After hernia surgery, what do I need to do to be cleared to exercise the privileges of my PPL?
What makes you think you need to inform the FAA of your status? I know of no rule that requires notifying the FAA until you go for your next medical. The FAA has a list of disqualifying medical conditions, and hernias aren’t among them. They do recommend that you not fly for 5-times the maximal hour dose interval after taking certain medications, but presumably you are off the pain meds by now. 

If your doctor clears you for normal activity (including driving) then you would have no reason to know of any medical condition that would make you unable to meed the requirements of the medical certificate.


  14 CFR §61.53   Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.
  
  (a) Operations that require a medical certificate. Except as provided
  for in paragraph (b) of this section, no person who holds a medical
  certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter may act as pilot in
  command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight
  crewmember, while that person:
  
  (1) Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would
  make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical
  certificate necessary for the pilot operation; or
  
  (2) Is taking medication or receiving other treatment for a medical
  condition that results in the person being unable to meet the
  requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot
  operation.