www.nygplasticsurgery.com: New York Plastic Surgery Practice, New York Group for Plastic Surgery, Introduces The Direct-To-Implant with AlloDerm® Procedure for Breast Reconstruction

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Group for Plastic Surgery (NYGPS), a New York plastic surgery practice, announces the first major advance in breast reconstruction surgery in over 10 years, and introduces its Direct-To-Implant Breast Reconstruction procedure utilizing AlloDerm®, an acellular dermal matrix.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100713/NY34590 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100713/NY34590 )

The Direct-To-Implant Breast Reconstruction procedure, also known as a "One-Stage Breast Reconstruction with Implant," employs AlloDerm® made from donated human tissue that has been processed to eliminate proteins that may trigger rejection. The donor tissue is then incorporated into the patient's natural tissue, resulting in a living "patch" that remains viable with a minimal risk of infection.

Manufactured by LifeCell, AlloDerm® is a patented tissue matrix that was originally developed in 1994 as a graft for burn patients. It has been used for years to replace missing or damaged tissue and cover wounds. AlloDerm® is an acellular tissue product that is not rejected by the body, its safety has been proven in over 1 million implants and grafts to date. Tissue donors are screened and tested for transmissible diseases, and a medical director completes a comprehensive review of each donor before allowing the tissue to be processed by the manufacturer into its acellular state.

Using AlloDerm® to provide immediate tissue replacement after mastectomy was developed with the assistance of NYGPS' own Dr. Andrew Salzberg, plastic surgeon, who specializes in cosmetic surgery, breast surgery and reconstruction. Dr. Salzberg is also the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Dobbs Ferry Hospital and Westchester Medical Center.

When it comes to breast reconstruction, Dr. Salzberg prefers an improved and abbreviated approach. Traditional breast implant reconstruction used to be a tedious process requiring multiple surgeries and follow-up visits to the plastic surgeon's office. The gradual expansion of the chest muscle and breast skin would often be uncomfortable and inconvenient. The AlloDerm® regenerative tissue matrix provides better coverage of the implant edges and improves the overall cosmetic reconstructive result.

With a single-stage expansion process, the doctors at NYGPS use layers of AlloDerm® to create a pocket of sufficient size during the initial reconstructive surgery procedure, to provide a more complete coverage of the exposed implant. Some surgeons use AlloDerm® with expanders. This technique improves stabilization and coverage of the expander, but it still requires the patient to endure the traditional two-stage expansion process.

The AlloDerm® Direct-To-Implant Breast Reconstruction technique produces superb cosmetic results and eliminates the need for expansion, with benefits such as:

• Creating a full-size breast during the initial procedure, so a woman undergoing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction wakes up with a breast in place and her physical profile intact
• Eliminating the discomfort and inconvenience of expansion
• Eliminating the need for a second surgery to replace the expander
• Providing one-stage reconstruction for women who combine this procedure with prophylactic subcutaneous mastectomy or nipple-sparing mastectomy
• Accelerating patient recovery
• Covering implant edges more adequately, eliminating the likelihood of rippling or wrinkling

Almost any woman expecting to undergo a mastectomy with an immediate reconstruction is a candidate for the Direct-To-Implant Breast Reconstruction procedure with AlloDerm® technique, regardless of the type of mastectomy performed. The technique has had occasional minor reported complications; major complications are unusual. The specific risks and suitability can be only determined with a thorough consultation at NYGPS' offices, in Tarrytown or Goshen, New York.

Dr. Salzberg works collaboratively with other board certified plastic surgeons at NYGPS, such as Dr. R. Michael Koch, to provide Direct-To-Implant Breast Reconstruction procedures with an individualized approach, in order to help women facing the challenges of mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery.

The New York Group for Plastic Surgery has been serving the New York area since 1981. The consumer guide, "America's Top Doctors," has named Dr. Salzberg one of the "Top Doctors for Women from Coast to Coast." Dr. Salzberg has also had the honor of being named one of the top doctors in the New York Metro Area every year since 2002.

More than 100,000 mastectomies are performed each year to treat various types of breast cancer. Although current plastic surgery techniques provide many reconstructive options for women, many of these choices are not always understood or even identified. Women need to do their own research to find out what's available and what's best for them.

"There's simply too much misinformation out there," says Dr. Salzberg. "Breast cancer and mastectomy are difficult under any circumstances. Throw reconstruction into the mix, and it can be overwhelming. We want women to know what's available, so they can make informed decisions about what's really best for them."

Dr. Salzberg has presented many papers on the topic of plastic surgery internationally. His numerous research activities include breast reconstruction, pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, nerve repair, wound healing, skin substitutes and laser applications in skin care.

SOURCE The New York Group for Plastic Surgery