Umbilical hernias can be the result of a congenital weakness, a pre-existing dilatation of the natural umbilical ring, occupational stress, obesity, collagen deficiency, or previous surgery in the area of the umbilicus. Certain lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of an umbilical hernia as well, such as smoking and over eating. The vast majority of umbilical hernias are limited in size, and are therefore repairable with a simple mesh patch device, the Proceed Ventral Patch. This device is constructed mostly of absorbable components, a permanent lightweight mesh foundation, and features attributes which make repair with this device simple, fast, and most importantly highly reliable with minimal residual scar tissue.
Umbilical hernia repairs are usually performed as an outpatient, requiring about 30 minutes to complete. General or spinal anesthesia is the most common choice in these procedures.
Patients are free to return to normal leisure and work activities as soon as the minimal postoperative discomfort dissipates. This can be in as little as a few days.