A surgical assembly comprising: a surgical introducer having a handle portion and a needle portion extending outwardly to a free distal end from a first end of the handle portion; first and second sheath elements (104, 104a) each having a proximal end, a closed tissue penetrating distal end (105, 105a), a channel extending therein from an opening at the proximal end to the closed distal end, and a side aperture extending into said channel, said side aperture being defined by a peripheral edge; an implant comprised of a substantially flat, flexible, biocompatible material, and having first and second ends coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second sheath elements respectively; wherein the channels of the first and second sheath elements are dimensioned to slidably receive therein through the side aperture the needle portion of the introducer, characterised in that: the surgical introducer has at least a first retaining device extending outwardly therefrom, wherein for each of the first and second sheath elements when the needle portion of the introducer is so received therein, the peripheral edge of the side aperture is configured to be removably coupled to the retaining device to thereby fixedly secure the sheath element to the introducer, wherein the retaining device is a projection extending outwardly from the handle portion of the introducer. a surgical introducer having a handle portion and a needle portion extending outwardly to a free distal end from a first end of the handle portion; first and second sheath elements (104, 104a) each having a proximal end, a closed tissue penetrating distal end (105, 105a), a channel extending therein from an opening at the proximal end to the closed distal end, and a side aperture extending into said channel, said side aperture being defined by a peripheral edge; an implant comprised of a substantially flat, flexible, biocompatible material, and having first and second ends coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second sheath elements respectively; wherein the channels of the first and second sheath elements are dimensioned to slidably receive therein through the side aperture the needle portion of the introducer, characterised in that: the surgical introducer has at least a first retaining device extending outwardly therefrom, wherein for each of the first and second sheath elements when the needle portion of the introducer is so received therein, the peripheral edge of the side aperture is configured to be removably coupled to the retaining device to thereby fixedly secure the sheath element to the introducer, wherein the retaining device is a projection extending outwardly from the handle portion of the introducer. the surgical introducer has at least a first retaining device extending outwardly therefrom, wherein for each of the first and second sheath elements when the needle portion of the introducer is so received therein, the peripheral edge of the side aperture is configured to be removably coupled to the retaining device to thereby fixedly secure the sheath element to the introducer, wherein the retaining device is a projection extending outwardly from the handle portion of the introducer.