Alloderm and Strattice

When soft tissue is compromised and no longer provides adequate support to internal body structures, Alloderm or Strattice tissue sheets can be implanted to provide reinforcement.

When is Alloderm Or Strattice The Right Choice?

Patients undergoing any of the following procedures may benefit from tissue supplementation with Alloderm or Strattice:

• Breast reconstruction with breast implants
• Corrective breast augmentation
• Abdominal muscle separation or hernia repair (often combined with tummy tuck)
• Other reconstructive surgery procedures

In general, whenever a tissue matrix such as Alloderm or Strattice is used, it is on an as-needed basis in conjunction with some sort of reconstructive surgical procedure.

How Alloderm And Strattice Treat Tissue Deficiencies

Alloderm and Strattice are dehydrated sheets of sterile tissue donated from cadaver and porcine sources that are shaped, rehydrated and implanted with absorbable sutures. Once implanted, Alloderm and Strattice act as an internal body support structure, as well as a scaffold to promote new tissue growth.

Alloderm is commonly used in patients who choose breast reconstruction with breast implants but lack the natural breast tissue needed to support the implants and create a smooth, natural look. It is used in much the same way during corrective breast augmentation procedures designed to correct double bubble and symmastia deformities. In these cases, Alloderm or Strattice are used to create a kind of internal bra that prevents breast implant migration and preserve the natural folds and borders of the breasts. Alloderm or Strattice can also be used to mask irregularities such as ripples and edges that can show in breast augmentation patients with thin skin or very large breast implants.

Strattice is a firmer tissue sheet and preferable in cases where more structure is needed, such as abdominal wall repair.

Post-Operative Steps: What to Expect After Alloderm or Strattice

Because tissue supplements are merely a component of a broader reconstructive surgery procedure, Alloderm and Strattice do not directly affect the recovery period or post-operative steps following implantation. They cannot be “rejected” by the body, and pose no additional risks, however patients should avoid using tobacco products and other activities that can interfere with healing and new tissue growth.

Alloderm and Strattice are proven effective tissue supplements that Dr. James Ward has found to be extremely effective in his 25 years as a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. If you are near Arlington, Texas or the surrounding areas of Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Mansfield or Dunkinville and would like to learn more about how Alloderm or Strattice could help you, please contact Dr. Ward’s offices in the USMD Hospital at (817) 861-0505.