Most hernia patients will complain of a bulge at the site of the hernia that changes size with position or activity.

There are several types of hernias and various strategies to repair them. Various repair options include the use of sutures, mesh, laparoscopic or open approaches. Robotic approaches have not taken off in Canada due the high cost and lack of any clear advantages. Each of these approaches tend to have advantages and disadvantages and the exact choice of hernia repair will depend greatly on:

1) The type and size of the hernia
2) The medical status and age of the patient
3) The expertise of and options available to the treating surgeon
4) The goals and priorities of the patient

In short, no. There are several types of hernias that can be repaired well without mesh. Mesh does, however, offer several advantages in a few specific scenarios. Broadly speaking, mesh repairs have a lower recurrence rate when compared to older suture style (or tissue) repairs. There has been some public debate about the safety of mesh. While no therapeutic intervention is entirely free of risk, the use of mesh has proven itself to be a reliable approach and has become the gold standard repair over the past few decades.

For some patients laparoscopy is beneficial but most patients can be treated just as well or better with open approaches. In the case of inguinal hernias, studies have tended to show a very slight benefit in terms of recovery time for laparoscopic approaches at the expense of a higher rate of recurrence. There may be a small benefit with laparoscopy for patients with bilateral hernias or a recurrent hernias after a previous repair. For primary hernias either an open approach or a laparoscopic approach can be considered.

In Canada, there are public options and a few private avenues that are not aways well known to patients and referring doctors. Generally, the public system requires a referral from your primary care provider to a surgeon. There can be a wait to see the primary care provider, a wait to see the surgeon, and then often a long wait to have the surgery. Many Canadians struggle to gain access to surgery due to the long wait times and the lack of a primary care provider to start the process.

The Canada Health Act prohibits patients from paying for medically necessary care. Physicians that are part of a provincial healthcare insurance plan cannot charge patients for medically necessary care in that province. It is currently possible to have a surgeon from another province perform the surgery and pay the costs of the surgeon, anesthesia, nursing, and related procedure costs directly. It is, therefore, possible to travel to another province within Canada or to another country for private care. Another option is to find a surgeon that has opted out of the public system and can provide private care in your home province. This, of course, is the ideal private avenue as it precludes the need for patients to travel. At Vital, these are the scenarios we try to create for patients.

For most people it is about timely access to care. Many of our patients also appreciate a more premium service that caters to their health, personal priorities, and convenience. Some patients don’t like the hospital setting and prefer a higher level of privacy, discretion, and individual consideration. In the private context it is possible to deliver care with more attention to the patient experience pursuing excellence with each patient rather than trying to do as many surgeries as possible with limited resources.

Yes, we work with a few financing partners. Many patients simply do the math and see that the income they will lose from lost work while waiting for care in the public system exceeds the cost of the surgery itself. Others value their time and health enough to accept the cost of not waiting. Our financing options can make private surgery accessible to almost any budget. Patients can have the flexibility to pay over a short or long term and finance whatever portion of the surgery they wish.

Different provinces have different interpretations of the Canada Health Act. There are differences in terms of what each province deems “medically necessary” and differences in what types of surgery each provincial College permits in private surgical centres. This leads to a shifting landscape and it is always best to check with us to understand how the system works and what options you may have. We are here to help and will always try to direct you to your best option whether it be public or private. Vital is a 100% physician owned company and is duty bound to put patient interests first.

For BC patients:

Our surgeons work closely with the Cambie clinic to provide private general surgical services to BC residents in Vancouver. The major advantage to patients is that we come to them instead of making them travel.

For Alberta Patients:

You can meet with your surgeon at our clinic in Calgary. We can plan your surgery and deliver your follow up care close to home. We do not charge Alberta patients for consults or follow up appointments as these are publicly insured. We are currently offering private general surgery (hernias, endoscopy, gallbladder removals, and more) for Albertans in Vancouver with Dr. Sean Gregg. If there is sufficient interest, we will start offering private general surgery services in Alberta for Albertans in the second half of 2024. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions about this program.

For patients elsewhere in Canada or the US we are able to offer services in Calgary, Vancouver, or Montreal depending on the surgery required and the preference of the patient.