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 reconstruction. I have used it recently to be able to place an implant in the reconstruction patient at the same time that they have the mastectomy. The Alloderm is placed between the Pectoralis muscle and the inframammary crease to essentially lenghthen the muscle to cover the implant. For me and my patients, this has been a wonderful adjunct, as there is the possibility that we may be able to eliminate one step (or surgery) in completing their reconstruction.

Alloderm can also be very helpful in the patient that has ripples with their implant, as it can add a layer of tissue where the tissue is too thin. So it can be used in breast implant cases, at times, when appropriate.

As always, you should ask your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon about Alloderm. He knows what options would be best in your specific case when he does a physical exam on you and asks about your history. A surgeon who is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) does most of his work in aesthetic surgery.