What's Your Position on AlloDerm? Conservative Patient Has Severe Scarring in Implant

asked 1 year ago by AlloDerm in California
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,516 times
Tags: breasts, scar

I have severe scaring from breast implant and need to have another procedure to remove scar and re insert implant. Doctor suggest to put in AlloDerm to minimize future scaring. I am very conservative and not really convinced that I want it. It's a foreign object that could have unnecessary complications, how small the chance it might be. It's not like I had a mastectomy. Would you say there's a good arguement for and against the AlloDerm in breast implants? Thank you for your time.

6 answers to What's Your Position on AlloDerm? Conservative Patient Has Severe Scarring in Implant

Capsular Contracture

The use of AlloDerm for patients who develop capsular contracture to decrease that possibility is being studied.. not proven at this time. You need to make sure that you are comfortable with your decision for revisionary surgery. You must understand that (with or without the Alloderm) you do have the chance of getting the scar tissue again after your revisionary surgery. Some patients choose to have the revision surgery, some choose to remove their implants completely.... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Does AlloDerm have any impact in the treatment of capsular contracture?

Great question. First, if this is your FIRST bout of scar tissue around your implant, I personally would not jump to AlloDerm. Rather, I would perform a total capsulectomy (removal of scar tissue) and place a new implant in a new virgin pocket (example, transitioning your new implant from the above the muscle position to under the muscle or dual place). I reserve the use of AlloDerm in recurrent capsular contracture cases where other more established/traditional... more

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Alloderm is a natural solution to breast implant capsule scarring

Alloderm is what is called an "acellular dermal graft" which means that it is made from the dermis (deep layer) of the skin with all of the cells removed. It is basically a collagen matrix that is identical in everyone so the body does not see it as a foreign object. Because of that, it serves as a template for your own tissue to grow into it and become permanent. One of the most useful applications of it is the exact situation you describe; when scar tissue has to be removed,... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Is alloderm useful to prevent capsular contraction?

I have a lot of experience with Alloderm as well as Flex HD and Allomax. These products have in my opinion, revolutionized the implant based breast reconstruction. I believe they do lessen capsular contraction. They also have been used in revision of breast augmentation complications, like rippling, capsular contraction and implant displacements. The problem in using them in cosmetic patients is the high cost which often is not reimbursed by insurance.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

Alloderm breast capsular contracture

The track record for Alloderm has been really for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Patients who undergo a mastectomy and have implant-based breast reconstruction are at higher rates of capsular contracture versus patients who have implants for breast augmentation. Does Alloderm decrease capsular contracture in breast reconstruction is being actively studied, but there is no conclusive evidence that the use of Alloderm will decrease the rate of high-grade capsular... more

Peter Ashjian, MD
Bakersfield Plastic Surgeon

Alloderm, breast augmentation, breast enhancement, breast augmentation revsion, Dr. Whitfield, whitfieldplasticsurgery

Breast impants which develop significant capsular contractures are difficult to deal with. Alloderm has been used for multiple purposes for breast implant revsion for rippling in cosmetic implant surgery. Alloderm has been used for multiple years for freast reconstruction and it has been associated with a decrease in capsular contracture by some surgeons. If you have recurring problems with implants the devices can be removed and if possible you could later have... more

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

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