Question
I'm going to get an organic bladder sling made of pigs skin. Are there any more risks to getting that kind instead of the mesh kind?
Answer
Both synthetic polypropylene and acellular porcine dermis (pig skin) mesh slings are considered safe and effective for the treatment of female stress incontinence. In general, I advise patients that their main priority should be choosing the surgeon and then let the surgeon decide upon the details of the operation and materials to use.
I believe that the process that prepares the pig skin is meant to remove all the cells and living material so that only collagen (an acellular material) remains. The FDA has reviewed and approved this process. To my knowledge, this material is not "organic" in the culinary sense, but it's just not a synthetic product. I have used both of these materials and had very good outcomes with both, however detailed questions about surgical risks should be directed to your surgeon.