Prior publications of the Surgical Clinics of North America have highlighted the technical challenges of abdominal wall reconstruction. In 2008, the issue dedicated to abdominal wall reconstruction discussed the biology of hernia formation, the history of hernia repair, open and laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, and the benefits of the use of prosthetic mesh on patient outcomes. Despite the vast selection of mesh brands available, nearly all mesh continues to use 1 of 3 basic materials—polypropylene, polyester, or polytetrafluoroethylene in various combinations with or without barrier coating. The mesh types differ in many characteristics, including their tensile strength, elasticity, and weight, which depends on pore size and the weight of the polymer. Heavy weight mesh uses thick polymers, small pore size, and high tensile strength, whereas light weight mesh uses thinner polymers and larger pores
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