There is an increasing use of meshes to surgically repair or reconstruct anatomical defects. The surgical mesh firmly augments the debilitated area, provides a tension-free repair and facilitates the incorporation of fibrocollagenous tissue into the surgical mesh. However, the variant of mesh that facilitates best surgical practice is controversial. Surgical meshes have been predominantly designed with greater emphasis being placed on enhancing the biocompatibility of surgical meshes rather than on the engineering parameters. There is abundant evidence indicating a relationship between post-operative complications and the mesh design. Yet, the design of surgical meshes from an engineering perspective has to come to fruition. This article endeavours to present a synopsis of the current state of the science of surgical meshes, their clinical applications and the current trends in research.