My Intuitive
Events
Contact Us
United States

Hernia Repair Surgery

Learn about a minimally invasive option for hernia surgery. Common hernia procedures include ventral (abdominal) and inguinal (groin) hernia repair.

Ventral hernia repair overview
See how a surgeon completes a ventral hernia repair procedure using da Vinci surgical instruments.
Oct 31, 2025 | 00:01:31
  • Ventral hernia repair overview
    See how a surgeon completes a ventral hernia repair procedure using da Vinci surgical instruments.
    Oct 31, 2025 | 00:01:31
  • Inguinal hernia repair overview
    See how a surgeon completes an inguinal hernia repair procedure using da Vinci surgical instruments.
    Oct 31, 2025 | 00:01:29

What exactly is a hernia, and how is it repaired?

A hernia happens when tissue pushes through a weak spot in your muscles, often causing pain or pressure. The most common types are in the belly (ventral hernia) and groin (inguinal hernia).

Hernias are common in men and women and don't go away or improve over time. But they can be fixed with surgery.

As many as 1 million hernia repairs take place each year in the U.S1 and it is estimated that 350,000 ventral2 and 800,000 inguinal3 hernia repairs are performed in the U.S. each year. Hernias may be painful, especially as the opening gets bigger and the muscles and tissues become inflamed. But even painless hernias can become a problem.

This page explains da Vinci surgery and how to find a physician who offers da Vinci hernia repair.

87%
less recurrence of ventral hernias with da Vinci robotic surgery vs laparoscopic repair at 2 years4
51%
less recurrence of inguinal hernias with da Vinci surgery vs laparoscopic repair at ≥2 years5
68%
less 30-day acute postoperative pain with da Vinci robotic surgery compared to open inguinal repair5
72%
less 30-day surgical site infection with da Vinci robotic surgery vs open ventral repair4

Types of hernia repair surgeries

A ventral hernia is in the belly area, while an inguinal hernia is found in the groin. During hernia repair surgery, your surgeon carefully pulls any bulging tissue back where it belongs. Then, they close the weak spot in the muscle with stitches or special thread called suture. To keep the area strong and lower the chance of the hernia coming back, the surgeon usually places a piece of mesh over the repaired spot. The mesh acts like a patch, giving the muscle extra support as it heals.6,7

Surgeons can perform hernia repair surgery using a traditional open approach or minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery requires a large incision (cut) in your belly long enough for the surgeon to see inside and use hand-held instruments.

Minimally invasive surgery allows your surgeon to repair your hernia through a few small cuts. You may recover faster and have less pain. The two types of minimally invasive surgery are laparoscopy and da Vinci surgery. In laparoscopic surgery, surgeons use long-handled tools while viewing magnified images from the laparoscope (camera) on a video screen.

Over 25 Years of da Vinci hernia repairs

Surgeons have used da Vinci systems to perform robotic-assisted surgery for over 25 years. Da Vinci surgery is the most common way surgeons perform many operations, including lung and prostate surgeries.8 People usually spend less time in the hospital after da Vinci surgery compared to open surgery, which means patients can get back to what matters most,9

Da Vinci hernia procedures are performed through a few small incisions about the size of your fingertip. Incisions are made on the belly. Your surgeon sits at a console near you in the operating room. Through the console, the surgeon controls a camera and the instruments to perform your surgery.

Through a 3D high-definition camera, your surgeon can see your anatomy better than with the human eye alone. Your surgeon uses tiny, wristed instruments that move in more ways than the human hand.

Da Vinci robotic surgery outcomes

According to recent studies and data analysis on hernia repair, da Vinci surgery shows favorable outcomes including reduced prescription pain medication for inguinal hernia repair compared to open,10,11 fewer postoperative complications compared to open,10,12-15 and shorter hospital stay compared to open.10,13,14,16

Every surgeon's experience is different. Be sure to talk with your surgeon about the surgical outcomes they deliver using the da Vinci system. For example, ask about:

  • Length of hospital stay
  • Return to work timeline
  • Transfusion and/or blood loss
  • Prescription pain medication
  • Length of operation

There are additional surgical outcomes you may want to talk about with your doctor. Please ask to discuss all important outcomes.

It’s important to remember that Intuitive does not provide medical advice. After discussing all options, only you and your doctor can determine whether surgery with da Vinci is appropriate for your situation. You should always ask about your surgeon’s training, experience, and patient outcomes.

See Disclosures and Important Safety Information.
Patient consult about hernia options
Find a physician

Additional resources

Da Vinci system overview

Learn more about da Vinci system technology and more about robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.

