Mesh: pros and cons

• Mesh was first used for hernia repair around 30 years ago. Early meshes were made of very tightly knitted polypropylene and were rightly considered a major advance in hernia repair at the time. 
• The older meshes were however quite stiff, didn't stretch much, didn't incorporate into the host tissues well, and often tended to shrink with time. This could lead to problems for some patients.
• Mesh is still widely used to aid hernia repair, but most modern day meshes are lightweight, lower density and are less liable to cause a 'foreign body feeling' than older meshes. They tend to mould with the abdominal wall better than the older meshes. They act as a scaffold for healing tissue in-growth and allow for some stretching. 
• Occasionally mesh can be become infected but careful surgery and antibiotics can minimise this risk.
• Some newer meshes are made of a synthetic inner component and a protective animal derived outer component. This may help reduce certain risks associated with mesh placement.