Newport Beach AlloDerm doctors

Alloderm and Strattice are products of LifeCell corporation and are acellular cadaveric (human or porcine) dermal grafts. I have used Alloderm since 1995, first in burn reconstruction, then head and neck reconstruction, during my residency. I used it briefly as a lip implant, however its most popular use is in breast cancer reconstruction where it is employed as an "inferolateral" sling to keep the breast implant or tissue expander in position as well as to "buttress" or thicken the lower part of the mastectomy flap.

Anecdotally, these breast implant patients have been well served by lower than average rates of scar accumulation around these devices. These acellular dermal grafts fuse with the native tissue, as blood vessels grow into it. The rates of "rejection" are extremely rare, however it is very possible to develop a "seroma", or a collection of fluid, which interferes with the graft's adherence. It is typical to use a closed suction drain as well as activity restriction and compression garments, to prevent the protein rich fluid from becoming infected. It is widely held that this "incorporation" phase generally takes 2 weeks. After this time, the chance of "rejection" is extremely low.

The main clinical difference between the two is the distensibility of the grafts. Strattice feels stiffer and so is better matched with abdominal hernia repair and possibly with stabilization of large volume breast implants. Hope this helps.

You should not be concerned about sterility issues with Alloderm. I have used the product since 1995 (initially in burn reconstruction and more recently, in breast reconstruction) and can attest that the manufacturer, LifeCell has extremely high quality control standards in production as well as in tracking any "complications", such as seroma, infection, delayed wound healing, transmissible viral particles. To my knowledge, there have never been any infections reported. The process by which it is prepared will ensure that the graft remains its ability to "grow" into and fuse with the patient's own tissues. Hope this helps. good luck.

The cost of Alloderm is absorbed by the insurance company, if the case is reconstructive in nature. There are established codes for breast reconstruction and hernia repair, which include the cost of Alloderm. It is an expensive product and its cost depends on both the size (cm) as well as thickness. LifeCell the company which makes Alloderm also makes Strattice (porcine "pig" acellular cadaveric dermal graft), which is slightly less expensive. In revisional cosmetic procedures, many surgeons favor Strattice both because of its price but also because of its greater rigidity, which can be used to improve "bottoming out", symmastia ("uniboob") or lateralization. The price is generally included in the surgeon's estimate. Good luck.