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What is Alloderm?

my research of Mastectomy shows that some surgeons used Alloderm. Wondering what it is and how it helps the Mastectomy recovery

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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What is Alloderm?

Alloderm is a collagen matrix that is acellular in nature. That is to say, it is cadaver skin that has had all the cells taken out of it, and just leaves the collagen behind. It is like having a shell of a building there, without all the walls, furniture, and people living inside. This makes it easy for your own body to incorporate your own blood vessels and tissue into the Alloderm. This is being used most currently for hernia operations to cover the hernia, but also in breast... more

Dan Mills, MD

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Orange County Plastic Surgeon

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Alloderm is used in breast reconstruction

Alloderm is a regenerative tissue matrix that is used to improve the breast pocket in breast reconstruction with implants or expanders, It is made from huma skin that is washed free of cells, including human cells, bacteria, and viruses. Your body cannot be infected by or reject Alloderm. It is actually incorporated into natural tissues, unlike other tissue matrices on the market. Alloderm is used to cover the implant or expander, and to control the shape and size of the new breast. more

Alloderm is a regenerative tissue matirx for breast reconstruction

About 10 years ago I started using alloderm for breast reconstruction cases where an extra layer of support was needed for the implants. I subsequently published an article proving that it becomes living tissue in this application, and it has now become a standard technique. It is made from human skin from a tissue bank, and was originally developed to replace the deep layer of skin for burn victims. It consists of the deeper skin layer with all of the cells removed, so it is essentially a... more

Alloderm and its use in breast reconstruction.

Alloderm is an acellular dermal matrix that is used for breast reconstruction. Our bodies use the allograft as a scaffold in which to incorporate (grow into) new tissue. It is sewn from the muscle to the chest wall in order to stabilize the tissue expander. The tissue expander is placed under the muscle and alloderm. Your breast skin will then grow into the alloderm forming an extra protective layer between the implant and the outside world. You often need fewer offices visits to place... more

Alloderm?

Thanks for the question. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is a biological implant that carries the ability to become integrated into native tissue. It is made by taking a full thickness section of skin from a donor source (human cadaver, porcine, or bovine in origin). In the case of human donors, the tissue is screened for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Cellular elements are removed from the tissue. ADM can be helpful in improving contour for significant... more

AlloDerm in breast reconstruction

AlloDerm, as my colleagues have stated, is an acellular dermis matrix product (ie a sheet of collagen harvest from a human cadaveric course). This matrix of collagen creates a retaining envelope or hammock for the implant. This helps to create a more natural and aesthetically pleasing breast contour and shape.

Alloderm for eyelid reconstruction

Alloderm is an acellular dermal matrix - derived from cadaveric skin which i stripped of the antigenic epidermis and then treated with chemical, irradiated and freeze dried. It is useful in eyelid reconstruction, particularly in patients with eyelid retraction or scarring.

Alloderm is a protein lattice for your own tissue ingrowth

Alloderm is basically donor skin that is freeze dried and chemically treated to remove all cells and cell markers(antigens) that a recipient patient's body could recognize as foreign material. The Alloderm at the time of implantation is rehydrated then placed in whatever position either volume or tissue reinforcement is desired. To understand what happens, think of the wood lattice that one would place for vines to grow up a wall. The same thing happens with... more

Alloderm in breast reconstruction

Alloderm is a human-derived biological tissue. It is chemically treated and is devoid of cells leaving behind a framework of collagen protein, an acellular dermal matrix or ADM. It is safe and has changed the way many plastic surgeons do breast reconstruction with implants. I have used it extensively over the past 5 years and it has allowed me to achieve more natural breast shapes from the very start. It has also allowed me to use breast reconstruction with... more

Alloderm breast reconstruction

Alloderm is human-derived acellular dermis. It is processed by a company called LIfeCell. There are many other products like Alloderm, but I believe Alloderm has been used most freqeuntly in breast reconstruction. Alloderm is used in breast reconstruction after mastectomy for several reasons: 1) It helps provide coverage of the tissue expander or implant (muscle on top and Alloderm along the inferior and lateral aspect); 2) Allows the surgeon to fill the implant with... more

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AlloDerm: Q&A