Is the traditional implant always a two-step procedure?
Dr. Colwell: In general, implant reconstruction used to be done primarily in two steps with an expander placed first followed by an implant. In the past, if an implant was placed immediately in one stage, it didn’t work very well because it was difficult to hold in position. One advantage of the AlloDerm is that the pocket holds the implant in place and also takes the pressure off the skin. What are some of the benefits for the patient? Dr. Colwell: Implant positioning and improved aesthetic result. The minute I tell a woman that I’m using the AlloDerm to hold the implant in the right place, she’s sold. It works. That’s a major advantage. The second advantage is off-loading some of the stress on the skin, because like I said, the AlloDerm is surrounding the implant so it’s not asking the skin to do as much. We’ve used it in some of our two-stage reconstructions with tissue expansion. Some patients have less pain because we’re not raising that muscle laterally and we’re not stretching t
