Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - April 2026

A P R I L 2 0 2 6 | C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H 5 expert contributor EXPLORE ROBOTIC SURGERY SOLUTIONS AT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER Hernia Symptoms? - By Sue MacDonald - H ave you ever noticed a weird bulge on your abdomen? Felt a tug, burning sensation, dull or sharp pain in your mid- section? Experienced a similarly annoying sensation that worsens when coughing, lifting, standing, or straining? It’s quite possible the symptoms are linked to a hernia or a weakened abdominal wall, says Dr. Phillip Moyer, a general surgeon who specializes in robotic and minimally invasive surgery at Jupiter Medical Center. “Robotic surgery is a significant improvement in the way we manage surgical disease overall, including hernias,” says Moyer. “Robotics has given us a significantly powerful tool to manage complicated problems with minimally invasive techniques, and that includes hernias.” Moreover, robotic hernia surgery, he points out, can frequently be offered as a same-day, outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return to normal activities within a few days. What Is A Hernia? Sheaths of muscle and connective tissue normally keep the body’s internal organs snugly in place through the abdominal cavity, Dr. Moyer explains. Hernia problems arise when weakened connective tissues – or activities that strain and stretch those tissues – create openings that allow organs and other internal tissue to bulge outward. Problems can arise if the protruding tissue gets “stuck” in place outside the body’s protective wrap. Before robotics were introduced into the surgical suite, hernias were repaired via open surgeries to suture the ruptured abdominal wall back together and reinforce it with mesh— a procedure that could be associated with a good deal of pain and large incisions, according to Dr. Moyer, a member of the American Hernia Society. Second-generation laparoscopic technologies reduced the need for an open incision and sutures, relying primarily on small surgical scopes to patch weakened tissue internally with mesh. “Robotic surgery represents a significant improvement in the way we manage surgical disease overall, and that’s particularly true of hernias,” he emphasizes. “It’s given us a significantly powerful tool to manage these complicated problems with minimally invasive techniques. I’ve been performing robotic surgery since 2012, and if I can repair a hernia robotically, I will.” Up to 80% of robotic hernia repairs can be performed as outpatient procedures, he adds, compared with upwards of two-day hospital stays for traditional open surgeries. Numerous Causes Of Hernias “Hernias are related to connective tissue and anything that causes constant strain,” Dr. Moyer points out. “That’s where the weaknesses and bulges occur.” Key factors can interfere with the body’s ability to maintain strong, supportive tissues and muscles throughout the abdomen, including: • Tissues/muscles that do not develop or close properly at birth or during early growth/development • An inability to create collagen, a protein necessary for strong tissues • A previous abdominal surgery or a weakened abdominal wall from childbirth • Stress/strain on the abdominal wall and tissue linked to obesity, straining linked to chronic constipation or coughing from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) “With robotics, we can repair hernias with sutures and reinforce them with mesh, and we’re able to do it with smaller incisions,” Dr. Moyer explains. “By gaining access to the abdominal cavity through the robotic scope, we can then flexibly visualize, maneuver, and repair tissue internally and reinforce it with mesh. It involves less pain, lower risk of infection, and less hernia recurrence." “This type of surgery requires sound knowledge of the anatomy of the abdominal wall,” he adds, “especially which tissues you can and can’t use to enhance internal mobilization.” For more information about robotic surgery for hernias or weakened abdominal walls, or to schedule an appointment, please call 561-741-5695. Dr. Phillip Moyer