Surgical stainless steel, also often referred to as implant grade stainless steel. Like other forms of steel, surgical stainless steel is nonporous. While steel isn’t truly stainless, as the name implies, its nonporous quality makes it highly stain –resistant, since surface substances can be easily wiped away. This quality is particularly important for surgical applications because dirt, grime and microbes can’t penetrate the metals surface, so it is highly hygienic and easily sterilized.