- Male
- 55 Years
- 14/08/2025
My dad is 55 years old and has an umbilical hernia with frequent stomach aches. He weighs 95 kg and has a large potbelly clearly overweight. One doctor suggested he needs to lose weight before surgery so the mesh can be placed properly. Should we wait for him to reduce his weight and belly first, or is surgery urgent? What's the best approach here?

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View allI've had a lipoma near my neck and shoulder for about 25 years. It doesn't usually hurt but gets uncomfortable during workouts, especially shoulder exercises like barbell lifts I feel mild pain and tightness when my muscles tense up. Is there a way to treat it without surgery, and what's the best test to check its size?
For your long-standing lipoma that causes discomfort during workouts, non-surgical treatments like liposuction or steroid injections might be considered. To assess its size, an ultrasound is generally the preferred method. If you experience pain or rapid growth, a biopsy might be recommended.
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My father was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia at Apollo Hospital Nellore and the laparoscopic surgeon recommended surgery, saying medicines won't help. His abdomen has been slightly bigger for the past year with swelling at the umbilical area. Just wanted to check if surgery is really the only option or if tablets can cure it. Also, which is better open surgery or laparoscopic? And is there a risk of infection if we go with mesh repair?
Surgery is important in this case. Take care.
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My sister has gallstones around 8.5mm in size and her gallbladder is really swollen and stretched out. Should she get surgery or is there another way to treat this?
Given the size of the gallstones and the swollen, stretched gallbladder, surgery (cholecystectomy) is usually the best and most definitive treatment. Delaying it can lead to complications like infection or pancreatitis. Medical management is limited and often ineffective in such cases. Please consult a surgeon for timely evaluation.
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Disclaimer: Answers on Apollo 247 are not intended to replace your doctor advice. Always seek help of a professional doctor in case of an medical emergency or ailment.




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