Is There a Risk of Alloderm Causing Infection?

Alloderm is a unique product derived from donated skin with all of the cells removed, leaving the collagen matrix which serves as a template for your own tissue to regenerate. I have been using it for more than 10 years and have had a very good experience with it. Although it is not strictly sterile, there have been no reported instances of infection transmitted from the donor. There are other products that have been put through a sterilization process but they all damage the collagen matrix so they don't perform the same as alloderm in terms of the body's response to the graft.

It is logical to be concerned regarding the risk of HIV, Hepatitis, or some other serious infection when Alloderm is implanted.  The processing of this human-derived material destroys these pathogens.  Essentially, there is no risk of transmissible illness.  However, alloderm is not your own native tissue.  Thus, though the risk is small, there is a slightly increased risk of infection following surgery with this substance.  There are newer materials like alloderm (surgimend, surgisis, etc) that each have positives and negatives.  They are all essentially dermal matrices (They all help your body to rebuild a layer of tissue).  The best tissue is your own tissue.  Following a mastectomy, however, much of your own tissue is lost.  Sometimes a supplement is necessary.  These materials are all deemed safe.  I use them only when necessary.  They add expense and surgical time to a procedure.