6 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 2 0
While there's signifi-
cant variation in mesh
size, type and style,
there are three cate-
gories virtually all
surgical mesh falls
into:
• Synthetics. This
type of mesh, which is
made from perma-
nent synthetic materi-
als — such as polypropylene — is still the standard of care for
hernia repair. The cheapest option, this mesh category has stood
the test of time and has the lowest recurrence rate among the
three major mesh options. Depending on your vendor discounts, it
generally costs between $40 to $100, and it's permanent —
meaning it doesn't absorb into the patient's tissue.
• Biologics. A type of mesh made from organic biomaterial
that completely absorbs into the patient, biologics are signifi-
cantly more expensive (costs can reach thousands of dollars)
than synthetics. While biologics generally have a higher recur-
rence rate than synthetics — making them a poor choice for
most hernia cases — an absorbable option is sometimes used
in plastics cases. Some argue the whole push for biological
mesh is centered around the fact that this option could poten-
tially have a lower infection rate. However, synthetics have an
extremely low infection rate if they're put in the right way.
Know Your Mesh Types
PRODUCT REVIEW
Beverly
Hills
(Calif.)
Hernia
Center
