Is There a Risk of Alloderm Causing Infection?

Anytime you have surgery, or implant a foreign
substance into your body, there is always some potential risk for
infection.You are correct in that
Alloderm does come from donor tissue.However, with that being said, Alloderm is stripped of the epidermis and
cells that could lead to tissue rejection and infection.The result is simply an acellular matrix that
can work wonders in breast reconstruction surgery.In simpler terms, Alloderm is cadaver skin
that has had all of the cells taken out of it, and only collagen remains.Alloderm is tested and screened by the FDA,
as well as under strict temperature control to maximize the safety of the product.I have used Alloderm in many breast
reconstruction cases and have had minimal number of complications or patient
infections.

Prior to Alloderm being placed inside the body the tissue undergoes a chemical process in which bacteria, skin cells, and viruses are removed. Generally this process will discard any transmissible infections. Alloderm has been used in many reconstruction surgeries and has yet to pose any risks. Over time alloderm becomes incorporated into your own tissues and will improve your overall results. 

I have been using AlloDerm for breast reconstruction for many years and although it hasn't been clinically proven that there is an increased possibility of infection, some patients are concerned about it.  I have had great results with using it.  With any type of surgery, there is a risk of infection.  Go over the pro's and con's of doing the surgery with or without the AlloGraft with your surgeon and allow them to assist you with making the decision.