Chemical compositions

[surjerydoc]

Gore-tex used in plastic surgery and other operations is known by an abbreviation of its chemical name, ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) or Gore S.A.M. (subcutaneous augmentation material.)

ePTFE is used in medicine because it is biocompatible and does not cause problems inside the human body. Because ePTFE is flexible and soft but very strong, it is inserted during operations in trimmed sheets and carved blocks and held to the bone by titanium screws. But because the material is porous, the force that really holds the implant in place is soft tissue and bone growing through and into the implant.

Another chin augmentation implant material is commercially known as AlloDerm and known to physicians as acellular human cadavertic derms. AlloDerm comes from tissue donors; just after death, technicians remove a thin layer of skin and use antibiotics and other substances to remove the cells and donor DNA that may cause rejection. The graft that emerges is often used to cover chin implants. Other typical types of chin implants include silicone implants in varying degrees of softness; silicone elastomers (any of various polymers having the elastic properties of natural rubber) and porous polyethylene implants. Other common implant materials include Supramid, a braided nonabsorbale synthetic suture material in polymer shell and Mersiline, a mesh-like material that provides a scaffold on the bone.

[prettyinred]

Originally Posted by surjerydoc

Gore-tex used in plastic surgery and other operations is known by an abbreviation of its chemical name, ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) or Gore S.A.M. (subcutaneous augmentation material.)

ePTFE is used in medicine because it is biocompatible and does not cause problems inside the human body. Because ePTFE is flexible and soft but very strong, it is inserted during operations in trimmed sheets and carved blocks and held to the bone by titanium screws. But because the material is porous, the force that really holds the implant in place is soft tissue and bone growing through and into the implant.

Another chin augmentation implant material is commercially known as AlloDerm and known to physicians as acellular human cadavertic derms. AlloDerm comes from tissue donors; just after death, technicians remove a thin layer of skin and use antibiotics and other substances to remove the cells and donor DNA that may cause rejection. The graft that emerges is often used to cover chin implants. Other typical types of chin implants include silicone implants in varying degrees of softness; silicone elastomers (any of various polymers having the elastic properties of natural rubber) and porous polyethylene implants. Other common implant materials include Supramid, a braided nonabsorbale synthetic suture material in polymer shell and Mersiline, a mesh-like material that provides a scaffold on the bone.

I've heard of AlloDerm, but that's about it. How do you know about all those different chemicals?