Umbilical Hernia

Umbilical hernias can occur at any age. An umbilical hernia is a protrusion of the “belly button” and results from a weakness in the abdominal wall muscle sheath.

The defect is often very small and so the hernia is not always reducible. When the defect is larger it may be possible to push the hernia back in when you lie down.

Umbilical hernias can occasionally strangulate and need urgent surgery but this is uncommon.

Repairing the hernia is usually straight forward and patients can return to work very quickly, usually within a couple of days of surgery. If the defect is larger then a small mesh may be needed behind the muscle sheath.