3 Benefits of Including Dermal Matrix in Breast Surgery

Originally developed as a soft tissue replacement for a number of different medical procedures, acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has proven particularly useful in the realm of breast surgery. Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits incorporating ADM has to offer.

1. Adds Strength to Surgical Pocket

Implant displacement is one of the reasons that my patients may request breast implant revision surgery. Although a shift in implant position can occur for any number of reasons, a compromise of the surgical pocket is one of the most common. This is particularly of concern for women suffering from synmastia, sometimes called “breadloafing,” where the central division between the breasts is compromised. During revision surgery, I can use ADM to rebuild and strengthen the implant pocket in order to help prevent future implant migration.

2. Prevents Surface Rippling

Although initially used for structural purposes, some surgeons have incorporated ADM as an added layer over implants (particularly saline implants) in order to help limit the potential for visible rippling after cosmetic breast augmentation. This use of ADM can be particularly helpful for women who are naturally thin and have little existing breast tissue for coverage over the implant.

3. Limits Capsular Contracture after Reconstruction

Capsular contracture is a potential complication following cosmetic breast augmentation, but develops more frequently in cases of implant-based breast reconstruction. Recent studies show that the development of capsular contracture—both initial and recurrent—may be significantly reduced by fully covering the implant with acellular dermal matrix at the time of insertion.