You and your doctor may want to put off surgery if: 1  The hernia is small and you don't have any symptoms, or if the symptoms don't bother you much. 2  The hernia can be pushed back into the belly or it goes away when you lie down.( 3 If it cannot be pushed back, surgery must be done sooner.).here are two types of hernia repair surgeries: 1  Open hernia repair surgery. 2  The hernia is repaired through a cut (incision) in the groin. 3  Open surgery is safe and effective and has been done for many years.