Comprehensive Hernia Center

At the Comprehensive Hernia Center at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), you receive state-of-the-art hernia care. We treat all types of abdominal wall hernias, from routine to the most complex cases. Our team specializes in minimally invasive, robotic, and open surgical techniques. We work with you to design a hernia care plan based on your specific needs.

Types of Hernias We Treat

Hernias can develop due to increased pressure in the abdomen, prior surgeries, or a natural weakness in the abdominal wall. The most common types include:

• Inguinal hernias (in the lower abdomen, near the groin)
• Umbilical hernias (in the abdominal wall near the belly button)
• Incisional hernias (a scar from past abdominal surgery)
• Recurrent hernias (a hernia that develops again after a previous repair)
• Femoral hernias (in the upper thigh, near the groin)
• Lumbar, obturator, and Spigelian hernias (more rare and develop in less common areas of the abdominal wall or pelvis)

Why Choose Westchester Medical Center for Hernia Care

Dedicated Hernia Care at Your Convenience

You have weekly appointments in a specialized hernia clinic within our state-of-the-art ambulatory care pavilion. A dedicated coordinator helps schedule your visits, surgery, and recovery for a smooth, well-organized experience.

Early Recovery After Hernia Surgery (ERAS)

Our team has expertise in treating patients of all ages with hernias. Our ERAS methods help you return to work and daily life quickly, using techniques tailored to your needs and lifestyle. We have specialists in pain management that work closely with us to minimize discomfort and enhance your recovery.

Expertise in Complex and High-Risk Hernias

We are a referral center for difficult hernia cases, including patients declined by other hospitals. Our team treats immunosuppressed or critically ill patients, massive, recurrent, or incarcerated hernias, and post-transplant ventral hernias needing customized surgical plans. This means you can receive advanced care here, even if other centers could not offer you treatment.

Advanced Reconstruction and Personalized Care

We offer tension-free closure using open or minimally invasive component separation, based on your anatomy and history. Preoperative botulinum toxin injections can reduce muscle tension and improve abdominal wall flexibility. We create individualized pre- and postoperative plans to achieve the best function and appearance, even for high-risk patients. This ensures you get a repair designed for lasting strength, comfort, and results that support your lifestyle.

A Dedicated Hernia Program

• We offer weekly appointments available for patients with hernias in a specialized clinic inside expansive office space that is part of a state-of-the art ambulatory care pavilion.
• We provide a dedicated coordinator for all patients with hernias for ease of scheduling office visits, surgery, and recovery.

Early Recovery After Hernia Surgery (ERAS)

• We have pain management specialists that help with advanced modes of management including pain catheters and image guided nerve blocks in order to limit the need for narcotics and urinary catheters, while enhancing the speed of your recovery.

Expertise in Complex and High-Risk Hernias

• We are a referral center for complex and high-risk abdominal wall hernias.
• We operate on patients typically declined by other institutions.
• We have extensive experience with:
  • immunosuppressed and critically ill patients,
  • massive, recurrent, or incarcerated hernias,
  • and post-transplant ventral hernias requiring tailored surgical planning.

Advanced Reconstruction Techniques

• We specialize in tension-free closure using:
  • Open and minimally invasive component separation
  • Anterior and posterior approaches based on anatomy and history
• We offer preoperative botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to:
  • Reduce lateral wall tension
  • Enhance abdominal wall compliance
• We have a special emphasis on:
  • Individualized pre- and postoperative planning
  • Optimal functional and cosmetic outcomes, even in high-risk cases

Resources

For more information, please see the links below from the American College of Surgeons (ACS).