your opinion pls

I need to have surgery for a incisional hernia.  This is directly related to a bariatric surgery I had to remove a gastro pexi ring 2 years ago.  I am not going back to that bariatric clinic, it's a long story.  My primary doctor has been running the annual blood tests etc.  She has been taking good care of me. 

We went over the available surgeons that do hernia surgeries and I visited one.  He was OK.  He explained everything well but he wants to do it open because the hernia is about the size of a softball.  This means I will be cut above and below the hernia.  That makes total sense, needing to get to good tissue but it makes for a large incision.  And of course he doesn't do laparoscopy surgery.

I think I should get a second opinion.  Should I seek out a bariatric surgeon or another general surgeon?  Does it matter?  I guess I'm leaning toward the bariatric guy.  I'm thinking he has seen more of this type of hernia directly related to RNY surgery.  Not necessarily though.  Is there any reason that a large hernia like this couldn't be done just as safely and effectively laparoscoply?

I am not a doc, but I would get a second opinion. Sometimes surgery  may need to be open, but if doc doesn't do lap surgeries, i would not want him to trust him that it can not be done. My bariatric surgeon did my surgeries for hernia. But he is one of the best in this area. 

Daisy Mae, I have had this surgery twice.  Having it open was not an issue for me as I had open Gastric Bypass.  The first time, the surgeon cut the same line from Gastric surgery to do the hernia repair, just not as long, about 4 inches versus the 9 inch GBY line.  The second time, I had the hernia repaired at the same time as I had the Fleur de Lis Tummy Tuck.  Again, line was not an issue.  I have a very fine line running vertical from bottom of breast to pubic bone.  It is faint and very white.  I am sure someone does the incisional hernias as laparoscopic.  I would just check around if you do not want to go the open way.