The present invention relates to a biodegradable mesh implant for use in soft tissue repair, in particular surgical hernia or fistula repair, within the body of a patient. The mesh implant comprises a porous, hydrophilic biodegradable polymeric carrier mesh 10 having a water contact angle of less than 75° and being made of at least a first polymer comprising polylactic acid, and fibroblasts 16 on or within the polymeric carrier mesh.