I don't know about hernias, but the mesh treatment is common for women with pelvic organ displacement. It has a pretty low success rate-- essentially, disturbing the facia in surgery creates more problems than the mesh solves, as it is integral to tissue support. Additionally, the mesh itself can cause serious side effects. It's not uncommon for women to be able to feel it all the time, and sometimes the mesh migrates under the skin to a different part of the body and causes serious pain. Do your research on success rates and so on but f you are asymptomatic I wouldn't worry about it; I imagine you would develop symptoms if a loop of your bowel began to die off.
Oh yeah I heard about that, they use the same mesh which has had success on hernias to treat that, but its a different condition and often does not work the same. That's a whole other thing...I don't understand why they wouldn't come up with a better solution. Its as if they thought "Hey this usually works on this one condition, let's try it on this other one!"
As for hernias it seems mesh generally works, but like with any surgery there could be complications if the body doesn't accept it. I try not to read the horror stories online, because usually people who have success just go on and forget about it so they aren't busy posting their positive experience. Like, I know The Rock (actor/wrestler) had
three in 2013 where he posted they put mesh in, and he is obviously fine right now. I just don't get why there aren't more alternatives (there are some...a place in Florida that uses something where it sows up with muscle, and some place in Toronto that uses the body around as well.)
I'm not in pain, knock on wood, though I did feel kinda sore which freaked me out a bit (I don't right now, I feel fine) which is why it came roaring back in my mind.
Anesthesia can be freaky, though apparently they sometimes can use local for this one if its open surgery. Laparoscopic needs general, but it also has a quicker heal time and apparently less pain. Though it all depends on how experienced the surgeon is, whatever they're better at and more experienced with is what you'd want to have a more successful surgery when it comes to any condition.