Histologic Changes and Photographic Analysis of AlloDerm(R) at Tip Plasty of the Nose

Hong, Yong Taek; Park, Seung Ha; Koo, Sang Hwan; Kim, Se Young

Abstract

AlloDerm(R) is human cadaveric dermis that has been decellularized. It is easy to handle and simple to use, and has superb tissue compatibility; hence it has been used in several fields. But studies about the effect and the histologic changes of AlloDerm(R) in soft tissue augmentation are lacking. We measured the heights of pronasale and supretip breakpoint through Pre-and post- operative photographs in 13 patients who had undertaken AlloDerm(R) tip plasty surgery from April 2004 to July 2005. Histologic changes were investigated by H&E and CD34 immunochemistry staining of tissue samples from 10 patients who had AlloDerm(R) removed by re-operative procedures from January 2005 to March 2006. The result of photographic analysis is as follows supratip breakpoint heights were 2.43+/-0.36, 2.64+/-38, 2.52+/-0.38mm in the pre-operative(T1), early post-operative(T2) and late post-operative(T3) periods, respectively. Pronasale heights were 2.68+/-0.33, 2.93+/-0.44, and 2.79+/-0.38mm, respectively. Statistical analysis of corrective value of T1-T2, T2-T3 and T1-T3 revealed a statistically significant difference in both pronasale and supratip breakpoint heights. Histological analysis showed chronic inflammatory signs with foreign body reactions around grafted AlloDerm(R). We concluded that AlloDerm(R) neovascularization and fibroblast ingrowth were also noted. AlloDerm(R) is effective in raising the nasal tip, but considering the late-term partial absorption, an overcorrection of about 50% is recommended.