A surgical fastener system comprising a surgical fastener and a surgical fastener applier; the surgical fastener for securing mesh material to body tissue, comprising: a surgical tack having a pre-formed configuration and a formed configuration, the surgical tack in its pre-formed configuration including a pair of legs having a proximal end and a free distal end, the legs defining a vertical plane and further defining a centerline existing in the vertical plane, the centerline being substantially equidistant between the legs wherein the legs are substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the centerline, and the surgical tack further including an arcuate cross-member interconnecting proximal ends of the legs and defining a plane at an angle with respect to the vertical plane defined by the legs; and the surgical tack in its formed configuration including the legs deflected towards one another; such that when the surgical tack is driven through a mesh in its pre-formed configuration, the surgical tack is formed in its formed configuration; and the surgical fastener applier, comprising: a housing; an elongate tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tubular portion comprising: a bore therethrough; an elongate jacket having an inner surface defining a longitudinal main channel extending through the jacket, the main channel being adapted to receive the surgical fastener, the main channel having an inner surface that includes a pair of longitudinally extending sub channels formed along the inner surface, each of the pair of sub channels being adapted to receive at least a portion of a respective one of the pair of legs of the surgical fastener therein; a rotatable drive rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the drive rod extending axially through the jacket, the drive rod including a longitudinally extending helical thread, the helical thread defining a groove that is adapted to receive the arcuate cross-member of the surgical fastener therein; and a mechanism (206, 262, 264) operatively connected to the drive rod for rotating the drive rod to drive fasteners legs first from the distal end of the drive rod and from the distal end of the tubular portion. a surgical tack having a pre-formed configuration and a formed configuration, the surgical tack in its pre-formed configuration including a pair of legs having a proximal end and a free distal end, the legs defining a vertical plane and further defining a centerline existing in the vertical plane, the centerline being substantially equidistant between the legs wherein the legs are substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the centerline, and the surgical tack further including an arcuate cross-member interconnecting proximal ends of the legs and defining a plane at an angle with respect to the vertical plane defined by the legs; and a housing; an elongate tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate tubular portion comprising: a bore therethrough; an elongate jacket having an inner surface defining a longitudinal main channel extending through the jacket, the main channel being adapted to receive the surgical fastener, the main channel having an inner surface that includes a pair of longitudinally extending sub channels formed along the inner surface, each of the pair of sub channels being adapted to receive at least a portion of a respective one of the pair of legs of the surgical fastener therein; a rotatable drive rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the drive rod extending axially through the jacket, the drive rod including a longitudinally extending helical thread, the helical thread defining a groove that is adapted to receive the arcuate cross-member of the surgical fastener therein; and a mechanism (206, 262, 264) operatively connected to the drive rod for rotating the drive rod to drive fasteners legs first from the distal end of the drive rod and from the distal end of the tubular portion. a bore therethrough; an elongate jacket having an inner surface defining a longitudinal main channel extending through the jacket, the main channel being adapted to receive the surgical fastener, the main channel having an inner surface that includes a pair of longitudinally extending sub channels formed along the inner surface, each of the pair of sub channels being adapted to receive at least a portion of a respective one of the pair of legs of the surgical fastener therein; a rotatable drive rod having a proximal end and a distal end, the drive rod extending axially through the jacket, the drive rod including a longitudinally extending helical thread, the helical thread defining a groove that is adapted to receive the arcuate cross-member of the surgical fastener therein; and a mechanism (206, 262, 264) operatively connected to the drive rod for rotating the drive rod to drive fasteners legs first from the distal end of the drive rod and from the distal end of the tubular portion.