Ask for something to relax you prior to going into surgery prep. I did. It helped a lot. I have had multiple surgeries since 2000 when I was 44. Two were transplants, one was a burst vein in my stomach and then the hernia. I was told it would be relatively quick but due to scaring they had to put in a 1 sq foot mesh and it took much longer. They did it by Laparoscopy.