Patient-Friendly Explanation

An incisional hernia happens when part of the bowel pushes through a weak spot in a scar from earlier surgery. It shows up as a bulge near the scar that may ache when you cough, lift or strain. Small ones are watched, while larger or painful ones are usually repaired.

Clinical Definition

Incisional hernia complicates around one to fifteen per cent of laparoscopic bariatric procedures, most often after sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass, when a trocar or extraction site fails to close. Risk factors include raised intra-abdominal pressure, smoking, diabetes, rapid weight loss with loss of abdominal wall support, and previous abdominal surgery. Repair may be laparoscopic or open with mesh reinforcement and is usually delayed until weight has stabilised.

Why It Matters

A bulge after bariatric surgery is not merely cosmetic, because a hernia can strangulate and become an emergency. NuLifeCare Singapore reviews patients regularly after surgery so complications are caught early.