Light walking is typically encouraged after surgery. More strenuous exercise should be avoided until your surgeon clears you, usually around 4–6 weeks post-surgery. Your surgeon will give you a specific timeline based on your repair.
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Get back to yourself. Here's what that may look like
Understanding what's ahead can help you feel more in control of your hernia repair journey. Here's a guide to what patients experience before and after hernia repair.
Before surgery
A little preparation goes a long way
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions prior to your surgery. In general, you can get ready by handling these things in advance — so surgery day is one less thing to worry about. Some typical pre-surgery instructions are below, but your care team will provide the specific instructions you should follow.
- Talk to your surgeon about all your current medications
- Arrange a ride home — you won't be able to drive after surgery
- Plan to fast before your procedure (your care team will advise)
- Set up a comfortable recovery space at home in advance
- Ask your surgeon what to expect so nothing catches you off guard
- Take the proper amount of time off work
- Ask how much time (in-patient or out-patient) your surgeon expects your procedure to take
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After surgery
Post-hernia recovery, week by week
Recovery from hernia repair surgery often takes several weeks, but may take longer. Everyone is different. While in most cases patients can eventually return to their normal active lifestyle, some lifestyle changes may be required after surgery. Each patient will have a different post-op recovery and activity level. This timeline offers a general sense of what patients may experience as they heal. Always follow your surgeon's guidance and attend your scheduled follow-up visits.*
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Day 1–3
Rest and recover
Take it easy. Manage discomfort with prescribed medication. Keep activity light — short walks around the house are encouraged when you feel ready.
You may feel sore and tired. That's normal.
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Week 1–2
Starting to feel yourself again
Soreness begins to ease. Gentle walking is often encouraged. Avoid lifting and strenuous activity. Attend any follow-up appointments.
Many patients feel better by day 7.
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Week 3–6
Back to daily activities
Most patients return to desk work and light activity. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and straining.
Desk workers often return to work during this period.
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6+ Weeks
Back to living life
Most patients return to full activity, including exercise. Your surgeon will advise when it's safe to resume everything.
Your surgeon will give you the green light.
BD® Phasix™ Mesh recovery in real-lfe
Meet Dan: An active father post-hernia repair with Phasix™
This can depend on your job, the type of repair you had, age, and overall health. Desk workers may be able to return within 1–2 weeks, whereas more physically demanding jobs may require closer to 4–6 weeks. Follow your surgeon's specific recommendations — they know your individual case best.
Contact your surgeon if you notice increasing pain, fever, redness or drainage at the incision site, or if you feel a bulge returning. Seek emergency care for sudden severe pain. When in doubt, call your care team.
Recurrence is possible with any hernia repair. Lifestyle factors, the type of repair, and mesh choice can all influence long-term outcomes. Discuss your specific risk with your surgeon — including steps you can take to support the best possible outcome.
*Recovery times vary depending on the type of repair, individual patient factors, and surgical approach. Always follow your surgeon's specific guidance.
Your doctor will give you a patient implant card for the Phasix™ Mesh. Please keep this card somewhere safe and easy to find. The mesh implant information may be helpful for your future medical care.
INDICATIONS: Phasix™ Mesh is used to reinforce (support) soft tissue, where weakness exists, in patients having surgery on their belly, to change the way their body looks or works, or for rebuilding their tissue (otherwise known as abdominal, plastic, and reconstructive surgery). For example, Phasix™ Mesh could be used for ventral (near your belly) hernia repair or to help support your surgical wound.
DEVICE MODELS:1190616, 1190820, 1190830, 1190845, 1191025, 1191040, 1191530, 1192030, 1192040, 1193045, 1190200, 1190300, 1190400, 1190500, 1190808, 1190816, 1191010, 1191020, 1191525, 1192020, 1192540, 1193030, 1193535, 1194040, 1194545, 1190011, 1190100, 1195050.
IMPLANT MATERIAL: Phasix™ Mesh is made of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (100%), that goes away slowly over time and is made from natural materials.
PURPOSE: Phasix™ Mesh is a sterile (germ-free) implant. It is a mesh implant used to fix soft tissue defects, like hernias or damage to the soft parts of your belly from trauma, illness, or prior surgeries, in adults.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS: The safety and usefulness of Phasix™ Mesh has not been evaluated in:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Infants or children
- Neurologic procedures or tissues (brain, spinal cord, and nerves)
- Cardiovascular tissue (heart or blood vessels)
- Breast reconstructive surgeries
The safety and effectiveness of Phasix™ Mesh in the proximity of (near) existing or excised (removed) cancer have not been established.
POTENTIAL ADVERSE REACTIONS (UNFAVORABLE):
- Adhesions: Adhesions form when internal scar tissue joins tissues together that are not usually joined. Adhesions to the bowel (the intestine) may lead to bowel obstruction (blockage). This can cause the need for multiple invasive procedures, prolonged hospitalization, long-term nursing care, intravenous nutrition, and/or staged surgery to fix the bowel.
- Allergic reaction: If you are allergic to tetracycline hydrochloride or kanamycin sulfate (antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections), please tell your doctor. An allergic reaction to the mesh may be difficult to diagnose after surgery due to distracting pain, fever, and use of sedatives and narcotics. These symptoms, if not recognized as an allergic reaction, may result in additional diagnostic and invasive procedures, which may include the need for reoperation or explanting (removing) the mesh.
- Mesh erosion: Erosion is the mesh rubbing against nearby soft tissue, and may result in the need for multiple invasive procedures, prolonged hospitalization, long-term nursing care, intravenous nutrition, and/or staged surgery to fix the bowel (or another organ). This may be followed by a hernia repair.
- Fistula formation: A fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between an organ, vessel, or tissue. Fistula formation may result in the need for multiple invasive procedures, prolonged hospitalization, long-term nursing care, intravenous nutrition, and/or staged surgery to address the bowel (or another organ). This may be followed by a hernia repair.
- Hematoma: An accumulation of blood.
- Hemorrhage: Loss of blood.
- Surgical site infection: An infection localized at the surgical site may require oral or intravenous antibiotics and/or may result in additional diagnostic and invasive procedures, including the chance for reoperation and/or mesh removal.
- Inflammation: Swelling, redness, heat, and/or pain produced in an area of your surgery.
- Mesh extrusion: Mesh poking through the skin.
- Mesh migration: Mesh moves from where your doctor placed it during surgery.
- Pain: There is a possibility of pain which may affect quality of life and everyday functions, such as driving, walking up the stairs, and/or dressing oneself. Pain may continue and may require a second operation to remove the mesh.
- Recurrence: Return or reappearance of your hernia or soft tissue defect.
- Reoperation: If you require another operation in your belly before the Phasix™ Mesh has gone away, the mesh may need to be removed and may make that operation last longer.
- Seroma: An accumulation and pocket of clear fluid. This may result in unscheduled drainage or reoperation.
- Wound dehiscence: Your skin breaks open along the line where your belly was sewn closed after surgery. This may lead to exposure of the mesh to the open air, which may result in additional complications including an unscheduled reoperation.