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Mesh surgery complications are adverse effects following the implantation of surgical mesh, a screen-like medical device used to reinforce weakened tissue for conditions like pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and hernias. While many surgeries are successful, complications can be severe and life-altering.
Common complications include:
Due to the high risk-to-benefit ratio, the FDA ordered manufacturers to stop selling transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse repair in 2019. However, mesh is still used for SUI and hernia repairs. Studies reveal that approximately 60% of women with complications require two or more interventions, and even after revision surgery, persistent pain affects 50% of cases.
I'm Tim Burd, CEO of Justice Hero. We've helped thousands of individuals affected by mesh surgery complications understand their rights and connect with legal experts. We are committed to providing clear, accurate information to empower you to make informed decisions.
Surgical mesh is a medical device, often resembling a screen or net, used by surgeons to reinforce weak or damaged tissue. It acts as a scaffold to promote stronger healing and is most commonly used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and hernias.
Most surgical mesh is a permanent implant made from synthetic polymers like polypropylene. This material is designed to provide long-term support. Other types include absorbable meshes, which the body breaks down over time, and biologic meshes made from processed animal tissue (from pigs or cows).
Factors like childbirth, aging, and genetics can weaken a woman's pelvic floor muscles and tissues. Mesh provides extra support when these structures can no longer hold pelvic organs in place.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): This occurs when pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, rectum) drop and bulge into the vagina. Surgeons have used mesh to reinforce the vaginal wall, providing more durable support than stitches alone. While transvaginal mesh for POP has been largely discontinued due to high complication rates, mesh is still used through abdominal incisions (a transabdominal approach).
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): This is urine leakage during activities like coughing, sneezing, or exercising. The most common surgical fix is a midurethral sling, a narrow strip of mesh placed under the urethra to provide support and prevent leakage. These slings are considered the standard surgical treatment for SUI.
Hernia Repair: Mesh reinforces the weak spot in the abdominal or groin wall, significantly reducing the chance of the hernia returning.
While mesh surgery helps many people, mesh surgery complications can create new, sometimes debilitating, problems. Understanding both the benefits and the risks is critical.
While mesh surgery can be beneficial, mesh surgery complications range from minor issues to severe, life-altering problems. The risks depend on the type of mesh, its placement, and your body's individual response.
Transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has been the most problematic, leading the FDA to halt its sale for this purpose in 2019.
For more on hernia-specific issues, see: Hernia Mesh Complications and Problems
Be vigilant for these red flags after mesh surgery:
Complications can appear years later. Learn more here: Hernia Mesh Side Effects Years Later
Even with successful placement, your original condition can return. After sling release surgery, about 40% of women experience recurrent SUI. Similarly, up to one-third of patients see their prolapse or incontinence return after mesh revision surgery.
For information on umbilical hernias, read: Belly Button Hernia Mesh Complications
If you suspect mesh surgery complications, getting a proper diagnosis is the first step toward recovery. It's best to see a specialist in urogynecology or female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.
Your doctor will take a detailed medical history, including your symptoms and information about your original mesh surgery. Be prepared to discuss how your symptoms affect your daily life. A thorough pelvic exam is crucial to check for visible mesh erosion, tenderness, or scarring.
When a physical exam isn't enough, your doctor may use diagnostic tests:
Not all complications require surgery. Treatment plans are custom to the severity and type of complication.
Conservative Treatments: These are often the first approach. They include oral medications for pain and inflammation, topical vaginal estrogen for minor erosions, and antibiotics for infection. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be highly effective for managing pain and improving muscle function. Trigger point injections of local anesthetic can also provide temporary pain relief.
Surgical Intervention: When conservative methods fail, surgery may be necessary. Mesh revision surgery involves trimming the problematic portion of the mesh. For more severe, widespread pain, complete mesh removal is often the goal. Experts generally prefer complete removal in a single surgery, as partial removal can complicate future surgeries if symptoms persist. Complete removal is a complex procedure that requires a highly skilled surgeon, sometimes using minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques.
For more on clinical approaches, see this guidance: Best practices in diagnosis and treatment
Surgery to fix mesh surgery complications is a major decision with its own set of risks and unpredictable outcomes.
Risks: Revision surgery carries a risk of injury to the bladder, bowel, blood vessels, and nerves. Ironically, removing the mesh can cause the original problem to return. Recurrent stress urinary incontinence occurs in about 40% of women after sling release, and recurrent prolapse affects up to one-third of patients after revision surgery. Furthermore, 60% of women require two or more interventions to manage their complications.
Benefits: The primary benefit is relief. Successful surgery can significantly reduce chronic pain, resolve painful intercourse, and restore normal bladder and bowel function, dramatically improving quality of life.
Long-Term Outcomes: Outcomes vary. It's a stark reality that even after revision surgery, 50% of patients continue to experience pain or painful intercourse. While many patients report functional improvements, a significant number do not. One two-year study found that 29% of women reported the same or worse symptoms after treatment. It is crucial to have realistic expectations and discuss them thoroughly with your surgeon.
