Besides a larger incision site what is the difference between open hernia repair and laparscopic hernia repair?

Incision site: The incision site and approach is the main difference. A laparoscopic repair is done with cameras. The hospital stay and morbidity is about the same between the two approaches. I would personally prefer a laparoscopic repair if eligible - your surgeon will determine if you eligible for that approach.

Lap is from behind.: The open approach is an anterior approach or one that repairs the hernia through the skin incision above the hernia. The laparoscopic repair is a posterior approach to the hernia . This technique from behind the hernia inlapherently has the advantage of a wider overlap of patch material which yields a lower recurrence rate in many cases.