Hernia Mesh: What Can Go Wrong and Your Legal Options

Hernia mesh is a net-like device made to repair weak spots in the belly or groin. It helps prevent hernias from returning after surgery. It is commonly used, though some people have experienced problems such as pain, infection, hernia recurrence, scar tissue or mesh movement. Some of these patients have sued mesh manufacturers, saying they were not warned about the risks.

When used correctly, mesh can strengthen repairs and prevent a hernia from returning. But since the mesh stays in your body, the placement and type matter. Problems can show up later, like pain, swelling or trouble with your stomach or bowels.

Hernia mesh is a patch that can support a weak area in the muscle wall. Surgeons and doctors often use mesh because it reduces the risk of the hernia returning after surgery.

Since the implant stays in the body, its material, size and placement affect how well it works over time. Even a small issue can lead to pain, infection or the need for another surgery. Hernia mesh is designed to promote healing, but if it fails, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting.

Types of Hernia Mesh

Synthetic hernia meshes can be either permanent or absorbable. Permanent meshes are strong and remain in the body for life. They are made from materials like polypropylene and polyester.

Absorbable meshes are made from materials that slowly dissolve. They can last from a few days to a few years, depending on how long it takes the wound to heal.

Sometimes absorbable meshes dissolve too quickly, giving the tissue insufficient time to heal. Permanent meshes, however, can cause the body to react or form scar tissue. Newer meshes aim to solve these problems by combining both types of materials.

While synthetic meshes are common, they aren’t always the best choice. They shouldn’t be used if the area is infected or open, as they can lead to complications such as infection or mesh migration. In some cases, the mesh must be removed if it gets infected.

The FDA has received more than 55,000 reports of issues linked to hernia mesh repair. Problems can appear soon after surgery, or months or years later. This means that even if you felt fine at first, you could develop symptoms of a complication later on.

A 2024 study published in the journal Current Problems in Surgery found that 12% of patients suffer from chronic pain after having inguinal hernia mesh surgery. In contrast, only 6% of those who had the surgery without mesh experienced similar long-term pain.

A 2024 retrospective study published in Cureus found that 17.2% of hernia repair patients reported complications.

Common Signs of Hernia Mesh Problems

After hernia mesh surgery, watch for warning signs of complications. Awareness can help you catch problems early and get the right care.

If you have had hernia mesh surgery and notice any of these changes, talk to your doctor to learn about your options.

Serious Complications Linked to Lawsuits

Severe complications have led thousands of people to file hernia mesh lawsuits.

The most serious problems reported include mesh migration or severe infection, which requires revision or removal surgery. Some patients also experienced bowel adhesion or blockage, with tissue sticking to the implant. Patients may also have ongoing pelvic or groin pain that affects daily life.

FDA oversight and hernia mesh recalls inform people that some mesh products have had safety problems. Not all mesh implants are bad, but a few have had enough issues that these products were removed from the market.

Over 211,000 packages have been recalled since 2005, primarily classified by the FDA as Class 2 recalls due to temporary or reversible side effects. The most serious was C.R. Bard’s Kugel patch, classified as a Class 1 recall due to severe health risks. No major recalls have occurred since 2021. The three companies responsible for the most recalls were Bard Davol, Atrium and Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon.

These recalls help address patient concerns when symptoms occur after surgery, especially if their device was part of a batch with a known safety issue.

The FDA encourages patients and healthcare providers to report suspected medical device problems through MedWatch. This helps track complications and safety issues over time.

Tens of thousands of people have filed hernia mesh lawsuits, saying the devices caused serious complications and that manufacturers did not fully warn patients and doctors about the risks. Some of these have resulted in hernia mesh settlements.

Many of these claims have been grouped into multidistrict litigations (MDLs). These are federal court processes that bring similar cases together in a single court for pretrial work. This makes the legal process more efficient.

As of 2026, there were 26,153 hernia mesh cases in the active MDLs.