An incision guide and wound closure device (10,110,210,310,410) comprising: a surgical mesh (12,112,412) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A) affixed to said top surface of said surgical mesh, said first incision guide having a first end, a second end, and a first alignment surface extending between said first and second ends thereof; a second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) affixed to said top surface of said surgical mesh adjacent said first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A), said second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) having a first end, a second end, and a second alignment surface extending between said first and second ends thereof that opposes said first alignment surface of said first incision guide; a closing element engageable with said first and second incision guides, said closing element being moveable between said first and second ends of said respective first and second incision guides for drawing said first and second alignment surfaces (44A,44B) toward one another; said first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A) includes a first base secured to said top surface of said surgical mesh (12,112,412) and a first flange projecting upwardly from said first base, and wherein said second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) includes a second base secured to said top surface of said surgical mesh and a second flange projecting upwardly from said second base; characterised in that said closing element is adapted to slide over said first and second flanges (36A,36B) for drawing said first and second incision guides toward one another for closing an incision opening; said first flange has a first outer surface and a first inner surface defining a first elongated channel that extends along a length of said first flange, and said second flange has a second outer surface and a second inner surface defining a second elongated channel that extends along a length of said second flange; and said closing element comprises: a slideable element adapted to slide over said first and second outer surfaces (42A,42B) of said respective first and second flanges (36A,36B); an elongated core (30,230,330) coupled with said slideable element for being pulled through said first and second elongated channels of said first and second flanges as said slideable element moves from said first end to said second end of said respective first and second incision guides. a surgical mesh (12,112,412) having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A) affixed to said top surface of said surgical mesh, said first incision guide having a first end, a second end, and a first alignment surface extending between said first and second ends thereof; a second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) affixed to said top surface of said surgical mesh adjacent said first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A), said second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) having a first end, a second end, and a second alignment surface extending between said first and second ends thereof that opposes said first alignment surface of said first incision guide; a closing element engageable with said first and second incision guides, said closing element being moveable between said first and second ends of said respective first and second incision guides for drawing said first and second alignment surfaces (44A,44B) toward one another; said first incision guide (20A,120A,220A,320A) includes a first base secured to said top surface of said surgical mesh (12,112,412) and a first flange projecting upwardly from said first base, and wherein said second incision guide (20B,120B,220B,320B) includes a second base secured to said top surface of said surgical mesh and a second flange projecting upwardly from said second base; characterised in that said closing element is adapted to slide over said first and second flanges (36A,36B) for drawing said first and second incision guides toward one another for closing an incision opening; said first flange has a first outer surface and a first inner surface defining a first elongated channel that extends along a length of said first flange, and said second flange has a second outer surface and a second inner surface defining a second elongated channel that extends along a length of said second flange; and said closing element comprises: a slideable element adapted to slide over said first and second outer surfaces (42A,42B) of said respective first and second flanges (36A,36B); an elongated core (30,230,330) coupled with said slideable element for being pulled through said first and second elongated channels of said first and second flanges as said slideable element moves from said first end to said second end of said respective first and second incision guides. a slideable element adapted to slide over said first and second outer surfaces (42A,42B) of said respective first and second flanges (36A,36B); an elongated core (30,230,330) coupled with said slideable element for being pulled through said first and second elongated channels of said first and second flanges as said slideable element moves from said first end to said second end of said respective first and second incision guides.