Massive Incisional Hernia Repair - Thousand Oaks, CA

Hmm…. how do i effectively convey the significance of a life changing experience?
One moment I was picking up my sons tux for prom night, and the next I found myself undergoing lifesaving emergency abdominal surgery, that left me gutted like a fish with and sporting a colostomy bag. The reversal of that procedure left me with an inch wide, thick ugly scar from breast bone to pubic bone. I was happy to be alive and accepted that as a price I had to pay. But then, at point over the next couple of years I began to develop incisional hernias that quickly grew to horrific proportions!
Initially, my condition was misdiagnosed. But, after a lot of internet research and looking through a myriad of disturbing hernia pictures, I learned that there’s a big difference between being out of shape and being misshapen. I then knew that I needed to get a second opinion from The Kryger Institute. I was completely convinced that the doctors there had the knowledge, skill, and experience to diagnose and treat my condition appropriately.
So, I went to battle with my insurance company, for the right to get a second opinion from the Dr. of my choosing (Dr. Zol Kryger), as opposed to just another one of the general surgeons they wanted to send me to.
I am now very thankful that I chose to fight that fight!
As soon as Dr. Zol took a look at me, he immediately and correctly diagnosed that I had a massive complex abdominal hernia that would require a much more in-depth procedure than the usual mesh patch fix that is commonly done by general surgeons. After he examined me, he took the time to explain to me what had happened to my body, and what he could do to repair the damage in a way that would greatly minimize the chance of recurrence. He then ordered the follow-up procedures that would definitely confirm his diagnosis, and would reveal the scope and intricacies of the situation.
I left his office feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time… he clearly cared, and would do all he could help me.
After another protracted debate with the insurance company, I was finally able to have the surgery successfully done, and covered fully by my insurance! The Kryger Institute provided the documentation I needed to support my case, and Dr. Zol himself wrote a very effective and pivotal plea on my behalf. Throughout this labored process Dr. Zol was personally available to me via phone calls and email to answer any questions that arose, and to provide vital assistance when I needed it.
In my substantial experience, that is an almost unheard of relationship to have with any Physician, especially a surgeon! The peace of mind, and enhanced trust and confidence in your surgeon that comes from knowing that you can fairly readily get in touch with them if you need them is priceless.
But the surgical process itself is where the true difference and genius of The Kryger Institute becomes fully realized.
Dr. Zol was my primary surgeon; but he and his brother Gil both put their extensive expertise to work for me. They are both are consummate professionals and most importantly are perfectionists when it comes to their craft…and if there’s one place you really want a perfectionist at work for you, this is it!
At the Kryger Institute you get two of the most highly acclaimed surgeons in their field, “for the price of one”! They perform all of their surgeries in tandem, acting as assisting surgeon to one another. In doing so, they act as a check and balance on one another, which is always a good thing. But even beyond that, I believe that the sibling rivalry/relationship that we’re all so familiar with, acts as an innate and powerful motivation that continuously drives them closer to those goals of perfection that they continuously strive for.
They work together in a way that very few people do; or probably even could. They think enough alike to support and enhance one another’s work, while still retaining the individual perspective and point of view that pushes the other to always be at their best. It is truly a brilliant working relationship, and the benefit is all yours!
My surgery was a long and complicated one. I sent six nights in the hospital and 3 months recovering at home; but I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
I can’t say enough, I’m beyond thrilled with the experience and the results.
I have been given back the body that I recognize, and the confidence that I thought I’d lost forever, which would in and of itself have been more than I could have hoped for. But perhaps even more significantly, I feel physically and mentally 20 years younger! I have more energy, a renewed sense of balance and agility, fewer aches and pains…etc. How much is due to physically having my guts put back into place and regaining the use and strength of my abdominal muscles, and how much is due the psychological boost of feeling and looking like myself again, I can’t say? But I do know that I owe it all to the Krygers, and I can’t recommend Drs. Zol and Gil highly enough… they’ve given me more than money could ever pay for. The Krygers have given me back a sense of myself that I thought was lost to me, and I will forever be grateful!

With traditional hernia repair, an incision is made over the herniated area and mesh is then attached over the break in the musculature to act as a patch to reinforce and bridge the area.
The procedure that was used in my case is known as “Component Separation” or “Separation of Parts”; this procedure is used to actually repair the abdominal wall defects rather than to simply patch over them.
There are three distinct layers or bands of abdominal muscle that run from the muscles along the spine, wrap around the sides of our body, and attach on to the core abdominals (the “eight pack” muscles that run down the length of the abdomen).
With Component Separation, they release the tension in the outermost layer of those side muscle bands with a “relaxing incision” that partially separates it from the eight pack muscles, and then they separate the abdominal side wall into its separate layers, or components. This releases enough of the muscle tension to enable them to bring the muscle wall back together with less resistance once everything is put back into place.
Next a screen is placed over the abdominal cavity, but UNDER the abdominal muscles, which allows it to act as a strengthening first line of defense, instead of a over patch trying to hold everything together. Each layer is then closed individually for added strength and “quilted” down to its neighboring layer with a series of internal sutures to allow for faster, better healing.
A repair of this kind replicates the abdomen’s natural resting muscular tension as closely as possible. And because you’re abdomen isn’t under such extreme tension during healing and beyond, you’re much less likely to have the incisional area open up again on you in the future.