We are urgently raising concerns about the continued and expanding use of surgical mesh – specifically in breast reconstruction following cancer treatment and in cosmetic breast surgeries.

Despite the known, devastating harm caused by pelvic mesh and the widespread patient injuries that led to the Cumberlege Review, mesh is now being aggressively marketed to women again – this time as a tool to “support” implants in breast procedures.

Surgeons claim breast mesh improves breast surgical outcomes, yet this narrative echoes the same claims used to justify its earlier use in pelvic surgeries. Once again, we are seeing mesh promoted without sufficient long-term evidence of safety, and without adequately informing patients of the risks.

Most worryingly, we are aware of a current UK trial, called Restore B, comparing silicone implant only vs mesh with silicone implant in breast cancer reconstruction surgeries. The patient leaflet does not warn of mesh risks. Women undergoing these procedures are often in an extremely vulnerable position, focused on survival and recovery from cancer.

The use of mesh in such contexts – particularly within a trial setting – raises serious ethical concerns when fully informed consent is not being provided. We have heard from patients who were not told that mesh was being used at all or were not told of any potential long-term complications.

It is unacceptable that women are not being given comprehensive information about the risks associated with mesh, especially given the evidence that mesh particles can remain in the body and may trigger autoimmune responses – even after removal.

There is another type of repair for breast cancer patients using mesh. This is where a piece of stomach wall muscle is used to create a new breast, TRAM flap surgery. Women who don’t want a silicone breast implant tend to choose this option as they feel safer owing to it using their own tissue. However, in this surgery, the stomach wall is often “repaired” using artificial / polypropylene mesh. Scroll down within this Daily Mail article to read the experience of our Sling The Mesh member Linda Wiliams who had TRAM flap reconstruction Why are mesh victims still being betrayed two years after excoriating official inquiry? | Daily Mail Online

How do we know about breast mesh?

There is a small number of women who have joined the page – low numbers as why would a breast cancer patient visit a pelvic mesh group?

For example this Daily Mail story features our members After pelvic mesh scandal, women now face a new risk from surgical mesh used in breast reconstruction | Daily Mail Online

We only know about the trial of mesh + silicone vs silicone only, owing to a rectopexy mesh injured woman – and now cancer patient – being offered mesh as part of her breast reconstruction. She was horrified as she experienced the lack of informed consent for this trial – and only realised as she is well informed owing to her rectopexy mesh journey.

We first became aware of the TRAM flap surgery using a piece of stomach wall owing to a friend’s relative having this and being in agony afterwards. She suffered the classic autoimmune, pain, allergies and ibs symptoms of the pelvic mesh community – but, like the hallmark of the pelvic mesh scandal, her surgeon was adamant she was a mystery patient. She has since died. In agony in her stomach sadly.

The latest scientific findings published here from June 2025 reinforce our concerns: mesh materials may cause harm far beyond the original implantation site and time frame.

We urgently call on the Government and NHS regulators to:

• Suspend all mesh use in breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery until long-term safety is proven.
• Ensure women are fully informed about mesh materials being used in their surgeries, with comprehensive, clear consent procedures. Does the trial protocol include mesh risk?
• Investigate ongoing mesh trials to assess compliance with ethical standards and informed consent protocols.
• Include breast mesh use in national audits and registries, so long-term patient outcomes can be tracked and transparently reported.

We are aware that both plastic mesh and biological mesh may be used. We have members of Sling The Mesh with both types in all types of surgeries using mesh – but the number of members with plastic mesh complications far outweighs the number with biological mesh.

Conclusion

Once again, women are being exposed to material risks without proper information, consent, or oversight. We cannot allow the same mistakes that harmed thousands with pelvic mesh to be repeated under a different surgical label.

Submitted by Kath Sansom and Ruth MacLeod of Sling The Mesh

Health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures – Committees – UK Parliament