisional hernia often sits beneath an overhang of skin, which can itself cause rashes and discomfort. In selected women it makes sense to deal with both together. See hernia repair and abdominoplasty.

Questions women ask me

My caesarean was years ago. Can a hernia appear now?

Yes. Incisional hernias can appear many years after the original operation, often after weight gain, another pregnancy or a period of heavy straining.

Is a hernia at my belly button after keyhole surgery an incisional hernia?

Usually, yes. The navel is the commonest site for the larger port used in keyhole surgery, and port-site hernias are a recognised, usually small, type of incisional hernia.

Seeing me

HERnia is the name I give to the care of women with hernias and abdominal wall problems. Appointments are made through my practice, and consultations are in Balwyn North, Coburg and Williamstown. A referral from your GP is needed for a specialist consultation to attract a Medicare rebate.

Request an appointmentCall (+61) 493 091 911

Written and reviewed by Prof. Ramana Balasubramaniam, general surgeon, Melbourne. Last reviewed 31 October 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot replace an examination. If you have a painful, hard lump that will not go back, with vomiting or severe pain, go to your nearest emergency department.