Patient Information

   

1. Initial Consultation

This is your opportunity to meet with one of our hernia specialists. You can expect an in-depth review of your health history during this appointment. Your provider will assess your hernia and make personalized recommendations for treatment. Together, you will determine the best next steps for your lifestyle and goals. Patients traveling from outside of Eagle County should arrive the day before surgery for an in-person consultation. For lodging and information, visit our Travel to Vail page. We ask that all patients please fill out a patient health form and email it back to surgicalassociates@vailhealth.org prior to their appointment.  

2. Preoperative Rehabilitation

An individualized preoperative rehabilitation plan will be developed for you to ensure the best recovery possible. This may include smoking cessation, a visit with an endocrinologist to determine your endocrine health and meeting with a physical therapist from Howard Head Sports Medicine for some at-home exercises and stretches. 

3. Day Of Surgery

The Pre-Surgical Planning team will call you ahead of your surgery date with the time of your surgery and instructions for preparation. Patients should arrive an hour and half prior to surgery. A valet will park your car at no cost. Check in at the Admissions department. Your provider will meet you in the pre-operative area to go over the procedure and make sure you’re comfortable and nothing outstanding needs to be addressed.   

4. After Surgery

Patients experience varying levels of soreness in the first few days after surgery. You’ll be given pain medication as needed. It’s important for you to follow all post-surgery care instructions prescribed to you. Physical therapy will be recommended to get you back to the activities you love. 

5. Recovery

While a typical recovery for open repair hernia surgery is 6-8 weeks with no strenuous activity, the recovery for laparoscopy surgery is much quicker, closer to 2 weeks. The vast majority of our patients are back to their regular activities in 7-10 days. Our proven protocols and close relationship with Howard Head Sports Medicine will get you back to your baseline. 

 

The Vail Health Hernia Center combine top-of-the-line treatment and care with the scenery and lifestyle of the Vail Valley. The advancement in non-invasive hernia surgeries with the state-of-the-art da Vinci 5 Surgical System allows for the specialty-trained surgeons to treat your hernia with quality, precision and in a timely fashion. The comprehensive collaboration between the surgeons and the physical therapists at Howard Head Sports Medicine has proven to be an effective course of treatment if you are looking for a quick and safe return to the activities you love — much sooner than most recovery timelines. There is no better setting or team of doctors to trust with your hernia treatment than at Vail Health's Hernia Center.