What Is Mesh and How Does It Work in Hernia Surgery?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a hernia, your doctor might have mentioned repairing the hernia with mesh,  but what is it, and why is it so common?

Mesh is medical-grade flexible material that reinforces weakened tissue and lowers your risk of future hernias in the same place. Understanding how mesh works can help ease your concerns and empower you to make informed decisions about your care.

Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, specializes in minimally invasive Robotic assisted laparoscopic hernia repair in Laguna Hills, California. Here’s what you need to know about how mesh works in hernia surgery.

The basics of mesh in hernia repair surgery

A hernia is a type of internal injury that develops when an internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak spot in your muscle wall, most often in your abdomen or groin. This can create a visible bulge and cause discomfort, especially when lifting, bending, or coughing.

Hernias don’t heal on their own, and they can gradually get worse over time. Surgery is the only effective treatment to repair your muscle wall and reduce the risk of complications like strangulation, where blood supply is cut off to part of your intestine.

Surgical mesh is a medical-grade material, like synthetic plastic (or sometimes biologic tissue) that we use to reinforce the weakened area in your muscle wall after we push the hernia back into place. 

The mesh acts like a supportive patch, covering the weak spot and giving your body a scaffold to heal over.

Over time, your own tissue grows into the mesh, strengthening the repair and lowering the chance that the hernia will come back.

Is mesh safe?

Yes, surgical mesh has been used safely in hernia repair for decades. While any surgery carries some risk, most patients tolerate mesh well, and it can significantly reduce the risk of hernia recurrence compared with repairs without mesh.

How we use mesh in Robotic assisted laparoscopic hernia repair

Dr. Klause specializes in Robotic assisted laparoscopic hernia surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique using small incisions and a camera to guide the repair. It’s an advanced approach that doesn’t require large incisions, and we can use surgical mesh in Robotic assisted laparoscopic hernia repair. Here’s how.

First, Dr. Klause makes small incisions near the site of your hernia, typically in your abdomen. She inserts a tiny camera (laparoscope) and specialized instruments to view and repair the hernia from the inside. 

Dr. Klause gently gently pushes the herniated tissue back into place and places mesh over the weakened area inside your abdominal wall and secures it with sutures, tacks, or glue.

Once the repair is complete, we remove the instruments and close the incisions. Because Robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery causes less trauma to the surrounding tissue, patients typically recover faster, experience less postoperative pain, and have less noticeable scarring compared with traditional open surgery.

Talk to us about your hernia repair options

Do you need hernia repair surgery? We offer comprehensive consultations to evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan that fits your specific needs.

For most people, minimally invasive hernia surgery with mesh offers quick recovery and long-term relief from hernia symptoms. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our Laguna Hills, California, office, and learn about your options to heal your hernia and protect your health.