Book your consultation with Dr. Liu to find out if you’re a candidate for minimally-invasive, robotics-assisted surgery.
Come into our Emeryville office for your consultation (or meet with us via video call if you live outside the Bay Area). Dr. Liu will complete an examination and schedule any additional testing.
After any additional testing (if needed), our office staff will submit a pre-authorization to your insurance. Then, we’ll reach out to you to book your surgery date.
No matter what health challenges you’re encountering, our team is devoted to providing you with our highest standard of care.
You’ll have Dr. Liu with you every step of the way, from the initial consultation, to the morning of the surgery (and surgery itself), and for each follow-up appointment afterward.
“Traditional” or “open” surgery involves a large incision and often leaves the patient recovering for weeks or longer.
Minimally-invasive surgery, on the other hand, involves small incisions (only 8mm or ⅓” long). With it, your recovery time is much quicker because your body is not healing a large incision. You’ll find that you may be moving around much faster than if you were to have an open surgery.
An umbilical hernia is caused when fatty tissue or part of the intestines pushes through the abdominal wall close to your belly button. You may see a bulge or protrusion with an umbilical hernia.
A hiatal hernia is when the upper section of your stomach or other organs, such as the spleen, pancreas, or colon, pushes through the diaphragm into your chest. While you won’t see anything physically noticeable, you may experience chronic heartburn after you eat or even difficulty swallowing.
While a hiatal hernia is found in the upper abdomen and lower chest region, an inguinal hernia is on the opposite end of the abdomen. Inguinal hernias, or groin hernias, happen when tissue, including the intestines, push through weak areas in your groin area.
With an inguinal hernia, you may see a bulge or protrusion in your lower abdomen or groin. Some people never feel symptoms, other than seeing the bulge. However, many inguinal hernias are painful, especially when coughing, bending over, lifting heavy objects, or standing for long periods of time.
Type II, III, and IV hiatal hernias are also known as paraesophageal hernias. The stomach slides into the chest next to the esophagus in Type II paraesophageal hernias. Type III is a mix of sliding (Type I) and Type II paraesophageal hernias. Type IV is the largest paraesophageal hernia because other organs such as the colon or pancreas are also herniating into the chest. This happens when a portion of the stomach pushes into the esophagus.
Many people use “stomach” and “abdomen” interchangeably. However, the stomach refers to the organ the esophagus empties into and helps digest food. The abdomen refers to the entire cavity that contains your internal organs such as the stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys, spleen, and bladder.
Therefore, stomach hernia types would refer to hiatal or paraesophageal hernia types, where the stomach is herniating through a large hole in the diaphragm into the chest. Abdominal hernias, on the other hand, refer to a hernia in the abdominal wall, which consists of a hole in the muscle of the abdominal wall. These are caused when fatty tissue, intestine, or other organs inside the abdomen pushes through the abdominal wall. The different abdominal hernia types include:
Non-mesh hernia repair is a surgical technique that uses the patient’s own natural tissue to reinforce and close the weakened area, without placing synthetic mesh. This approach may be an option for select patients who prefer a mesh-free hernia repair or who are concerned about possible mesh-related complications.
During a consultation with Dr. Liu, he’ll perform an examination, review your symptoms and medical history, and determine whether you’re a candidate for non-mesh hernia repair or another minimally invasive hernia treatment option.
Absorbable mesh repair is a hernia treatment option that uses a temporary surgical mesh to support the weakened area while the body heals. Unlike permanent mesh, absorbable mesh is designed to gradually dissolve over time, allowing new tissue growth to help strengthen the repair site.
Dr. Liu will evaluate your hernia, symptoms, and treatment goals during your consultation to determine whether absorbable mesh repair, non-mesh repair, or another minimally invasive hernia treatment is the best option for you.
A recurrent hernia happens when a hernia returns after a previous repair. This can occur due to weakened tissue, strain on the repair site, scar tissue, prior surgical technique, or other individual risk factors. Recurrent hernias often require a more experienced surgical approach because the area may be more complex than a first-time hernia repair.
During a consultation with Dr. Liu, he’ll examine the hernia, review your previous surgery and medical history, and determine the best recurrent hernia repair option to help restore abdominal wall strength and reduce the risk of another recurrence.
Rare hernias can occur in less common locations or present with symptoms that are easy to overlook, making them more difficult to diagnose than typical hernias. Because these cases are often mistaken for other conditions, accurate evaluation is essential before choosing the right repair approach.
During a consultation with Dr. Liu, he’ll examine your symptoms, review your medical history, and determine whether a rare hernia may be the cause of your discomfort. If surgery is needed, Dr. Liu will recommend a precise hernia repair plan based on the location, complexity, and severity of your condition.
Hernia mesh removal may be recommended for patients experiencing pain, infection, mesh migration, recurrence, or other complications after a previous hernia repair. Because mesh can become attached to surrounding tissue, removal requires careful evaluation and an experienced surgical approach.
During a consultation with Dr. Liu, he’ll review your previous hernia repair, evaluate your symptoms, and determine whether mesh removal or another treatment option is appropriate for your condition. If surgery is needed, Dr. Liu will create a repair plan focused on addressing the source of the problem and helping restore comfort.
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