What is Hernia Mesh?
Hernia mesh is a medical device made of either animal tissue or woven synthetic plastic (polypropylene or polyester) that resembles a piece of window screen. The mesh is available in many sizes, patches, or plugs and some are coated with absorbable fatty acids, cellulose or collagen to protect the internal organs.
Hernia Repair Surgery
Doctors use hernia mesh to repair weakened or damaged tissue that leads to hernias, and mesh is the standard treatment for hernia repair.
There are two types of surgeries commonly performed to repair hernias:
- Laparoscopic, in which the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts surgical tools through these openings. This technique typically involves a shorter healing time and less blood loss, but is more challenging and expensive to perform.
- Open, in which the surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen near the hernia to repair the weak muscle area. Recovery time generally takes about three weeks.
The mesh acts as flexible “scaffolding” to repair muscle walls and prevent organ perforation. Small pores in the mesh allow tissue to grow into the implant, and most mesh repairs are meant to be permanent.