Many studies show that surgical hernia repair with the use of prosthetic meshes can result in pain, hernia recurrence, contraction and mesh rupture. Numerous experimental studies have been conducted to understand the effect of mesh stiffness, pore size and mesh patterns on mesh biocompatibility. The purpose of this mini review is to present an overview of the contracture, adhesion, tissue regrowth and histological response characteristics of permanent and absorbable mesh. Indeed, the mechanics of mesh-human tissue interaction is poorly understood in the literature. It has been shown that early integration of biological meshes is critical for sustained hernia repair. One of the emerging experimental approaches is to combine cell-based regenerative medicine with mesh materials. Studies in preclinical models show that the use of synthetic and biological meshes with autologous cell implantation improves the biocompatibility of biomaterials, promoting key tissue regeneration processes such as adhesion and vascularisation.