My son also had the hernia operation when he was 3. The doctors who did the operation and the anesthetic were very kind and skillful, my son was on full anesthetics during the operation. He was like normal after he woke up from the anethetics and asking for food and play. He stayed in the hospital for 1 night because we just want to be sure, and he was jumping and running the next morning. He never complained about any pain.