Hernia surgery in Plymouth – a patient guide

Understanding types of hernia

A hernia develops when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the surrounding muscle wall or tissue.

Hernias are most commonly found between your chest and hips, particularly in the abdominal area. They take the form of a lump which you should be able to push back in place and which usually disappears when you lie down. The lump may reappear if you cough or strain. Where the hernia is located indicates the type of hernia it is.

Groin hernias (inguinal and femoral)

As the name suggests, this type of hernia is located in the groin area. There are two types of groin hernia: inguinal and femoral. An inguinal hernia occurs when fatty tissue or part of your bowel pokes through into your groin area. It is the most common type of hernia and mainly affects men. It is most commonly associated with ageing and repeated strain on the abdominal wall.

Femoral hernias are less common but present in similar ways to inguinal hernias. They take their name as they occur in the femoral canal which is located in the groin area. Femoral hernias are more common in women. Please note, femoral hernia repair is not available at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth.

Abdominal wall hernias (umbilical and incisional)

An umbilical hernia occurs when part of the intestine pushes through a weak spot near the belly button. They’re more common in babies and young children but can and do occur in adults too. Symptoms include a bulge, swelling, pain, or redness around the belly button area, and nausea or vomiting in the event the hernia becomes strangulated.

Incisional hernias occur at the site of a previous abdominal surgery. They usually develop where the muscle around the original incision is either weak or failed to heal properly. Symptoms of an incisional hernia include pain, swelling, or a feeling of pressure near the original surgical site, and difficulty passing stool or gas. Please note, incisional hernia repair is not available at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth.

If any of these types of hernias become strangulated, emergency medical assistance must be sought immediately.

Hernia treatment options in Plymouth

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth, the following hernia treatment options are available:

Keyhole hernia surgery: Also called laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, keyhole surgery is when a surgeon uses an instrument called a laparoscope (a thin telescope with a light). The laparoscope (and any tools the surgeon needs) is passed through the abdominal wall via small incisions. The weak area of muscle is then repaired with a mesh that is either glued, stapled, or stitched back in place.

Open hernia repair surgery: During open hernia repair surgery, your hernia surgeon will make an incision over your hernia. He or she will then push the protruding tissue back through the muscle. This area of weakened muscle will have mesh either glued or stapled to it before the wound is closed with glue, staples, or stitches.

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Hernia success rates in Plymouth

In 2024, Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth carried out 94 successful hernia repair surgeries.

We pride ourselves on putting our patients at the heart of everything we do and strive to deliver high-quality healthcare experiences from the moment you’re booked in.

To support this, in June 2025, 98% of day-case patients at Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth reported their treatment as being ‘Good’.

Private vs NHS hernia repair in Plymouth

It’s a question almost everyone needing healthcare will ask themselves: should I have my treatment on the NHS and likely face long waiting times or should I pay and have it done sooner?

At the end of the day, only you really know the answer but here are a few things to consider before deciding:

Location of treatment: It’s no secret that NHS patients often face lengthy waiting lists. If you’re leaning towards choosing the NHS for your treatment, it might be worth doing some research about patient choice. If you’re willing to travel for your treatment, you may be able to have your surgery sooner.

Accessibility of private care: Nowadays, private healthcare has become much more accessible with the dawn of finance options. At Practice Plus Group, you can spread the cost of your surgery over 12 months at 0% APR or over 24-60 months at 14.9% APR.

Shorter waiting times: One of the main benefits of private healthcare is the shorter waiting times. If you have the financial means, hernia repair surgery at Practice Plus Group Hospital Plymouth is available just 4-6 weeks after your initial consultation.

Hernia surgery waiting times in Plymouth

According to the My Planned Care site, the waiting time for general surgery at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is currently 17 weeks (eight weeks for a consultation, a further nine weeks for treatment).²

(Practice Plus Group is not responsible for and does not control the content displayed on external websites.)

At Practice Plus Group Hospital, Shepton Mallet, the waiting time for hernia surgery is much shorter. In fact, you’ll have your surgery just 4-6 weeks after your initial consultation. In terms of availability for the consultation itself, this usually takes place within 2 weeks of your booking enquiry.

How much does hernia surgery in Plymouth cost?

In the table below, we’ve put together a few stats and figures to give you an idea of what to expect to pay for hernia repair surgery at other private healthcare providers in Plymouth.

Choosing your Plymouth hernia surgeon

Choosing the right hernia repair surgeon for you shouldn’t be a tough process. And with our first-class healthcare professionals, you won’t be looking for long. To help you narrow down your search, use our website to filter by treatment, location, and language to browse our Plymouth-based consultants.

You can also cycle through the carousel below to view and select available consultants.

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  Chris Briggs

  General surgery

  Practices at:

  • Plymouth

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  Matthew Bowles

  General surgery

  Practices at:

  • Plymouth

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  Simeon Brundell

  General surgery

  Practices at:

  • Plymouth

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Why choose Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth for your hernia operation?

This one’s easy to answer: because we put our patients at the heart of everything we do. From our transparent pricing to our top-quality healthcare professionals, providing you with the very best healthcare experience possible is our number one priority.

• Facilities – We have 10 hospitals and surgical centres dotted across the UK, so you’re unlikely to ever be too far from a Practice Plus Group facility. Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth (previously known as Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre) boasts a 100% clean record for hospital acquired infections. We’re rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and are open 6am-9pm Monday-Friday and 6am-6pm Saturdays.
• Success rates –
• Care – Our commitment to quality healthcare means we strive to ensure all our patients receive the best healthcare experience possible. But don’t just take our word for it! Take a look at the words of some of our Emersons Green hernia repair patients below.