Umbilical hernias in young children usually get better on their own as the abdominal muscles get stronger. If the hernia is large, or if your child still has it by the time they’re four, your doctor may recommend a surgical repair.

However, abdominal hernias in adults may get larger with time and won't go away without treatment.

Your GP can discuss with you whether surgical repair of your hernia is likely to be an option for you. This will depend upon your symptoms, your general health, which type of hernia you have and whether it’s getting bigger.

Watchful waiting
If your hernia isn’t causing many symptoms, your GP may suggest monitoring your condition, but not treating your hernia straightaway. This is known as ‘watchful waiting’. Watchful waiting means you may be able to avoid having an operation unless you need it. The idea is that you contact your GP if you have any change in your symptoms. (But see our section on symptoms above for when to seek urgent medical attention).

Surgery
An abdominal hernia repair operation involves pushing the hernia back into your abdomen and repairing the weakened muscle. This can be done as a keyhole procedure, where the operation is done through small cuts in your lower abdomen. Alternatively, your operation may be carried out using open surgery, where a single, larger cut is made. Your surgeon will discuss with you which operation is the most suitable for you in your particular circumstances.