I had a hernia repair about 5 years ago. Back in '94 I had testicular cancer, and one of my surgeries cut me from my sternum to well below my belly button, to get at 30 suspect lymph nodes.
A few years after that, I developed a hernia, and since it didn't bother me, I didn't really worry about it.
Once my former wife left, and I dropped 30 pounds, I thought I'd get that taken care of as well, so in November of 2003, I had it patched with the mesh.
I think they put 5-8 small holes in my abdomen to put various instruments in, the largest being no larger than the diameter of my small finger. Other openings were for suction, the camera they used, etc.
Far less painful than the abdominal opening in '94, and I should have done it much sooner.
For the first year or so, it would still bother me on occasions when I would laugh, where the mesh was tacked into me would pull. But now, I don't even know it's there, other than I no longer have the bulge in my abdomen.
I tried to get the to do my vasectomy at the same time, but the Dr said no-go.
I highly recommend that procedure as well, if you are done with making babies.
Tried to get the V at 1/2 price, since there was only one boy remaining to disconnect. Dr just laughed