the present invention provides efficient and reliable slings for use in treating males and females the sling is particularly suitable for pelvic floor reconstruction surgery and for treating urinary incontinence the features of the invention as described herein provide a surgical sling having at least two different elongation characteristics along its surface area in addition the slings may be coated with for example a silicone coating such coating is believed to contribute to the desired elongation properties of the mesh assist with ensuring biocompatibility and provide a carrier for anti microbial agents referring to fig1 an enlarged plan view of a material 10 according to one aspect of the invention includes a material that is a surgical mesh 12 individual strands or filaments 14 collectively form a multifilament yarn 16 that can be woven or braided 18 to form the desired weave the weave leads to a pattern of holes or pores 24 materials suitable for use in fabricating the coated slings of the present invention include man made materials such as filamentous mesh materials filamentous mesh materials include synthetic fibers such as polyester polyurethane nylon or polypropylene which can be woven or braided to form a mesh 12 the filaments in such materials may be oriented in a single direction or may be multidirectional as will be further described below the pattern formed by the weave can be designed so as.