That is a very personal choice.

I have had repeat hernias over the last 10 yrs...Never had them before but I guess my abs reached an age where they started getting more fragile.

They tried an exterieur repair but it didn't hold on me so they went in and did it internally. Didn't do the trick either. Then they started doing the repairs through Lap surgery with mesh and they held. 

That is my body and apparently that is what it takes to hold me together.

I have no nasty side effects (yet?) but it has only been about 8yrs for the oldest ones. 

I even have mesh attaching my pouch to the wall (I have a k pouch) because it kept slipping. 

You can try the classic method and if it works that is fantastic but if not then mesh repairs could be an answer.

Sharon

My hernia is in the same place as yours and I've had it since 2003 or so.  I decided I would not go for surgical repair unless I needed to have abdominal surgery anyway.  Well, a few years ago I was scheduled for a hysterectomy and I told the surgeon that if he could not do it laproscopically (which he couldn't because of adhesions present) I wanted him to repair the hernia since I would be open already.  He agreed.  However, when I awoke from the surgery I learned he hadn't done the repair and he told me it wasn't a hernia!  Not true!  Figured he forgot or just didn't want to do it.  So, I'm living with the hernia.  It looks terrible but it doesn't bother me at all.  So, I'm leaving it alone.  I did have one small bowel obstruction years ago where my small intestine became twisted and somehow landed in the hernia's location.  My colorectal surgeon (wonderful man) admitted me and spent time each day (several times a day) massaging the area of my hernia and was able to untwist the small intestine!  No surgery!  Now, whenever I sense there might be the beginning of a problem in that area I give myself a deep abdominal massage.  So far, this seems to keep me from having further obstructions.  I'm good to go!

Its a really good technique CeeeeCeeee,

They say that if you know your body (and hernia) well enough that you can really do a good job at avoiding surgery that way.

I try to massage my occlusion site. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but it is a loop + adhesions and not a hernia.

Sharon