Gai Thompson is in no doubt about the significance of the first day of a landmark Australian court case by more than 700 women against Johnson & Johnson that starts on Tuesday.

"But at the end of the day we're not going to get our lives back," Mrs Thompson said.

"No amount of money will make up for what we've suffered."

Shine Lawyers will launch one of Australia's largest product liability class actions against Johnson & Johnson and allege its pelvic mesh implants have left thousands of women suffering painful and life-altering complications.