Learn more

What to expect

Explore what happens on the day of surgery with the da Vinci system and tips for planning and preparation.

Learn more

Ventral hernia surgery brochure

Get further detail about ventral hernia surgery options in our brochure designed for patients and their families

Download

Inguinal hernia surgery brochure

Get further detail about inguinal hernia surgery options in our brochure designed for patients and their families.

Download

Types of surgery with da Vinci systems

General surgeons perform robotic surgery using da Vinci systems in many types of procedures.

Learn more
  1. Surgical Mesh Used for Hernia Repair. FDA. Published July 12, 2023. Accessed October 8, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/implants-and-prosthetics/surgical-mesh-used-hernia-repair
  2. Smith J, Parmely JD. Ventral Hernia. StatPearls. Updated August 8, 2023. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499927/
  3. Hammoud M, Gerken J. Inguinal Hernia. PubMed. Updated August 8, 2023. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513332/
  4. Results are based on an internal meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature for robotic-assisted ventral hernia procedures published between Jan 1 2010-March 1, 2024. Data on file at Intuitive.
  5. Results are based on an internal meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature for robotic-assisted inguinal hernia procedures published between Jan 1 2010-March 1, 2024. Data on file at Intuitive.
  6. Seymour N. Inguinal Hernia | NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Published September 2019. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/inguinal-hernia
  7. Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair Information. SAGES. Published February 19, 2022. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.sages.org/publications/patient-information/patient-information-for-laparoscopic-ventral-hernia-repair-from-sages/
  8. Data on file at Intuitive. August 2024.
  9. Ricciardi R, Seshadri-Kreaden U, Yankovsky A, et al. The COMPARE Study: Comparing Perioperative Outcomes of Oncologic Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic, da Vinci Robotic, and Open Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Evidence. Ann Surg. 2025;281(5):748-763.
  10. de’Angelis, N., Schena, C.A., Moszkowicz, D. et al. Robotic surgery for inguinal and ventral hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Endosc 38, 24–46 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-023-10545-5
  11. LeBlanc K, Dickens E, Gonzalez A et al. Prospective, multicenter, pairwise analysis of robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair with open and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: early results from the Prospective Hernia Study. Hernia. 2020;24(5):1069-1081. doi: 10.1007/s10029-020-02224-4
  12. Kudsi OY, Kaoukabani G, Bou-Ayash N, Friedman A, Vallar K, Crawford AS, Gokcal F, A comparison of clinical outcomes and costs between robotic and open ventral hernia repair, The American Journal of Surgery (2023), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.01.031
  13. Bracale U, Corcione F, Neola D, Castiglioni S, Cavallaro G, Stabilini C, Botteri E, Sodo M, Imperatore N, Peltrini R. Transversus abdominis release (TAR) for ventral hernia repair: open or robotic? Short-term outcomes from a systematic review with meta-analysis. Hernia. 2021 Dec;25(6):1471-1480. doi: 10.1007/s10029-021-02487-5. Epub 2021 Sep 7. PMID: 34491460; PMCID: PMC8613152
  14. B. Pokala, P. R. Armijo, L. Flores, D. Hennings, D. Oleynikov. Minimally invasive inguinal hernia repair is superior to open: a national database review. doi.org/10.1007/s10029-019-01934-8. Received: 19 October 2018 / Accepted:26 March 2019. Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature 2019
  15. Gamagami R, Dickens E, Gonzalez A, et al. Open versus robotic assisted transabdominal preperitoneal (R-TAPP) inguinal hernia repair: a multicenter matched analysis of clinical outcomes. Hernia. 2018;22(5):827-836. doi: 10.1007/s10029-018-1769-1
  16. Bittner J, Alrefai S, Vy M, Mabe M, Del Prado P, Clingempeel N. Comparative analysis of open and robotic transversus abdominis release for ventral hernia repair. Surg Endosc. 2017;32(2):727-734. doi: 10.1007/s00464-017-5729-0

Important safety information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci® surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci surgery, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications. For Important Safety Information, including surgical risks, indications, and considerations and contraindications for use, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

For product intended use and/or indications for use, risks, cautions, and warnings and full prescribing information, refer to the associated user manual(s) or visit https://manuals.intuitivesurgical.com/market.

Individuals' outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or surgeon experience.

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only a doctor can determine whether da Vinci surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and doctors should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.

Surgeons experienced with the da Vinci system can be found using the Physician Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential or qualify the surgeons listed in the Physician Locator.

  1. Home
  3. Procedures for Patients
  5. General Surgery
  7. Hernia Repair Surgery