title: Biomechanical properties of materials used in static facial suspension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the biomechanical properties of the superficial (human acellular dermis); (AlloDerm; LefeCell Corp, Branchburg, NJ) and deep layers of cadaveric dermis and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE); (Gore-Tex; W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen samples of superficial dermis (AlloDerm), 12 samples of deep dermis, and 12 samples of ePTFE were axial loaded on a materials testing machine. Maximum load to failure and stiffness were calculated and statistical analysis was performed to compare the materials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dermis samples had statistically greater mean stiffness compared with ePTFE samples. There was no statistical difference of maximum load to failure comparing ePTFE with superficial dermis. There was a statistical difference in maximum load to failure between ePTFE and deep dermis. There was no statistical difference between the superficial and deep layers of the dermis with respect to stiffness or maximum load to failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cadaveric dermis has some biomechanical properties to be a superior material for static facial suspension. There was larger than expected variability in both parameters (stiffness and maximum load to failure) tested in dermis samples, which may correlate with occasional clinical failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McIff
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Terance T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tsue
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kriet
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C440568:Alloderm; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen