Alloderm for Breast Reconstruction?

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  The use of the acellular dermal matrix has grown in its applications and use in plastic & reconstructive procedures, and growing. It has truly been a remarkable addition for breast reconstruction.The acellular dermal matrix is a tissue that is specially-prepared, which comes from cadaveric skin. It is placed on the inside, not on your skin.  It has been processed in such a way that the basement membrane and cellular matrix remain intact, while removing all other cellular components that may lead to both rejection and infection. Packages as a sterile tissue product, due to its preparation, the chance of acquiring viruses and such is nearly absent.Its applications for breast reconstruction alone include its use in tissue expander/implant reconstruction, to act as a "hammock" at the inferior portion of the breast for which the implant lies within. This creates a natural "sling" which mimics the ptosis (sag) of the breast, while supporting it in place. By suturing this matrix to its exact position of the breast margins, the plastic surgeon is able to precisely recreate an excellent contour for your breast, especially at the inferior, medial, and lateral positions. This also minimizes migration of the implant, as sometimes seen with "bottoming out" inferiorly or its displacement into the axilla (armpit). In addition to its increased aesthetic results, the acellular dermal matrix provides additional coverage over your implant. This is especially useful in those instances of dehiscence (your incision opening up), thus protecting the implant from exposure, and threatening its necessity for removal. Furthermore, in cases where the overlying mastectomy flaps are thin or damaged, leading to partial flap necrosis, the tissue matrix again provides a coverage over your implant, which can heal over time or a graft placed over the are or simply closed. Lastly, the additional coverage lessens implant visibility and palpability and is a great adjunct for revisionary breast surgery. The use of this matrix, along with the advantages listed above, has reduced the time of the reconstructive portion of the procedure as well. There is less pectoralis muscle retraction and eliminates the need to raise any other surrounding muscles in order to achieve complete implant coverage.  Hope that this helps!  Best wishes!

AlloDerm product is human donor skin that has been treated to not cause rejection, leaving only a dermal collagen matrix. The dermal collagen matrix is incorporated by the hosts own body tissues. It has significantly improved results in breast reconstruction and also in complex aesthetic cases with recurrent intractable capsular contractures.

Alloderm, is a product made by life cell corporation. It is the first to popularize the product for breast reconstruction. This product is a cadaveric skin that has been treated to not cause rejection. The dermal collagen matrix is repopulated by the host's cells and integrated in the body. Alloderm is not truly sterile but It has been treated with antibiotics to be aseptic. There are other products on the market now. Some of them are sterile. These products have revolutionized the implant breast reconstruction. And have made the surgery much more successful. Any surgeon doing breast reconstruction routinely should offer these products and at least discuss the pros and cons with the patients.

Alloderm really is now the standard or care with any sort of immediate breast reconstruction utilizing tissue expanders/implants.  If a surgeon is not familiar with the techniques, then they probably do not do alot of breast reconstructiuons.  Alloderm spares some muscle dissection, really helps secure the expander/implnat, and really helps with the inframammary fold area. 

The rates of infection are extremely low, and their really should be no rejection of the tissue even though it is human derived.  I have used Alloderm hundreds of time against expanders and implants without problems.  I hope this helps.

AlloDerm is essentially cadaver skin minus any living cells.  It is used as a scaffold through which a persons living cells can grow into.  It has many uses, but, in use his in breast reconstruction.  AlloDerm does not help in mastectomy recovery.  It does however help in breast reconstruction. In this application, AlloDerm was used to cover the lower portion of an implant that spans from the lower border of the pectoralis muscle to the breast fold.  Because AlloDerm is a foreign substance in can always get infected and as such your doctor and you need to pay close attention to the signs and symptoms.  AlloDerm has also been used in nipple augmentation as well as augmentation of other body parts.  Its efficacy is really not known in these realms because it is not common.  Some providers may use AlloDerm for these applications but please note that its most widespread use is particularly in breast reconstruction as well as repair for abdominal wall hernias.  Please speak with a board certified plastic surgeon if you have any specific concerns regarding your care.