Umbilical Hernia

An umbilical hernia occurs when abdominal tissue pushes through a weak area in the abdominal wall at or near the belly button. The most common sign is a soft lump or bulge around the navel that may become more noticeable with coughing, lifting, or straining.

Umbilical hernias are common in infants, but they can also develop in adults. In adults, they generally do not close on their own. Treatment depends on the size of the hernia, symptoms, risk of complications, and the patient's overall health.

What Is an Umbilical Hernia?

The belly button marks the area where the umbilical cord passed through the abdominal wall before birth. After birth, this opening normally closes.

An umbilical hernia develops when tissue pushes through a weakened area at or around the navel. The hernia may contain abdominal fat, intestine, or other tissue.

In adults, umbilical hernias may develop as the abdominal wall weakens or is repeatedly exposed to increased pressure.

What Does an Umbilical Hernia Look or Feel Like?

The most recognizable sign is a bulge on or near the belly button.

Symptoms may include:

• A soft lump or bulge around the navel
• A bulge that becomes more noticeable while standing, coughing, lifting, or straining
• Aching or pressure around the belly button
• Tenderness near the hernia
• Discomfort during physical activity
• Pain when coughing or straining

Some small umbilical hernias cause few or no symptoms.

Learn more about lumps near the belly button.

What Causes an Umbilical Hernia in Adults?

An adult umbilical hernia develops when tissue pushes through a weakened area around the belly button.

Factors that may contribute to increased abdominal pressure include:

• Obesity
• Pregnancy, particularly multiple pregnancies
• Chronic coughing
• Chronic constipation and repeated straining
• Heavy lifting
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen, known as ascites

Not everyone with these risk factors develops a hernia. They may contribute when the abdominal wall is already weakened.

Umbilical Hernia vs. Epigastric Hernia: What Is the Difference?

Both are types of ventral hernias, but they occur in different locations.

Learn more about epigastric hernias.

How Is an Umbilical Hernia Diagnosed?

An umbilical hernia can often be diagnosed with a physical examination.

A healthcare provider may examine the abdomen while you are standing or lying down and may ask you to cough or strain to make the hernia easier to identify.

The provider may also determine whether the hernia is reducible, meaning the protruding tissue can move back into the abdomen.

Imaging may be recommended when the diagnosis is uncertain, the hernia is difficult to examine, or complications are suspected.

Possible imaging tests include:

• Ultrasound
• CT scan
• MRI in selected cases

Does an Umbilical Hernia Need Surgery?

Not every adult umbilical hernia requires immediate surgery.

An adult umbilical hernia generally will not close on its own, but a small hernia that is reducible and causes few or no symptoms may sometimes be monitored. Ventral hernia treatment depends on symptoms, reducibility, progression, and individual risk.

Surgical repair may be considered when:

• The hernia causes pain or discomfort
• The bulge is increasing in size
• Symptoms interfere with everyday activities
• The hernia becomes difficult to reduce
• Tissue becomes trapped
• Complications are suspected
• The patient prefers definitive repair after discussing treatment options

Your surgeon can determine whether monitoring or repair is appropriate based on the individual hernia.

How Is an Umbilical Hernia Repaired?

Umbilical hernias can be repaired using open or minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Open Umbilical Hernia Repair

During open surgery, an incision is made near the belly button. The protruding tissue is returned to the abdomen, and the opening in the abdominal wall is repaired.

Sutures, surgical mesh, or a combination may be used depending on the size and characteristics of the hernia.

Laparoscopic or Robotic Umbilical Hernia Repair

Some umbilical hernias can be treated using laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery.

These approaches use small abdominal incisions and specialized instruments to access and repair the abdominal wall.

The appropriate surgical technique depends on factors such as:

• Hernia size
• Location and anatomy
• Whether the hernia has recurred
• Previous abdominal surgery
• Other medical conditions
• Surgeon recommendation

Learn more about laparoscopic hernia surgery.

Can an Umbilical Hernia Become an Emergency?

Most umbilical hernias are not emergencies, but abdominal tissue can sometimes become trapped.

An incarcerated hernia occurs when the herniated tissue becomes stuck and cannot return to the abdomen. This can cause significant pain, nausea, or vomiting.

A strangulated hernia occurs when the blood supply to trapped tissue becomes compromised and requires emergency treatment.

When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Care?

Seek prompt medical attention for symptoms such as:

• Sudden or severe abdominal pain
• A painful or increasingly tender bulge
• A bulge that becomes firm or cannot move back into the abdomen
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Rapidly increasing swelling
• Redness or darkening of the skin over the hernia
• Rapidly worsening symptoms

These symptoms may indicate incarceration, bowel obstruction, or strangulation.

What Is Recovery Like After Umbilical Hernia Surgery?

Recovery varies based on the size of the hernia, surgical technique, complexity of the repair, and the patient's overall health.

After surgery, patients may receive instructions regarding:

• Walking and light activity
• Incision care
• Pain management
• Lifting restrictions
• Returning to work
• Driving
• Resuming exercise
• Follow-up appointments

Your surgeon will provide individualized guidance about when you can safely resume normal activities.

What About Umbilical Hernias in Children?

Umbilical hernias are common in infants and children and behave differently from adult umbilical hernias. Many childhood umbilical hernias close naturally as the abdominal wall develops.

Umbilical Hernia Surgery in the East Bay

Hernia Innovations provides evaluation and surgical treatment for adult umbilical and other abdominal wall hernias throughout the East Bay.

Our board-certified surgeons evaluate each patient's symptoms, hernia size and anatomy, medical history, and treatment goals to determine whether monitoring or surgical repair may be appropriate.

When surgery is recommended, treatment may include open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted repair depending on the individual patient and hernia.

Call (925) 940-1025 or request an appointment online.

Frequently Asked Questions About Umbilical Hernias

Can an umbilical hernia go away on its own?

In children, many umbilical hernias close naturally as the abdominal wall develops. In adults, an umbilical hernia generally does not close on its own. However, some small adult hernias that cause few or no symptoms may be monitored rather than repaired immediately.

What does an umbilical hernia look like?

An umbilical hernia typically appears as a soft lump or bulge at or near the belly button. It may become more noticeable when standing, coughing, lifting, or straining.

What does an umbilical hernia feel like?

Some umbilical hernias cause no discomfort. Others may cause pressure, tenderness, aching, or pain around the belly button, particularly during activities that increase abdominal pressure.

Is an umbilical hernia serious?

Many umbilical hernias are not immediately dangerous. Complications can occur if tissue becomes trapped or its blood supply is compromised, so sudden severe pain, vomiting, or a painful non-reducible bulge requires prompt medical evaluation.

Does every adult umbilical hernia need surgery?

No. Adult umbilical hernias do not generally close on their own, but a small, reducible hernia with few or no symptoms may sometimes be monitored. Surgery may be recommended when the hernia is painful, enlarging, difficult to reduce, or at risk for complications.