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Surgical mesh is a loosely woven sheet which is used as either a permanent or temporary support for organs and other tissues during surgery. Surgical mesh is created from both inorganic and biological materials and is used in a variety of surgeries. Though hernia repair surgery is the most common application, it can also be used for reconstructive work, such as in pelvic organ prolapse.
Permanent meshes remain in the body, whereas temporary ones dissolve over time. For example, TIGR Matrix test mesh was shown in 2012 to fully dissolve after three years in a scientific trial on sheep. Some types of mesh combine permanent and temporary meshes such as Vipro, which includes both re-absorbable vipryl, made from polyglycolic acid, and prolene, a non-reabsorbable polypropylene.