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can scar tissue be removed?
I had a progrip mesh hernia repair in 2019, which was removed in 2020. After the original repair and even after the mesh removal, I have continuously felt a tightness right near my pubic bone. I assume that this is from scar tissue formed by mesh and also from the mesh removal.
Can this scar tissue be removed (perhaps during a hernia repair, if the hernia recurs)?
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7 Replies
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I don’t think that the premise that open implantation requires open removal and laparoscopic implantation requires laparoscopic removal is correct. I think that the premise is based on the thought that only disturbing tissue that has already been disturbed is desirable. But the muscle wall has already been penetrated by the hernia and the mesh itself has damaged the muscle wall due to constant inflammation.
Unfortunately, because there is no effort to track or study the facts of mesh removal, we are all just left with educated guesses and opinions, or the track records of people that have removed mesh.
It’s all part of the avoidance of the reality that mesh is not the great benefit to society that it is sold as, and that there are corporate interests that only see the large revenue stream that mesh generates. It is a multi-billion dollar industry.
Still no registry of mesh devices, and certainly no conferences that include mesh removal as a topic. And, even worse, skilled surgeons are apparently deciding not to remove mesh anymore. But they still implant it.
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Something I’m still not sure about – can any imaging accurately detect scar tissue and/or adhesions?
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@GoodIntentions Not to hijack the thread, but it is probably worth mentioning that Dr Meyers of the Vincera Institute only performs open surgeries, to the best of my knowledge. If your mesh implant was performed laparoscopically/robotically, I believe you would need to look elsewhere for a laparoscopic removal procedure.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by mitchtom6.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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I’d wonder if the mesh removal were complete. The densest area of mesh adherence is at the pubic tubercle. Also, I’ve seen a lot of situations where patients were told the mesh was removed and I go in and there is still a lot of mesh that remains.
Scar tissue can entrap nerves or cause intestinal adhesions but in and of itself is usually not a source pain. It’s also not strong enough to prevent hernias in most cases.
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There’s a lot of talk around here about scar tissue remodeling and being more natural than mesh, which certainly is true. But it does make you wonder how much scar tissue can ultimately remodel and how long it takes. Seems there are lots of folks with scar tissue and adhesion issues that have problems for long periods of time.
I’ve also spoken with Howard Schubiner, a leading pain specialist, who said scar tissue really shouldn’t cause any pain. Though I’ve often had a hard time accepting that myself.
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I have had correspondence with the Vincera Institute in the past. They might offer some advice on what is possible. They have seen mesh problems and know how to deal with them. I wish that somebody like Dr. Meyers would write a book about what he’s seen and what he thinks could/should be done to correct the mesh pain pandemic.
https://vincerainstitute.com/why-vincera/
https://vincerainstitute.com/appointment-request
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Good intentions.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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I would pose this question to a surgeon that is a specialist in hernia repair and extremely good. Most surgeons would want to entirely avoid that scar tissue and and go in from the other side. I’m not sure where you’re located but if in Europe maybe consider speaking with Ralph Lorenz or Andreas Koch.
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