Galaflex mesh- what is it and why use it?
Sometimes for breast surgery we need mesh. Why? Mesh can be used for “soft tissue reinforcement.” This means:
- Give support. This is for implants which have migrated or stretched the skin, or for breast lifts that droop again, particularly in those after major weight loss or those with the anchor breast reduction.
- Thicken the tissue. Is your tissue really thin? Do you have visible rippling or wrinkling? Mesh can help smooth that out.
There are different kinds of mesh. The two most commonly used by plastic surgeons are ADM (Acellular Dermal Matrix) or Galaflex. ADM was the gold standard, but Galaflex is less expensive and may give better support (see my other blogs on Galaflex), so I have switched to using it. Galaflex is P4HB biosynthetic scaffold, monofilament, which takes 12-18 months to resorb.
Study: Looking at histology over time
Anytime you put something foreign in your body, the question is what is the downside? What happens over time? What does your body do? This study looked at just that,“Histomorphologic Outcomes of GalaFLEX Scaffold Used in Breast Surgery: Clinical Follow up for 6 Weeks to 63 Months.” Published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal November 2025
Study:
- Tissue biopsy specimens were looked at during revision surgery in 10 patients
- Time was 6 – 63 months
- Findings? NO evidence of chronic inflammation of foreign body response. Tissue was remodeled. It showed, “Slow scaffold degradation, neovascularization, and mononuclear cell infiltration that diminished with time, and a constructive remodeling response devoid of chronic inflammation or foreign body response.
Dr. Greenberg’s use of mesh + thoughts
I have used this mesh and am a fan. It is less expensive than ADM and studies show it is replaced by your body’s own tissue. The importance of this study is that your body doesn’t react to it as a foreign object- which would cause a lot of inflammation and encapsulation. Instead, it causes a tissue remodeling response, which is what we want.
Prior studies have shown it gives long term retention of breast position, structural support, and reduced capsular contracture rate.
Good to see. It is a small sample size but seems consistent.
Medical Citation
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding your health or medical condition.
