Is Alloderm not sterile?

I'm about to have surgery, where my doctor is going to use Alloderm. After reading that Alloderm is not sterile, how concerned should I be?

4 answers to “Is Alloderm not sterile?”

A: Sterility and alloderm

Sam Jejurikar, MD

Hi, There is some confusion about the sterility of alloderm.  Because it is a biologic mesh which supports tissue ingrowth, it can't be sterilized in a traditional manner.  Traditional methods of sterilization involve using high heat to kill bacteria - in the case of Alloderm, that would destroy the... more

A: Is Alloderm not sterile?

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Mnjc, I am not sure where you read that AlloDerm (or its close product Strattice) is not sterile. This cannot be farther than the truth. Both products from Life Cell undergo a rigorous processing and ARE sterile. they have been used in various areas of surgery for years and have an established safety record. I... more

A: Alloderm is safe for implantation.

Lavinia Chong, MD

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... more

A: Alloderm is most certainly sterile

D.J. Verret, MD

Greetings, I am not sure what you are reading but Alloderm is sterile otherwise it could not get approval for implantation into the body. The product is safe and used in many different ways.

Post your question

AlloDerm: 2 reviews

50% said it was worth it

Post your question
IMPORTANT: As noted in our Terms of Service, the information found on RealSelf.com, including that provided by professionals in the Questions & Answers area, is a general educational aid. The Questions and Answers contain opinions and views created by community members. RealSelf.com is not responsible for the accuracy of any information posted by community members. Do not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical or healthcare advice, or for diagnosis or treatment purposes.