The latest techniques for the open repair of groin hernia use special absorbable implants leaving behind a tiny amount of foreign material.

Many inguinal hernia are now being repaired laparoscopically. The requirements for an ideal lap-hernia mesh are that it is easy to unfold and manipulate in the body, and that it is macroporus to allow quick incorporation into the host tissue. It is also a considerable advantage if the mesh is sufficiently transparent to enable the viewing of structures and the defect through the mesh during implantation.