Understanding the financial and legal aspects is also important: How Long Does It Take to Get a Hernia Mesh Settlement?
Making informed decisions and knowing how to respond to potential complications are essential for protecting your health.
Trust your instincts. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following after mesh surgery:
Early intervention is key to managing mesh surgery complications effectively.
Even if you feel fine, attend all routine follow-up appointments. These visits allow your doctor to catch potential issues early. If you experience complex complications, ask for a referral to a urogynecologist. These specialists have advanced training in diagnosing and treating pelvic floor disorders and mesh-related problems.
Before any mesh surgery, you have a right to get clear answers. Ask your surgeon these essential questions:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken significant action regarding surgical mesh for female pelvic floor repair.
In 2016, the FDA reclassified transvaginal mesh for POP repair to a higher-risk category. By April 2019, the agency took the major step of ordering manufacturers to stop selling and distributing it, concluding the risks outweighed the benefits. You can read the announcement here: FDA strengthens requirements for surgical mesh.
Currently, transvaginal mesh is no longer an option for POP repair in the U.S. Surgeons now use native tissue repair or abdominal mesh procedures (like sacrocolpopexy), which have lower complication rates. For stress urinary incontinence, midurethral slings using synthetic mesh remain FDA-approved, but patients should discuss all alternatives with their doctors. The FDA's actions highlight the seriousness of mesh surgery complications.
When facing potential mesh surgery complications, it's natural to have questions. Here are answers to some of the most common concerns we hear at Justice Hero.
Yes, mesh can be removed, but it is a complex surgery that should only be performed by a highly experienced specialist. Over time, body tissues grow into and around the mesh, making its removal a delicate and challenging procedure. The success of the surgery and the potential for symptom improvement depend heavily on the surgeon's skill.
For localized problems, a surgeon might perform a partial removal, trimming only the problematic section. However, for widespread pain, complete removal is often the recommended goal. Partial removal can sometimes lead to persistent symptoms and make future surgeries more difficult. While many patients experience significant relief after removal, some continue to have symptoms, and the original condition (prolapse or incontinence) may return.
This varies by procedure, but two complications stand out for their frequency and impact.
Mesh erosion (exposure), where the mesh pokes through the vaginal wall, is a widely reported and measurable issue. Rates are relatively low for SUI slings (1-2%) but were dramatically higher for the now-banned transvaginal mesh for POP (up to 20% or more).
Chronic pain is an equally significant and debilitating complication. While harder to quantify in some studies, its impact on a person's quality of life is devastating. Relentless pelvic or groin pain can make it impossible to work, sit comfortably, or be intimate. Even after revision surgery, persistent pain affects about 50% of patients.
Yes, and it is crucial to discuss these with your doctor. For pelvic organ prolapse, surgeons can perform a native tissue repair (like colporrhaphy), using your own tissues and stitches to reinforce the weakened area. This avoids the risks of a permanent synthetic implant.
For stress urinary incontinence, the Burch colposuspension is a time-tested, non-mesh surgery that uses sutures to support the urethra.
Non-surgical options are also available. Pelvic floor physical therapy can strengthen pelvic muscles and improve symptoms without surgery. Pessaries, which are removable devices inserted into the vagina for support, are another effective way to manage symptoms. A good surgeon will explain all available options, allowing you to make an informed choice.
If you are struggling with mesh surgery complications, you are not alone, and you have options. At Justice Hero, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll these issues can take.
Surgical mesh was intended to fix conditions like POP and SUI, but for many, the device itself became the problem. Complications like chronic pain, mesh erosion, and organ damage can be devastating. The FDA's 2019 ban on transvaginal mesh for POP underscores these risks. Even after corrective surgery, many patients face persistent pain or a recurrence of their original condition. Diagnosis requires a specialist, and treatment can range from physical therapy to complex removal surgery, which carries its own risks.
Your voice matters. If you feel your symptoms are being dismissed, advocate for yourself. Seek a second opinion or a referral to a urogynecologist who specializes in mesh complications. You know your body best. Pain and a diminished quality of life are valid concerns that deserve serious medical attention.
If you've suffered from serious mesh surgery complications, you may have legal rights. This is about holding manufacturers accountable for putting products on the market without adequate testing or sufficient warnings about their risks. Thousands of individuals have pursued legal action to obtain compensation for their medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
These lawsuits have been instrumental in bringing the dangers of certain mesh devices to light, contributing to regulatory actions like the FDA's ban. At Justice Hero, our mission is to help people harmed by corporate negligence understand their legal options. We simplify the legal process and connect you with qualified attorneys who specialize in mesh litigation.
Navigating a legal claim while managing your health can be daunting, but you don't have to do it alone. We provide the resources and connections to help you fight for the justice you deserve.
If you want to understand more about the legal process and potential compensation, we have the information to guide you: Learn more about Hernia Mesh Lawsuit Settlements and Compensation Information
Your journey with mesh complications has been difficult, but taking the first step toward advocating for your health and your rights is an act of courage. We are here to support you.
